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legislation which prevented legitimate claims being heard by the FSPO regarding conduct that occurred before the authorisation of a credit servicing firm. The role of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is vitally important. It is a piece of legislation that I have amended successfully in terms … that existed in the legislation since the FSPO was established in 2018. The legal loophole has resulted in people whose mortgages are with a vulture fund having no access to the State's financial services ombudsman. That was a scandal. It was a disgrace. We need to recognise

Would the Minister of State be happy if those regulations stated that an individual cannot be heard from unless the second person signs the form? No financial institution works like that. It is only the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman that works like that. The financial institutions will … legal avenues and find a way to resolve this issue. Protections can be put in place to allow for due process, engagement and information to be provided to any other signatory of the account but that should not block any consideration of a complaint the Financial Services

objectives in achieving these milestones. I recognise the work they do every day to try to achieve value for money across our public services. The Government has in place a range of oversight mechanisms pertaining to public expenditure. I would like to put examples of these frameworks … code of practice of the governance of State bodies; public financial procedures; public procurement guidelines; arrangements for oversight of digital and IT projects and initiatives; and internal and external audit processes that provide validation of public expenditure. It is the legal responsibility of Departments to ensure that they

issues regarding GDPR and data protection which still need to be resolved and those services put in place. I want to raise the issue of online community safety and ensuring that legal protections are in place for people in the area of, for example, catfishing. I ask that … question on the back of an issue raised by a local constituent with the Minister's Department which stated there are protections in place. When the person took the parliamentary reply to the local Garda station, gardaí said they could not work with it. There is a need

sanctions on Russia as a result of the illegal occupation and war in Ukraine and led us to boycott South African goods and services during the apartheid years. On the flip side, it is that same link that drove the British to build an empire all those centuries … ruled by them. Instead, we are trading away our own values. If we are to take on a more courageous stance as a State and Government, we will see what we have seen in the past with things such as the nuclear non-proliferation treaty

Government? Is it any wonder that parents are at breaking point? Every day, they endure stress and heartbreak watching their children denied the services they need to reach their full potential. In some cases, children are regressing because they are not getting any supports. Parents are having … more parents are being forced into litigation to get an assessment of need for their children. The number of legal actions being taken against the State has skyrocketed. In the past five years alone, the State has spent more than €8 million on cases taken by parents

service. Many of our colleagues today have acknowledged the incredible, painstaking work it has done. Deputy Connolly also commended the Library and Research Service publication that has provided us with a summary of that detailed work. Deputy Malcolm Byrne had two very interesting thoughts. One related … Regarding his comments on commercial rates, and the fact that they are legally established on 200-year-old laws, I fully appreciate where he is coming from. Given my former role as a Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I understand we have

well. The Deputy is right that we are legislators. We make the law and it is up to the agencies of the State to enforce that law. If the political will is there, it is surely not beyond our ability to develop an innovative solution that is fair … apply. They referred to the UK financial services ombudsman which said, “it had similar problems, but crucially, it was able to help in some instances”. It did not go through in detail what those instances were, but clearly the legal system with which we have most in common

thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising what is one of the most serious issues we face in the public service and in the lives of children with disabilities, namely, access to therapy provision and the process they go through to gain that access. To be clear, the waiting … believe that level of assessment is required - I will be very careful lest people misrepresent what I am saying, as children have a legal entitlement to an assessment of need, which I believe is vital and I will always defend and cherish that right - it is the rigidity

children in those crucial early years of life. I am pleased to say that provision has been made for women involved in public service both here in this House and in our councils across the country. In the past two years, our councillors and Oireachtas Members … senior leadership teams is vital for enhancing decision-making and fostering innovation. The EU directive on gender balance on corporate boards requires member states to ensure that, by the end of June 2026, listed companies achieve 40% representation of women as board members. I am happy to report

already provided for in the existing legal framework. We look forward to continuing our work on Ireland’s national defence spending and on how we can complement this by working with other member states on common projects to the benefit of us all, including the areas of cyber … state solution and called on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine its viability. Ireland has been clear that unprecedented settlement expansion in the last few years, displacement of Palestinian communities, and ongoing Israeli security operations are a threat to the viability of the two-state solution

been made clear in the white paper that the position of all member states will be respected, including those that are militarily neutral, like Ireland. This is welcome because it allows all member states to participate in meeting the defence and security needs of their countries while respecting … work in Irish-owned companies - Irish owned companies present in all 50 states with more than 770 companies in total. Our overall economic relationship is valued at more than €1 trillion. It is important to state that despite the challenging geopolitical landscape, our trading relationships remain resilient. Export

agencies. There was a seven-year inquiry into NAMA’s €1.6 billion Project Eagle which resulted in €14.4 million being spent primarily on legal fees and administrative costs. The new X-ray scanner at the National Gallery cost €124,000 and the Arts Council’s failed IT system … There is also mismanagement in the HSE. The HSE has faced multiple instances where projects were delayed or went over budget which impacted service delivery. Obviously, there have to be agency nurses but we have seen an over-reliance on agency staff in administration. It is not good

that people do not have to be fully vetted. I believe we are in serious trouble. I will write to every other State agency and Department in the country to see if the precedent set by An Garda Síochána can be used across every other agency as regards … weapon of its own accord. It was further identified by the ballistic experts, who operate under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, which is the legal requirement for all forensic laboratories, that the holster was so poorly designed, the firearm could be removed from the holster with so-called retention strap

DEIS schools in areas that have a high incidence of deprivation. It is also extremely important we ensure there are psychological and therapist services in place for communities where there is a high incidence of deprivation, which can lead to certain aspects of criminal activity. That is something … Garda Síochána because, in any debate on policing and safety in the community, we must start with An Garda Síochána. As I have stated previously, the Government cannot succeed and I cannot succeed as Minister for Justice unless An Garda Síochána succeeds. That

Bill. The statute law revision project is hugely valuable which has been going on for more than 20 years. When I worked as legal adviser to Enda Kenny TD, as he was then, when he was leader of Fine Gael in opposition, the first of these Bills … Attorney General and particularly in the Law Reform Commission, which does fantastic work. Credit is due to the Law Reform Commission. As a State agency, it delivers time and time again on what it says it will do. It delivers reports that bring common-sense solutions to these