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trades needed for housing infrastructure, including, as the Minister of State said, plumbers and electricians. The recent documentary "Who's Building Ireland?" explored the construction industry and who is building the 300,000 new homes needed by 2030. There are 170,000 people working in the construction industry

hard not to feel completely hopeless about the fishing industry at the moment. What was once a prosperous industry is now facing complete collapse. It is utter devastation, as the Minister of State is well aware. The numbers have been outlined multiple times already, but it is important … they are repeated until we get to grips with what we are facing and its potential impact. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has advised the following cuts, starting next year: a 70% cut in mackerel, a 41% cut in blue whiting

affecting the fisheries sector. I will deal with the recent developments for the pelagic stock first. On 13 September, the International Council for Exploration of the Seas, ICES, published deeply concerning advice for widely distributed pelagic stock in 2026. The advice recommended a 70% reduction in the total … scale of the Irish fishing sector. These cuts will starve fish processing businesses of raw material. They will impact the services industry that supports the seafood sector in coastal communities. Service industries include engineering, net mending and factories that have built up over 50 years around ports like

which is guaranteed into the future in a world where few things are. There is a version of our fishing industry that can be all of those things, namely, indigenous, stable and sustainable, but this vision is not yet the reality. Instead, the reality … feel that their interests are being represented and fought for at national and EU level. We have seen the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea call on the EU to significantly reduce fishing quotas and our fishing stocks have drastically reduced. We are in a dangerous

autumn negotiation on fishing opportunities for the forthcoming year. The sustainability impact assessment highlights the potential for significant impacts on the Irish fishing industry. I am committed to working across Departments to assess what supports may be available to the seafood sector at this very difficult time … Fisheries and Oceans. I have obviously spoken to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to explore options within the constraints of EU and national Exchequer funding and the relevant EU and national legislation, in particular taking account of constraints imposed

programme for Government stated that the Government will explore new mechanisms for the creation of football academies with the FAI and the League of Ireland, so I am not going to stand here and give the Minister plaudits for doing what he has committed to doing … country before a jump to €8 million annually with the hope of creating 340 full-time and part-time jobs to kickstart an industry. If the Government makes the investment now, we could have the days like those I referenced earlier of Euro 88, Italia

development compass in the coming weeks, which will consider targeted changes to the research and development tax credit to better align with industry practices, for example, in the areas of outsourcing and qualifying expenditure definitions. It will also set a pathway for development of innovation supports. Participation Exemption … exposed to external economic downturns or volatility. The foreign earnings deduction is an important incentive for employees that supports Irish firms in exploring and expanding into new export markets. I will extend the scheme for a further five years. I am also increasing the level of relief available

carried out by our marine agencies towards the economic and environmental sustainability of the seafood sector. Last week’s International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, recommendations on 2026 fish stocks, particularly those of importance to Ireland, will pose a significant challenge to the Irish fishing … been caught. I want to see market access conditional on compliance with sustainability rules. The Department and Government will work with the industry to find a pathway through to longer term viability and sustainability of our coastal communities. As Minister of State with responsibility for the marine affairs

pelagic quotas - there are demersal quotas - in particular mackerel, blue whiting and boarfish. Drastic reductions were recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, for 2026. I repeat my gratitude to the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, Deputy Timmy Dooley … cumulative impact of four years of Brexit. While Ireland generally was pleased that Brexit got over the line, once more the fishing industry suffered as a result. I met Michel Barnier, who negotiated at the time, and told him in this House, in the dining room, that

thank both Deputies. I will respond to Deputy Daly on the urology project. It is a project I am very keen to explore further and there are already a number of projects like that we are developing in the regions. The New Frontiers programme in Castlebar and Galway … require that power. I am keen that we remain at the forefront of that. Deputy Timmins is absolutely right about collaboration with industry and how we make sure that lands and succeeds. Some of the things I want to embed or offer as ancillary supports for postgraduate students

wipe out and so on. I do not necessarily agree. I think it will lead to difficult decisions. People in the industry are looking forward to July 2026, when they will get a level of respite. There is concern about the cost of labour and auto-enrolment, which … would essentially be cheap capital for the State, a secure investment for households and, possibly, a guaranteed return. I ask the Minister to explore that. Just transition has been very difficult in my county. We lost Shannonbridge power station essentially overnight, with a grant to compensate

additional to but is contained within the Department's fiscal ceiling. During 2024, when the progression of the fund was being explored and agreed, legal advice was sought on proposals to fund some capital expenditure from the fund. The legal advice received notes that an amendment … will add capacity in the system to deliver new skills programmes or expand existing skills programmes to benefit learners and industry, employees, employers and future employees. Decarbonisation will arise as part of refurbishment of infrastructure to enable space optimisation and adaptive re-se of existing building stock