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Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade during pre-legislative scrutiny meetings, stated that the obligations outlined in the ICJ Advisory Option applied to both goods and to services, and the Legal Advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Committee that, regarding … General to the joint Oireachtas committee that there is no difficulty legally with including services in the occupied territories Bill and the ban on the importation of goods from the occupied territories. The Government has stated that the International Court of Justice advisory opinion is an authoritative statement

Moriarty tribunal’s final report in 2011, a number of significant legal challenges resulted in considerable delays to the completion of the process regarding applications for third-party costs. The legal costs unit of the State Claims Agency has delegated sanction under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment … additional allocation of €62,000 is required to cover projected total spend of €312,000 on external legal services in 2025. This subhead provides for costs associated with engaging local State solicitors to act on behalf of the CSSO in the Circuit Courts and occasionally in the District

Bill to update and modernise the Child Care Act, which provides the foundation for child protection and welfare services in the State. This will strengthen the child protection legal framework and increase the powers available to Tusla. I also intend to bring forward amendments via the child care

Bill updating and modernising the Child Care Act, which provides the foundation for child protection and welfare services in the State. This will strengthen the child protection legal framework and the powers available to Tusla. I also intend to bring forward amendments via the childcare Bill

Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022; — the amended Act gives effect to the European Union (EU) Directive 2019/1937 ('the Whistleblowing Directive'), which requires Member States to ensure that: — whistleblowers have at their disposal effective channels to report breaches of EU rules confidentially, both internally (within an organisation) and externally … provision of a free 'Speak Up Helpline' and Free Legal Advice Centre service for persons considering making a protected disclosure, or who have made a protected disclosure; — Section 15 of the Act already states that workers are immune from civil legal action by the employer (e.g. for breach

that is passed without the inclusion of services is not what the Irish people want nor is it what the majority in this House wants. Most importantly, it will not meet the legal obligations of Ireland and other member states under international law, which were set out clearly

authority and to pass this information on to the Attorney General in connection with the conduct of legal proceedings on behalf of the State. In July of this year, I said that when the Government was transposing the EU directive on protected disclosures, I was clear … today's motion. Providing free legal aid and psychological services for whistleblowers, and removing the limitations on financial compensation that whistleblowers can win by way of redress, are important steps in this regard. Whatever the view of the Minister of State or me on the transposition

goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The programme for Government commits to prohibiting imports of goods. The general scheme, which the committee examined, does not prohibit trade in services with natural or legal persons located in Israeli settlements … certain that the inclusion of goods is permissible under EU law. We need legal clarity on the point on services. We must take into account practical issues with regard to implementation should services be included in the scope of the Bill. It remains the Government’s preference that

November, the Taoiseach told this House that legal advice states a Minister cannot read protected disclosures. That claim has caused real alarm throughout the country because if a Minister cannot read protected disclosures, the Minister cannot verify whether the Minister is being misled. It is an extraordinary position … record of this House from 1996, meaning we have known about it here for over 30 years. Yet, when the matter reached the State legal apparatus of the Chief State Solicitor's office, that office told a statutory tribunal that the system did not exist and argued

mature national conversation based on facts, not one where genuine concerns are dismissed as racism. We have to be honest when the State does not manage its borders effectively and when processes are slower and sow doubt. It does not produce compassion; it produces false narratives and resentment … protection are doing so for economic reasons. While I fully understand their desire, we cannot conflate legal and illegal immigration. It does legal migrants, genuine asylum seekers and refugees no service. If a claim is fairly assessed and rejected, then deportation must follow. This is not institutional harshness

legal consequences of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, Ireland cosponsored the State of Palestine's first resolution before the United Nations General Assembly on its practical implications. That resolution did not distinguish between goods and services because the world court and international law do not, but that

legal authority to do so. Only the Government can dismiss someone at that senior level of the Civil Service. The Minister acted alone. Her actions were not legal and were not constitutional in any basis whatsoever. Worse still, the dismissal relied purely on a disciplinary investigation … person about whom the complaint is made or who has perpetrated the wrongdoing. Meanwhile, this State uses its vast financial resources to power itself and spends endless resources in legal fees, all to destroy the whistleblower. A whistleblower cannot do the same. That imbalance tells a story

both goods and services, on another state. We can do the same again. Indeed, it is even easier now because the EU-Israel Association Agreement means we must, by law, differentiate between goods and services from Israel and goods and services from the occupied territories. The Government … other argument is that there is a legal impediment. We have heard that argument shattered again and again today. We have already seen the legal advice that supports the inclusion of services. The Government has simply chosen to recreate legal opinions to support its political decision

look away from the situation, and that includes Ireland. We are not overstating the influence of Ireland. We are not an enormous state but we use what leverage we have. This is one of those pieces. The fact that this legislation was being debated here put the matter … goods. The sanctions and bans on goods and services imposed on Russia after the appalling and illegal invasion of Ukraine were undertaken on that same basis. If the public policy exemption for goods and services in the instance of Russia can be used, why is it only applicable

quickly and support them to settle in well and contribute positively to society. Equally, if someone does not have the legal right to remain here, the State must act promptly and deport them. This is how rules-based systems work in any functioning democracy. I acknowledge the work … more than stepped up. In return, they are asking for something very reasonable, which is for the State to step up too. They want clear communication, proper planning and services that keep pace with population growth - joined-up policy. They know better than any of us what

legitimate concerns of communities across the country. The programme for Government also contains strong commitments on consultation with communities about local services and integration, and to improved communications on migration and integration. Yes we do accept that we need to improve this. There have been failings … important that we move to that process of, by and large, having State-owned facilities so we can provide the best value for money and services: services to the people in those centres and services to the communities that surround them and the best value for money

issuer credit rating to A from A minus. It is important to note that the State will receive an increased stock holding in ESB in return for this investment. The State will continue to receive dividends in proportion to its shareholding. I will now turn to the Bill … investment by Government and the ambitious PR6 investment programme. On a separate but important note, legal consideration has determined that the equity investment does not give rise to any issue of state aid. I will provide a section by section summary of the Bill, which has five sections

whistleblowers, but what we actually do is destroy them. The Minister of State knows it, I know it, and the public know it. We bring laws and pat ourselves on the back and then the State turns around and crushes the very people who tried to protect … wrongdoings and act in the public's interest, and the State responds with the three Ds: delay, deny, destroy. This was reported and called out by The Irish Times. This is across all of the Civil Service. I have a list of whistleblowers. We have Maurice McCabe

informative and constructive debate on protected disclosures legislation. I welcome and thank the whistleblowers in the Public Gallery for their great work and service. I also thank the members of the Independent Technical Group for the proposals they have put forward for this debate. Having reviewed the proposals … like to reiterate the issues regarding the flaws evident in some of these proposals, as was highlighted by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. I am in full agreement with the need to adhere to the current timetable for the completion of a statutory

staff who administer that system or, indeed, those at the coal face of the delivery of health services because they are pushed from pillar to post to deliver that service in a working environment that is not necessarily supportive of the task they are being asked to complete … with it without having to spend a fortune going to the courts. In that game, it is only the legal profession and others who will win. The State Claims Agency and the HSE need to look at best practice. They are wrong in what they are doing

largest EV fleet in the country, and the site has been fitted out for further EV post vans to be pressed into service throughout the north west. An Post also advises that the cases of both Barnatra and Ballyhaunis represent an opportunity to plan for and organise this … sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring

them around Deputy Ó Laoghaire's constituency, as well as in Dundalk, Waterford, my area and everywhere. Those places are selling products and services all around the world. The fundamental starting point, therefore, is that we support trade because it has led to our economic growth. We must … have been talking and listening to farmers on this issue. We have stated our position in the programme for Government that we have serious concerns, and this has not changed. We are working with member states, and this includes my meeting yesterday with the French Government. The Taoiseach

think that was recognised sufficiently in the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. There did not seem to be any recognition from the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, that whistleblowers are often penalised, smeared, blacklisted and persecuted. Is he and the Government … example, legal aid to whistleblowers should be extended. That is envisaged in the EU whistleblowing directive. It has not been done. We need to be fully compliant with the directive. While there is free legal advice and counselling available, the lack of free legal aid is a major

Charities Regulator, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, and even An Garda Síochána. When journalists have asked questions about this, they have been met with legal letters. One journalist received no fewer than 11 legal letters, including a letter sent to their entire workplace. The issues include … director's house. To cap it all, there was a lack of concern and a total lack of proper oversight by the State over any of this. This is not some faceless bureaucratic organisation. This is a national institution loved by generations of children and their families

reduce carbon emissions by between 85% and 90% by 2040, following marathon negotiations in advance of the COP30 summit. Ministers adopted a legally binding target for cutting emissions by 85% by 2040. On paper and in principle, it is positive to see this agreement reached, but the deal … reduction be achieved by outsourcing pollution cuts abroad through the purchase of international carbon credits. That get-out clause suggests that EU states will continue to believe that we can buy our way out of climate change and outsource our obligations to countries that have less. This

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the Government’s stated legal position prior to the enactment of the Private Security Services Act 2004 regarding the powers, if any, of private security personnel to detain or restrain members

operates international protection accommodation at a site (details supplied) are facing legal proceedings under the Fire Services Act in relation to taking water by tanker from a fire hydrant, a practice which the Minister for State for Migration told the Dáil on 9 October 2025 has now ceased