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overdue assessments in the country. I acknowledge that the State has spent a lot of money on services but the State has also spent about €23 million on legal fees fighting parents in courts and that money could have been put into the front-line services. Groups like … support services it has been difficult to actually get to that. I acknowledge there is a challenge. This legislation will not get any educational psychologists or other psychologists for families in Newcastle or Rathcoole. Others might argue that this Bill is purely a cynical exercise in legal risk

children on warm words. While Governments make announcements, children are waiting. While Ministers make promises, parents are fighting for assessments. While the State is legally required to provide an assessment of need within six months, the HSE said earlier this year that 21,782 children were overdue … aspiration but an enforceable legal obligation. It must not be restarted because an assessment moves from one stage to another. It must not be extended indefinitely because the State has failed to provide the staff and expertise needed to deliver the service. The proposed legislation introduces a significant

away all of the legislative jargon and the Government's spin surrounding this Bill, one question remains: is it going to get additional services for the children who need it? That is not just a concern that has been expressed on these benches. Even some of the Government … waiting more than three months beyond the legal deadline. Those are children whose development is being delayed. Families are living in uncertainty. Parents are forced to fight the State for years to get the services that they are entitled to receive. The crisis cannot be resolved through administrative

efficiently. The Bill also advances the Government's digital agenda and improves the efficiency of public service delivery. The law on motor tax, vehicle records and speed limits must reflect how services are now delivered and how road safety decisions are now made. There is also a practical … adjusted later in the Bill. Part 2 deals with the national vehicle and driver file, NVDF, and the Check My Vehicle service. The NVDF is the State's central database for vehicle and driver information. It supports vehicle registration, driver licensing, motor tax, enforcement and road safety

remain unacceptably high and legal timelines continue to be breached. The State's first duty must be to ensure that children receive assessments and supports when they need them and not years later. The experience of families across Offaly demonstrates that disability services remain under immense pressure. While

here every year to talk about the issues with services for children with additional needs and children awaiting an assessment of need. The average waiting time in Cork at the moment is 27 months, notwithstanding the legal requirement that all children should receive their assessments of need … within six months. I spoke to a woman yesterday who had received a letter stating that her child would be waiting 36 months for assessment, which is six times longer than the legally permitted time. Government members come into this Chamber trying to cod the people. They

legal sense. The Government is breaking the law in respect of these children, and despite the assurances the Minister of State and others have provided to us, this has real-life implications. Many of these 634 children are being denied access to other services because their assessment

provisions specifically in section 8, which seek to expand further the functions of the public services card, PSC. This is being done at a time when that very card and the legal underpinning are being called into question in court. The Minister will know that his colleague … least that the card be protected by an up-to-date, state-of-the-art security feature, so that a person may use a virtual PPSN rather than revealing their PPSN; that the public service identity dataset is not used in any way, shape or form for biometric

example from one constituent in Kildare South. It states: We applied for the Assessment of Need in May 2023, we were advised that an assessment would be completed no later than November 2023, as per the legal requirements. However, this did not happen and I went through … vital services like speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy must all be properly resourced. Children must have access to special schools and school places in their local community. Families need certainty from the Government that their child can access an assessment of need and the services they

well be a requirement for State services. With many of the people who come into our constituency offices, we tell them that is the easiest way to do it. If what the Department is looking for is a State or national ID, then it should be clear about … interested in making money. There is a better knowledge of GDPR and data privacy. When the State has this information, we need to ensure that it has been obtained legally, is operated correctly and is protected with a sufficient level of security, which I do not think

Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, and Muireann Meehan Speed in my office for all their help in preparing it. When grid capacity is limited, as it is at the moment, the delivery of homes, public infrastructure and essential services should be prioritised. This is the simple principle … prioritisation framework Bill. The Government's laissez-faire approach to data centres and other large energy users must end. It is clear the State needs a more strategic approach to allocating scarce grid capacity, as was recommended by the European Commission in December of last year. The urgency

past few years, by 43 per cent since 2020, marking the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the Irish State; acknowledges that: — the Government is committed to supporting the global multilateral system, to vocally defending international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and human rights … look at this issue as it progresses. The triple lock is the legal mechanism governing the deployment of our Defence Forces on peacekeeping missions. It is not enshrined in our Constitution. It is a legal mechanism that was agreed in this House. To deploy our peacekeepers, our troops

systematic way. This has led, in other jurisdictions, to an inherent distrust of the state holding data on the person, restrictions on the use of that data and stronger legal and constitutional protections for privacy, confidentiality and proper oversight and governance. In the age of information technology … could use the infrastructure of the State to encroach on civil liberties, to target minority populations, for instance, or suppress political dissent. Furthermore, should the data be accessed by unscrupulous actors like hackers, compromised individuals within State bodies or foreign state actors, especially in the age of supercharged

getting it. Worse than that, however, is that parents have had to go to court daily to demand that the State implement what it is legally obliged to do. Hundreds of cases - thousands over the years - have happened. The Government then tried to pull a fast … factor of six, seven or more. We have far too many children waiting for an assessment. Children cannot get access to services. What is really appalling and upsetting for parents, who have to battle for services, is that the assessment does not come and they are told they

accuracy, effectiveness and legal robustness of that system is essential. I welcome the decision to remove the requirement for a paper motor tax disc. It is a sensible modernisation of a system that has changed very little despite the widespread digitalisation of our public services. Most motorists … also ensure that people who are less comfortable using digital services are not left behind as these changes are implemented. I very much welcome the statutory basis being provided for the Check My Vehicle service. This service gives members of the public access to important information and helps

family and GP working together. They make a referral to mental health services because they believe the person meets the criteria to be legally detained under the Act, and there is a legal framework to back it up. A consultant psychiatrist will then determine whether the person reaches … place to put a person because they are homeless. We must be very clear on that. It is about all elements of the State coming together. The Deputy might send me a couple of the cases he mentioned to see if I can be of any help

assessment of need, AON, in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. Unfortunately, demand has outpaced the capacity of the system to respond, resulting in long waiting lists for children to receive their … opposed to the High Court judicial review process. The total legal spend for the period from 2020 to 2025 is €498,072. These are the HSE's own fees and do not include the legal spend of the parties who bring claims against the HSE, which have been

State. I apologise, I meant the civil legal aid scheme, which saw a 60% reduction that has been attributed to the fee model that was applied there. The Minister has repeatedly stated that he has a responsibility to address the excessive adjournments, and I agree with that. However … forget about solicitors, however, because people who are seeking access to justice, including victims, need to be assured that our court services are operating. Right now, they are not. It is the Minister's imperative, in my view, to engage with the stakeholders and engage constructively to bring

national climate objective; and the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is a public body to which these requirements apply and with which they actively comply. Section … electricity and promote the use of renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy. These legal powers, as employed in the CRU’s large energy user policy document, demonstrate that the CRU has sufficient legal competence to impose requirements on large energy users to employ emissions reduction and offsetting

assist them to take the State to court. Obviously, it is ridiculous that people must do that. Of course, once the assessment of need is done, children just move onto other waiting lists for necessary therapies. Unfortunately, there is no legal right in terms of timeframes for access … stops breaking its own law, what we are seeing, in effect, are attempts to water down the law to reduce the legal liability on the State. In reality, we should be expanding that liability by introducing timeframes in respect of therapies as well as for assessments of need

nonaligned stance has allowed us to act as a moral honest broker, an advocate for peace and a supporter of proper humanitarian legal systems on the world stage. As an Independent TD, I believe we must protect that legacy but real neutrality is not free and being militarily … misinformation being spread and the ability to take out whole grids. That is a power belonging to some of the nefarious state and non-state operators. These and other sinister actions, like the explosions on the Ukrainian border recently, impact directly on Ireland whether we like

remind this House the dismissal of a senior civil servant is governed by the statutory framework established under section 5 of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956, as amended. The failure to provide transparency and accountability on when and how the Government exercised its collective authority in relation … Bill while the existing framework for accountability, human rights, data collection and the basic institutional integrity is consistently failing this House and this State and falling short. Before we grant An Garda Síochána greater powers, this Government must first demonstrate those powers are exercised within a framework

carers and people with disabilities, recognising their contribution and the security they deserve. We will build more homes and deliver infrastructure and public services to continue meeting this country's needs with faster delivery, less bureaucracy and better value for every euro. We will do so responsibly, protecting … receiving the working family payment, with approximately 470,000 households now benefiting. That is close to one in every four households across the State. The Tánaiste has also made clear that the planned phased restoration of excise duty due to begin in November must be considered in light

welcome. While the Bill creates the legal basis to share collision data, it does not require systematic collision analysis, a publication of findings or safety action plans arising from that data. As this Bill goes through, I hope the Minister of State will look at the data sharing … time when national policy is and should be moving us towards lower speeds and a safe systems approach. Will the Minister of State give an assurance that these amendments will not undermine the intent of the 30 km built-up area policy and the wider speed review

solicitor present during an interview. However, this legislation also deals with some of the most intrusive powers we have given to the State. It is about stopping, searching and detaining people and accessing their phones and computers. It is potentially about accessing extremely sensitive and privileged information. Therefore … material can be dealt with through an all-parties process before police are permitted to access it, the journalist and his or her legal representatives can be heard by the court, which considers the seriousness of the offence, the evidential importance of the material, whether other ways