Search the record

that but it needs to be separated out. I welcome the 80%-20% consulting model. That is a step in the right direction but we need to go the whole way on that. Mary Harney famously said that we could go with either the Boston model … look at this category of people for a moment. These are the same people who cannot get on a local authority housing waiting list. Many workers and their families cannot get on a local authority waiting list. They cannot get a mortgage - and if they

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 … 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

expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion. We are working with communities and Oireachtas Members to try to get this right. I thank the Deputy for the constructive contribution he is making to the debate. As the Deputy said, on 31 March 2025, the National Standards Authority … entire body of research. We are endeavouring to inform this on the basis of scientific research. In November 2024, the Department of housing made changes to the way the grant scheme works for certain homeowners, as the Deputy is aware. This followed receipt of the preliminary results from

ground in farm organisations, such as Mr. Tadhg Healy and previously Mr. Donal O'Donovan in west Cork. Tadhg is my right ear most weeks on farm issues and Mr. Dermot Kelleher, of the ICSA, is my left ear. I do not know which ear is the best … think I qualify to speak on behalf of agriculture. I have spent the past five weeks at Business Committee meetings raising concerns. The House needs to debate these issues. I appreciate that the Minister is present to debate, in particular, CAP, ACRES payments, the TB situation, GAEC, derogations

into a person's land willy-nilly and say we will do this because landowners have to be respected. The Deputy is right to raise the fact that it is the duty of the Government to protect power lines and the energy going into people's homes … doing great work. It is not his first time raising this matter since the storm. He has been over and back to Agriculture House regularly to discuss it. I want the people of Clare to know that

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 … 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

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 … 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

appointments. He was quick to tell me then how wrong I was but I will give him an example of why I was right. On energy infrastructure, it is clear that the Government is making all the wrong choices. Crucially, it is making the wrong choice between clean … taken up the matter with the new climate Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. We might recall that when in the Department of housing, the Minister opened the door to commercial LNG with his massive planning Act. At the time, he and the then environment Minister downplayed the impact

tariffs poses a significant risk to our country, society, workers, businesses and economy as a whole. All the Deputies here in the House understand the genuine concern, anxiety and distress all this places on families and people across the communities we represent. This will impact on growth … careful management of the economy and our public finances, we are in full employment, with a highly-skilled workforce and continued investment happening right across our economy. Only in the last week, we saw continued investment and job creation. Inflation has been moderated much better than in many

welcome the draft legislation coming before the House and thank the Minister, Deputy Burke, and Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, for their work on it to date. As other Deputies have said, the Bill, when enacted, will see the implementation by the Government … inclusion. We are saying that every individual, regardless of age, has a role to play in shaping our shared future. Protecting the right to work until the age of 66 is not merely a matter of principle. It is a practical solution for sustaining a robust workforce

pushing to allow Michael Lowry and his group of TDs to be part of Leaders' Questions. It is also trying to extend this right to backbench TDs from its own parties, who already have multiple opportunities to speak in the Dáil. Bizarrely, the Government then wants … statement, no answers. Has the Tánaiste asked Michael Lowry whether he had 57 meetings regarding the Doncaster deal, including here in Leinster House, because he told the tribunal he had no involvement in that deal? Has he asked Michael Lowry whether, in August 2002, he went

Minister of State with responsibility for public procurement, digitalisation and e-government, I will take this opportunity to close by sharing with the House my vision and ambition for public procurement. Before I do so, I will respond to some of the comments made on the floor … when it is enacted. That is a clear concern. Deputy O'Reilly also spoke about collective bargaining, as did Deputy Nash, and employers' rights. I take that on board. Some of that was already provided to us through our public submission. Deputy Nash talked about

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 … 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

calls earlier in the year for a €400 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 … 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

standing interest in this area and I say this simply as a person living in Ireland today. All of us elected to Leinster House have a responsibility to keep this issue at the forefront of our debates and our legislative and policy efforts. That … Garda Síochána and the Courts Service swiftly and to the fullest extent. This is not always guaranteed and today's motion rightly identifies the many barriers and factors that are working against women and girls who deserve timely, appropriate justice. While all efforts to help victims are absolutely

thank the Minister. We have debated this issue extensively within our own party. I am sure similar conversations are being had right across the Government. The focus of my question is explicitly on the timing of the legislation. The Minister reiterated what was stated in the reply … four weeks' time? The second question is on Report and Final Stages and when he expects those to be taken in the House. Third, will the Seanad and the Senators who anticipate a debate on this be allocated appropriate time? Finally, on the powers in the Bill

thought they knew more. People are paying €1.70 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 … Government parties - for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil - every time. They are decent people, and let no one say that they are far right either

before the local elections. Where will we be then? Will people be paying €3,000 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 €3,000. What … 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

print it is pyrrhotite. They threw the Housing Agency under the bus. I watched that happening. It is time for the Minister for housing and the Ministers of State to listen to us on the ground in our constituencies and give political direction to the officials … tell the Minister of State my experience. I hope he will reflect on that, start to show clear political direction, do what is right and not have the officials write scripts that make a mockery of this place

have been talking. That is why we are committed to continuing to provide practical ways to support local communities involved in integration efforts right across Ireland. Along with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, I consider it very important, particularly in light of what the country has faced … have their voice heard. They need to see real leadership in this area from us, as public representatives, as Members of this House and as the Government. People who are able and willing to stand up and comment must be allowed to speak and to have their voice

silent. Inaction, allowing billions of euro to be funnelled through our State to fund a genocidal war of aggression, makes us complicit. We rightly froze billions of euro in Russian assets after the invasion of Ukraine so where is the same rationale and approach in making a stand … problem. Practically every Minister's first words in reply to any question are "We intend to" - "We intend to fix the housing crisis", "We intend to solve the shortage of front-line care workers" and "We intend to support children with special needs". We intend to show Ireland

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 … 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

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 … 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

people who voted in last year's general election. I doubt it, because for the nearly 250,000 children who are experiencing poverty right now, my words and the Minister’s words, respectfully, mean nothing. For the thousands of children who woke up in emergency accommodation this morning … children and young people, for a mini-CAB to confiscate PlayStations and Xboxes and for fines for parents, to go through the House. It did not amend that motion but it is amending this one. That is shameful. I am not here a long time, but I have

with judicial reviews. The new planning legislation seeks to streamline the practice of judicial reviews but it was opposed by everyone in the House bar those on the Government side in the last Dáil. There is no point in coming in here and asking me what will … treatment is like this. Therefore, these are issues we should keep under review. We have the Constitution and legal frameworks, and people have rights and there are societal rights. In any event, I hope a decision comes through quickly because we do need to get the work under