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effort into the St. Patrick’s Day visits over the course of a week in the US. Across all levels, from local government right up, this has been very important. There is no appetite for hysteria here regarding what is going to happen tomorrow. No one wants that … They will want to see leadership from the Minister and the rest of the Government in response to whatever happens on the White House lawn tomorrow

special to be in the Oireachtas, but to be here as a Member is an enormous privilege. I have great respect for the House, as an institution, for the civil servants who run it and for us as Members as well. I thank the Minister of State … context of how we plan the public finances - if we do not manage the relationship to which I refer in the right way. That has to be a fundamental part of the work the Government is going to do over its lifetime. As a TD, I am worried

requires not only effective policing but also action to reduce poverty, inequality and social exclusion and to expand access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, sport, recreation and community development opportunities. Tá daoine feargach. Tá daoine scanraithe. Caithfidh na gardaí dul i ngleic go dian leis na dronganna drugaí … this intimidation. There needs to be a particular focus on stopping young people being groomed by drug gangs into a life of criminality. Right now, affected communities need high-visibility policing on their streets. That involves significant increases in community gardaí. There needs to be a concerted, sustained

that they needed an EIA, a screening out and all this. We were asking why. The drain near the back of that house was going into the Sinking river, up through Sliabh and heading to Dunmore to another river. It was going up to the River Clare … things, we were able to say that was our ground. A government has to adhere to whatever legislation is in front of it, rightly or wrongly. In my opinion, unless it does that, it is pointless. We can put something to the top of the heap

right there. The Minister of State actually met the group last Wednesday. I look forward to hearing how that meeting went and I will ask her to update the Deputy directly in relation to that. That was to kick off a conversation in relation … will continue to increase the funding to our disability services. The conversation we have to have alongside that is, as we develop more housing developments and more homes for people with disabilities in their community, so if, as you and your parents age and want your own independence

that we can have useful debates and discussions and tease through these issues over the course of the year in the House, at committees and through parliamentary question sessions and the like, in advance of future budgets. We all want to pursue pro-enterprise policies. We have … social protection committee, Deputy John Paul O’Shea, is the Acting Chair. We have published the new national disability strategy and the human rights strategy. There is a real focus in that strategy, rightly, on employment for people with disabilities. The first meeting of the oversight group

have called for some pension recognition for their child labour. As dark and unconscionable as that chapter in our history is, they are right to call for financial security in old age after falling victims to the crimes of a State that was supposed to protect them … home pay by between €300 and €1,200 per year may be devastating for many households. I do not need to remind the House of the devastating poverty figures we are already seeing. The number of children in consistent poverty has doubled in the past 12 months

should be talking about. I certainly have no plans to change Ireland's military neutrality. There is an overwhelming consensus in this House and significant support across the country for military neutrality. We should be proud of our neutrality. It is not just a cornerstone of our Defence … national security space. Perhaps a benefit, if there is one, of being one of the last in Europe to get this right is that we have access to the best information about what modern, fit-for-purpose radar systems look like. The Government has taken a decision

reality. It is the lived experience of their lives. They should not have to stand outside the Dáil begging for the basic rights of their children. Ar son gach uile rud, ní ceart go mbeadh orthu é sin a dhéanamh. Ní ceart go bhfuil orthu seasamh taobh amuigh … parent. Unfortunately, what this budget has guaranteed is that again we will see more parents and children protesting outside the gates of Leinster House. We needed serious investment in disabilities. For example, the Government has not provided the funding necessary to recruit the large numbers of special needs

property. Such a building is considered an extension, albeit a detached one. It does not have its own folio, does not count towards housing numbers and cannot be sold separately. It is part of the main homeowner's property. Where a principal private resident avails of this exemption … separate dwelling governed by the Residential Tenancies Act is completely unworkable and unmanageable. Homeowners would entirely lose control of their own home, their right to which is protected under the Constitution. That is the reality of the situation. These properties are built and have to be built

diesel. We handed it to the Government on a plate. It dithered while the prices at the pumps went up and up. Right when people needed the Government, it let them down. It allowed companies to price-gouge and increase prices at the pumps. What amazes … looked at. A number of people have contacted me recently in relation to fuel allowance, who, as a consequence of the housing crisis, are no longer eligible. Their adult children may have got an eviction notice and had to move back into the family home. Where their parents

wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss serious non-compliance with road traffic legislation. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss funding … discuss the recurring electricity outages in north Galway. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss actions taken by Government in relation to ongoing human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party against the Uyghurs. Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the shortfall of SEN primary school places in Shankill, County Dublin

make its decision as a collective and present its legislation to the Oireachtas. I will dutifully debate that back and forth in this House. I need to allow that process to take its course. I have respect for the way the Government makes decisions. While I reiterate … people have referenced, there have been incursions and moments of significant concern, even in the past few days. Therefore, it is right and proper that we are dynamic in how we continue to respond to this situation, but we now have aid flowing into Gaza, we have

concerns and the Government must address those concerns. All parents want the best for their children and every opportunity for their future and rightly so. As one of the negotiators for the programme for Government, I can say it contains a specific commitment to deliver improvements in paediatric … need surgery get it speedily and safely. The Tánaiste is personally committed to improving spinal services for children and I assure the House that is a commitment shared across government. Therefore, we must drive on to deliver the improvements that are needed as quickly as possible. The Government

just statistics; they are real individual children living in real families. Barnardos, the children's charity, has confirmed that homelessness is damaging childhoods right across the country. The real scandal is that the Government is trying to massage these figures and normalise this outrageous situation. This … children into homelessness. No-fault evictions must be banned immediately. The tenant in situ scheme must also be funded properly. Not a single house has been purchased in Tipperary this year, because this scheme has been completely vandalised by the Government. Households, especially those with children, are under

people to our country? How is Ireland's ability to cope in the following areas being measured and planned for: education, healthcare, housing, transport, policing and community safety? Forward planning and robust policies are critical for cohesion and the prosperity of everyone here. Currently, the only means … automated or outsourced and that we are going to need more than ever in the future. The third is meeting fundamental human rights obligations towards migrants, refugees and citizens alike. We are probably coming to the stage now where we are going to need a national conversation, about

meeting her on the issue next Tuesday. Of course, I would much rather be in a position in which we could in this House say the ceasefire is holding, the hostages have been released, the humanitarian aid is flowing and we have an Arab plan. Six weeks … children. The Garda has a job to do, so I need to allow GSOC to examine the matter. People obviously have a right to protest

area for which the Government is responsible, only 2,671 local authority homes were retrofitted in 2025, an increase of just 37 houses on 2024. The Local Authority Performance Indicator Report 2025 unsurprisingly found that the Government's target of retrofitting 36,500 homes by 2030 is unlikely … that? Tomorrow we will see public sector workers in the biggest strike we have seen in many decades. Public sector workers are absolutely right to go on strike because the Government has ignored them. It has completely failed ordinary workers. In the midst of a cost-of-living

been the grants we have brought in to enable people to refurbish and bring back to life vacant houses and dilapidated or derelict houses. Up to 7,000 people have applied for those grants and they have been effective. On the Derelict Sites Act 1990, again, the local … work being done to make sure that proposal is implemented efficiently, effectively and comprehensively but it is the right direction of travel given that the Derelict Sites Act, as administered by councils over the past decade or so, has not been as effective as it should have been

project can move from paper to reality. Families have waited long enough. This is the right project in the right place at the right time. It needs to be urgently brought ahead. Deputy Jen Cummins mentioned the Before We Die campaign. I certainly do not need … they can make. We need to be looking at that. I was involved in a community project in Skull where we built 12 houses recently. Two people in CoAction were able to move into these houses, but I had some fight to get them in there

what we want. We want enforcement and citizens having the confidence that when they follow their conscience and do what is right and report wrongdoing, there is a well-resourced system that sees disclosures that are made in good faith, through the correct channels and in compliance with … Dáil and to not mislead, however unintentional that may be. This takes me to comments made on the record of the House on 12 November 2025 by the Taoiseach in respect of the handling of protected disclosures. In essence, he appears to have claimed that there is somehow

data protection compliance 7.The Minister shall, within 18 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas evaluating compliance with relevant data protection legislation and regulations in the collection, usage, and storage of patient health data.”. This is long … just with benefits but also with risks. Privacy and security risks are unavoidable but the majority can be prevented by having the right safeguards in place. I accept that safeguards are being put in place via the Bill but ehealth represents a big change for our health service

price of butter has risen, according to the CSO, by 58% in 12 months. A staple in every house in the country has risen by nearly 60%. The CSO consumer price index shows that the prices of the most basic items have increased and the Government is doing … table which is good for them or their kids, but they are shopping to buy the cheapest, whether it is the right food or not. How is that a right way for parents to have to react to look after their families? They have no choice. Christy Moore

Minister of State has expressed, about what has been happening with the repression of rights in Hungary, particularly with regard to LGBT rights. We need to communicate effectively, both internally within the Union and more widely, why those values are so important, especially given this Continent's history … political agenda here. We have war in Europe and we have had only one opportunity for statements on the issue within this House. Within the media, with the honourable exception of the Irish Independent, coverage of Ukraine has often dropped off the agenda. As Deputy Bacik mentioned, Russia

rightfully expected the Government’s response in the amendment to this Private Members' motion to be the same dismissive smokescreen which has been thrown up whenever the future of the GPO and our historic buildings on Moore Street where the leaders of 1916 made their last stand … unthinkable and bulldozed our historical sites or not pursued developers who knocked down historical buildings in a dawn raid. The O'Rahilly house at 40 Herbert Park in Ballsbridge was knocked down despite Dublin City Council councillors voting unanimously to support a motion by Sinn Féin councillor Mícheál