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schools or special education must have parity of esteem with their peers. At the core of inclusion is ensuring students have the same rights and attainability and ensuring the best possible outcomes when they go beyond school. We did introduce some funding this year for the transition period … engagement and his interest in special education over the last while. As I said, it is important that we, as Members of the House, continue to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable because it is by that we will be judged

significant powers, has opened an urgent investigation into allegations of price-gouging in relation to the energy situation. I encourage everyone in this House to pass on any information they have in this regard. There is an independent agency. The Deputy and I cannot stand up and decide … there is no support from this Government for families is just not true. This Government has taken many actions to assist people right across the country, such as free school books, hot school meals and increases to pensions and the carer’s allowance. There are more people

commuting costs and so forth, I have increased all the non-adjacent grants this year - the first five levels, from the base grant right through - some by €350 and some by up to €420. Every single non-adjacent grant for students living 30 km or more away from … increasing thresholds as well. The threshold to avail of the various grants has increased now to €120,000, which means Members of this House, for example, can benefit from a SUSI grant, which would not have been the case historically

Producers Ireland, Animation Ireland and the creative guilds representing directors, screenwriters and composers. They have all agreed guidelines on copyright and intellectual property rights. I hope that is welcome news. Irish talent and Irish production companies supported by Screen Ireland have achieved outstanding international success over the last … Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, and his team and the officials who are with me today. I commend this Bill to the House

capitation grant is no longer fit for purpose. I know it has been brought up in the House quite a lot, even earlier today, but I add my voice to that. I have met with the INTO and spoken to principals from Bracknagh National School, High Street National … individual schools to sink or swim. Just because it is the way we have always done it does not mean it is the right way. Let us fix this for our schools and for our students

that as someone whose personal opinion is that we should end our military neutrality. That is not the opinion of this House, the people of Ireland or of the Government of which I am a member. I accept that limit of democracy but I am allowed to have … Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, predating the Nice and Lisbon treaties. These declarations - I campaigned for both of them - reaffirmed Ireland's right and choice to decide our own defence policy. It is somehow dismissed as inconsequential that there is an abundance of precedents in recent years

European Union, and we will have more of that during the Irish Presidency of the European Union. On Westport, the Deputy was right to mention Rosaleen Heraty. The people of Mayo did themselves proud in terms of how they organised at community-based level and that was evident … wonderful personality and performed on a number of instruments and sang, etc. It was a wonderful experience. In terms of social housing income thresholds, I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy James Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, and we have had discussions on this

thank Deputy Rice for raising the matter. I concur with him that we have an extraordinary dedicated library staff in Cork city right across all sections of our library service. As the Deputy will be well aware, the current libraries capital programme 2023-2027 is investing €22.6 million … overall Grand Parade quarter project, which is being funded through the urban regeneration and development fund, administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. My officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the URDF unit in that Department on the matter. In line with

will, obviously, need to be full answers and transparency in relation to all the procedures and protocols that were in place. As she rightly said, however, a Garda investigation is under way, and we need to allow that process to proceed. I obviously do not want … will also acknowledge that the Labour Party was the first party to propose that, and there is now a political consensus across this House among pretty much all political parties that this is what we are going to deliver during the lifetime of this Government

this very respectfully: I am very open to hearing suggestions from across this House and from all parliaments about what actions they believe the Government should be taking that we are not. In recent days people suggested that we join the Spanish ship, for example … been in contact with her too. It is really important that the European Union makes it known to Israel that we expect the rights of European citizens, including Irish citizens, to be respected. I have been in touch with Deputy Heneghan. I spoke to him either yesterday

light damage to the Holy See chancery, most likely caused by a drone explosion nearby. I want to share that information with the House because Putin talks about peace and all of this sort of stuff, and this is what goes on in reality. We have two presidents … only an existential issue for Ukraine but we see it as a major challenge to the security of Europe. It is right, therefore, that support for Ukraine remains a top priority for the European Union. Russian aggression features prominently on the monthly agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council

integrate with one another through trade, that can deliver mutually beneficial gains for economies by getting more people at work. The House will be well aware that that is now being contested and that President Trump is taking a very different view with regard to trade. What … businesses. Then there is the work the Minister, Deputy Lawless, is doing on higher and further education and how we can have the right level of skills within our economy and look to develop and to change that as technology begins to change our economies overall. This high

critical piece of work that underpins everything in regional planning, development plans and local area plans. It is vital we get this right, as this document goes to the very essence of how we do planning, development and infrastructure in this country. This plan should be an opportunity … particularly in Limerick. This would allow us to maximise the benefits of increased compact growth, which is vital in solving the housing crisis and meeting our transport goals. Regional cities outside of Dublin cannot continue to suffer as Dublin expands at an unsustainable pace, with infrastructure

failings and their effect on the investigation were acknowledged by the Garda Commissioner in his apology to the family in 2019. It is right that those failings and their impact be formally acknowledged here in the Dáil. For the Stack family, time has not eroded their pain … accepted the first Stack Medal on behalf of her late husband, recognising his loyal service to the State. The naming of Brian Stack House in the Irish Prison Service College is another lasting recognition of his contribution. These honours are important but so too is the formal acknowledgement

readmit its own nationals who have no right to remain in Europe. It works both ways though and it includes safeguards on human rights, data protection and monitoring. It sits within a wider EU partnership with Nigeria on investment, trade and legal migration. The motion is part … Lagos through the Frontex operation from Rome. That is what working together looks like. I ask that the Department reports annually to this House on returns to Nigeria under this agreement, including voluntary ones, and that the Minister of State continues to work with

done but the Government is not committing to doing it. It is deeply frustrating to have members of the Government come into the House and call these achievements when the Government is utterly failing to make progress on crucial issues. Conversion practices were mentioned. There was a commitment … have legislation this term. Does she mean before the Dáil recess? We need to know exactly when. Families are waiting to have their rights vindicated and the gaps in family law closed. We need to know when that legislation will be before the Dáil because we have waited

have had more games called off than we have played. Ireland is simply not equipped for winter football. I know others in this House disagree but some clubs might have an AstroTurf pitch; most do not. We need to have an open conversation from a health perspective … happening already. The GAA season has expanded for many young people in the county and they manage to compete in other sports right throughout the year. Until national and regional sporting bodies start talking to one another in the best interests of the young people, that will continue

very difficult position. We have been in a difficult position. Many Members have spoken about Irish Water in respect of the need for housing. Absolutely, there are huge challenges, and the lack of investment in certain areas is stalling the growth of communities. I will go into that … money to do so. It does not entail large-scale infrastructure. Even if Uisce Éireann were to get that part of its remit right, it would certainly take us a long way. Locally, in Bray, we had an incident over the Christmas period that meant people could

Seville declaration, particularly at Ireland's request, but fundamentally it exists in the Defence Acts. It exists in Acts of these Houses. That is where the triple lock exists. It is the threshold and the standard the Oireachtas has set for the deployment of Irish troops so that … shortage of locations to deploy Irish personnel to but the Government is not interested in that; it is even exploring it. Right now, all the Government's eggs are in this basket and the deployments it proposes to undertake outside of a UN mandate. The Government has also

legal loopholes and uncertainties. The Taoiseach is dressing deregulation up as reform but creating a system so opaque that nobody understands their rights. Nationwide rent pressure zones sound meaningful until you read the small print. Allowing landlords to reset rents to so-called market value between tenancies will … this will not work. His assurances collapse under your assurances collapse under scrutiny. The proof is in the pudding and the Taoiseach’s housing pudding is inedible. Take the tenant in situ scheme. This was supposed to keep renters out of homelessness when their landlord sells but last

townland called Scrothea West in the foothills of the Comeragh mountains, just on the edge of Clonmel. I was born there in a house that had no running water and no flush toilet. We had: five acres; two cows for milking; a couple of calves; two pigs … Farmers I talk to hate to see the hunt arrive because these people - wealthy elites on horseback - think they have a God given right to trespass on farmer's lands, to leave gates open, to break fences, to damage crops and to scatter livestock. By the way, there

would be reasonable for the person to be returned to the country. It is not, as perhaps has been implied in the House by some, that we are going to be indiscriminately dropping people back into random countries. It is clearly defined in the amending regulations what … qualification regulations, and non-nationals are protected against refoulement in accordance with the Geneva Convention and against removal and violation of the right to protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This is, as I said at the outset, an emotive issue. I urge

tape involved in doing business here, which is time consuming and costly. Rates are higher, the price of utilities is higher and housing for employees is a big problem. We have so much going for us with our great educated workforce, a stable Government, a stable business environment … attract retail stores back to our high streets. This will take a lot of thinking outside the box and putting in place the right supports to help our town centres thrive and not just survive. What are we doing to maintain our competitiveness? How are we working

important for the committee to consider carefully, given our adoption of the EU’s Al Act, which adopts a risk-based and rights-centric approach that is an example for other legislatures to follow. The report focuses less on the impact that Al might have on enterprises … child sex abuse material. As I said, it is surprising that this has not already been done. People on all sides of this House agree on the need to strongly regulate technologies that put our children and everyone else at risk, and will support the Government

Assembly committed themselves to the common cause of making Dáil Éireann a force for delivering sustained progress for the Irish people. It is right and proper that this is a place where our primary focus is on the urgent needs of today and the years ahead. It would … enough support to claim a mandate for government. Since the election we have been engaging in good-faith discussions with others in this House who we believe to share at a minimum a commitment to various core values. We are progressing fully in line with the approach which