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intention to bring a memorandum to Government on this next week. We call on Israel to fully lift its blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza. We must see further sanctions if Israel does not end this military offensive. We call … humanitarians who continue to save lives every day and work in unspeakable conditions. The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for humanitarian workers, a surge driven by the war in Gaza, which has killed almost 300 UNRWA staff alone. The attack on 15 Red Crescent ambulance staff

immediate ceasefire. The unconditional and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas is an absolute imperative. Israel must fully lift the blockade and allow humanitarian assistance at scale into Gaza, delivered by UN agencies including UNRWA and partner humanitarian organisations. It is a sobering reality that famine … sheer, bloody slaughter as a first port is certainly something we should all aspire to. Israelis have the right to live in peace and security but so do Palestinians. However, international law limits the use of force in self-defence to no more than what is necessary

That is why I am committed to supporting farm incomes. An increased Vote provision of €2.1 billion in 2025 will allow my Department to provide increased targeted supports for the beef, dairy beef and sheep sectors in 2025. In recent weeks, I have attended a number of farm … blocking minority of 35% of the EU population would be needed to prevent the Mercosur trade deal from going through, so acting alone, with our 5 million population, is not going to decide this. France is opposed, however, and Austria is in that space. What the likes

periods of uncertainty or turbulence is something for which Labour has been calling for a number of years. Indeed we are not alone in calling for such a scheme, with ICTU calling for such a scheme during Brexit for the agrifood sector and IBEC calling for a similar … provide targeted supports like more low-interest long-term financing and a marketing fund. The goal of State action must be focused on allowing companies to adapt to changed trading realities and retain their skilled and experienced workforce as much as possible. International trade has long been

purpose and was never adhered to. In 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the DAA knowingly ignored and exceeded the cap. Last year alone, the cap was exceeded by over four million passengers. As this Bill is very light on detail, Sinn Féin will be tabling amendments to address … This means a better public transport system that includes delivering the long overdue metro north project. The lifting of the cap cannot be allowed to contribute to worsening the traffic chaos that already exists in Swords and Dublin Fingal East. We will also be seeking wider investment

need to work on the logistics of it far quicker than we are working on them right now because we cannot allow children who have special educational needs to be travelling to Fermoy to go to school. We need to get the ball rolling now, get this over … families throughout the country. I was privileged to get the opportunity to teach those students and to play an important role in their lives. However, there are still serious barriers to education for many people. We still have voluntary contributions in most of our voluntary schools across

relation to our over-reliance on corporation tax. That is why the Government established two future funds and why in this budget alone we put an additional €1 billion on top of the €4.8 billion that is committed this year, recognising that we must put away our excess … full employment, we have been in a position to respond to people who need help with the cost of living. We have been able to increase the fuel allowance, reduce VAT on gas and electricity, increase the temporary fuel excise, increase income tax and personal tax credits

Europe and prices are continuing to rise rapidly; — the cost of home heating oil rose by nearly 70 per cent last month alone, the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded; — kerosene is the main heating fuel for 700,000 households across the country; — the prices of petrol … cent of parents had to cut back or go without essential items because of cost-of-living increases; — a Child Poverty Monitor last year found the number of children living in consistent poverty nearly doubled, to more than 100,000; and — Children's Rights Alliance Chief Executive Officer

mark World Mental Health day, we have to recognise the people who are struggling, often very alone and very isolated; the people who are living with anxiety, depression and serious mental health illness; and the families who are often very worried about someone they love and are trying … follow a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. That is where the Solace cafés come in and are so valuable. It will save lives, as the Minister of State said, and will reduce the number of people presenting at accident and emergency departments seeking crisis help. Crisis need

people in employment today than we had living here 50 years ago. We are an island that is at the heart of Europe and the centre of the world. If we look at our trading and relations with America alone, over 200,000 people wake up every … effective change. Establishing and investing in jointly owned subsidiary companies with third parties such as the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, would allow Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to work together to deliver critical industry and commercial property infrastructure. That is vitally important and it needs

intelligence and the prioritisation of operational advantage over human life, which is all directly relevant to the understanding of how such atrocities were allowed to occur. More than 50 years later, not one single person has been held to account in respect of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Reports … clarity for the Hayes family as to whether a full investigation file was ever sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. That uncertainty alone speaks volumes about the inadequacy of the investigation. As in other cases, questions arose about access to intelligence, forewarning and whether lines of inquiry

society. Across every sector from manufacturing to medicine, construction to finance, agriculture to creative industries, technology is transforming how we work, learn and live. Artificial intelligence, automation, digitalisation and the green transition are not future challenges, they are present realities. While these changes bring enormous opportunity, they also … families and communities. The question before us is quite simple: will Ireland shape this transformation in the interests of people or will we allow people to be left behind by it? When we talk about skills, training and innovating, we are not simply talking about economics

accurate, evidenced information during pregnancy, allowing them to make informed decisions and prepare for infant feeding. This is particularly important for mams living with chronic illnesses or other health conditions, who may sometimes receive conflicting or outdated advice. Support must also continue after birth. Access to lactation consultants … milk at work. We should examine how employers can be supported to provide dedicated lactating spaces, refrigeration facilities and clear workplace policies that allow breastfeeding mothers to continue feeding their children after returning to employment. Third, we must ensure that breastfeeding mothers receive information free from commercial influence

over Ireland. Research discussed this year has pointed to approximately 20,000 properties potentially being affected in Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo alone. It is the tip of the iceberg. The estimates rest on one crucial assumption, namely, the number of homes affected. If we cannot answer … living in subpar conditions they should not be living in. The demand for builders and engineers has gone through the roof. Construction prices are rising. Thousands of people find themselves trapped in homes they are paying mortgages for but that they cannot sell. Their lives

However, they still charge us the same amount for those groceries. Real incomes have decreased as inflation and the cost of living have risen. Electricity, which every person uses and which should be considered an essential, is being profiteered off. The price of electricity has risen … opportunity to note that they are all at the top of the BDS list. McDonald's makes €41 million in profits in Ireland alone, so the chicken mcnugget subsidy is very aptly named. Supermacs has profits of €46 million. Deloitte, the accounting firm, has told the Government time

older people are coming to our attention. In my area there is an eviction tsunami. A couple of months ago, in Dublin 15 alone, 115 families had registered with the local council that they had notices of termination. They are just the ones who told the council … time. That is what is facing people. I absolutely despair for young people now. I was talking to an American who has lived here for a year and they cannot believe the housing crisis in this country. They are just gobsmacked by the lack of action

week's budget but I predict it will be nowhere near enough to help struggling families meet the demands of a cost-of-living crisis that has now become a permacrisis for far too many across this country. We are, as I say repeatedly, a rich country that … heard from the energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, that the view at European Commission level seems to be that states should go it alone. The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, and the Government more generally, should not be using the incrementalism at European level in terms of ECOFIN

wishes to bring them forward but we want to respect the integrity of the PA service. It is hugely important. We want to allow the PA review group under the Department of children to do its work within the HSE. The three or less clients provision is included … quality, safety and consistency of service delivered throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. It is also important to note that this year alone we are looking at 1.7 million additional home care hours. Since 2020 we have increased from 17 million hours to 30.6 million hours. This

correcting the historic imbalances and then to ensure that future pay rises at least match inflation, because we have to protect workers' living standards and avoid industrial unrest, which affects our competitiveness in any event. No one wants to be out on strike. I get that … forcing them onto planes to Australia, the UK and Dubai. To fill the void, the State spends millions on overseas recruitment packages, relocation allowances and astronomical agency fees. However, it is deeper than that. I asked this week whether a full cost-benefit analysis had been carried

This motion is necessary because the Government has allowed a completely avoidable crisis in public sector pay to develop. For the first time since 2010, over 300,000 public servants have been left without a collective pay agreement and not because negotiations failed, but because the Minister … That is not a pay rise. It is a pay cut in real terms. It is a direct hit to living standards and when the Government erodes living standards year after year, when it asks people to do more with less and treats their commitment as an infinite

Gridziuska was travelling. The car was uninsured and lacked a valid NCT. The driver was replaced by Gridziuska himself and the car was allowed to continue on its way. That encounter could and should have led to his arrest. It could have prevented the collision that claimed Shane … memory to ensure no other family find themselves in such a position. Let me be clear: this is not about one tragic case alone; it is about the integrity of our justice system. It is about whether the safeguards we believe are in place are actually functioning

Irish Government to plan and prepare for Irish unity, through the following actions: — establish an all-island representative Citizens' Assembly or Assemblies, to allow for informed debate, and a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Irish Unity to enable careful planning; — produce and publish a plan towards Irish unity … Ireland. The momentum for the reunification of Ireland is building. Across Ireland, among people from all walks of life, the unity conversation is live and there is an onus on the Government to prepare for constitutional change and to plan for unity referendums. There are encouraging signs

works and resolves the dysfunction that the parties of Government have created, but has been directed solely and entirely by the need to live up to the provisions of the EU migration and asylum pact. This is a pact which Sinn Féin told the Government there … they all agreed that the Government’s approach was shambolic, that the heads of the Bill were incomplete and that this would not allow proper scrutiny to take place. The pre-legislative scrutiny report agreed across party lines set out very clearly that the decision of the Government

participating in early learning and childcare, parents are paying less, and staff have seen increases in pay. The substantial efforts made in 2024 alone are outlined in the recently published First 5 annual implementation report, the annual progress reports on nurturing skills and the national action plan … preschool scheme outside of preschool hours, both in term and out of term. This is making an enormous difference to the lives of children with a disability. Further extensions of the access and inclusion model for younger children and schoolgoing children are now being considered. Equal Start

21st century. That terrorism has taken many different forms, such as cyberterrorism, online radicalisation and online glorification of terrorism. In my lifetime alone, we have seen huge growth in this and the impact it can have. It has led to many deaths and many bombs in places where … factor in sentencing. We need to target early stages of radicalisation. New offences such as receiving terrorist training and travelling for terrorist purposes allow authorities to intervene earlier. That is key because we need to get in before attacks occur. This Bill enables gardaí to act proactively