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ongoing consequences. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has expressed the desire to establish a security and defence committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas in order that we can begin a reasoned conversation about security and defence. It does not mean building up military capacity … changing world. Any of us who have Finnish or Swedish counterparts, friends or family connections will absolutely inform us that they are rightly on a footing and terrified but prepared, particularly in relation to the Nordic countries. We are a million miles from that, surrounded by water. However

majority of Irish people want people to be treated decently. They want people to be treated with the same responsibilities and the same rights and benefits we would expect Irish people to receive elsewhere. They are just fundamental principles. There is a particular empathy with young people … putting the principle of the best interests of the child in various sections. However, I do think it would be important that the House vote on at least one of those to send out a very clear message that they are the guiding principles by which we judge

raspberry, watermelon and all of these sorts of things. There is a question on this issue we are not addressing in this House. There seems to be a huge influx of these shops popping up everywhere, along with the barber shops that will only take cash, will … will be done, but we need to address these matters. The other side of this is that we have to get the balance right. Everybody has the right to smoke a vape or cigarette, drink alcohol or whatever. I have no problem with that. That

will of the nation, yet the Government refuses to plan, prepare or advocate for it. The Good Friday Agreement enshrines the right to national self-determination, placing the democratic future of the island in the hands of the people. By refusing to engage in the discussion, the Government … that and to tackle head-on the issues of the day in order that this State can fully realise its potential. The housing crisis can be solved and we can ensure a place to live for all the children of this nation. We can ensure that our people

Certainly, nobody on this side of the House in any way laughs about such matters. The Deputy is entirely correct. They are extraordinarily serious matters. Men and women get up every morning, go to work, do a hard day's work and pay their taxes, and they want … mildly, of public money not being spent adequately and, as in this case, there being nothing to show for it. The Deputy is right about that. They are also tired of finding that there are individuals who are often somewhat anonymous when it comes to these issues

welcome this opportunity to provide an update to the House on the devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan, and to hear the views and concerns of Deputies. Many have described the conflict and its impact as a forgotten crisis. In truth, it is has at times been … Fasher. Throughout this war, control of territory has shifted repeatedly and with each shift, we witness a familiar pattern of widespread human rights and humanitarian abuses and violations, mass displacement and a rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation. We in the international community cannot stand back and watch

opportunity to again speak on this issue. It is a really important issue for Dublin West but it will also have an impact right across the country. It is interesting that it comes this week in light of the scrambler issue. I have raised the issue of Garda … impact. I simply do not accept the drone operators' views on the impact of noise as drones hover over your house. Anybody who has seen or experienced it will tell you that the noise of the drone as it drops off the package is unacceptable. To be fair

working and supporting the United Nations and pushing the European Union and other institutions to resolve conflicts through negotiation, to respect the human rights of everyone, but we are not. We are moving along with the militarisation agenda, the ramping up of military spending. Let us be very … drones. This is not what Ireland should be promoting. We should be investing in our people's well-being and the health and housing of people across Europe, not weapons of death, and retaining our neutrality is central to that

subject of sustained and serious concern for years around growth hormones that are banned here, enforcement failures and standards that Irish farmers are rightly never allowed to fall below. Yet, at the very moment Irish farmers are being asked to meet even higher environmental and welfare and regulatory … seriousness of this issue, the Taoiseach chose yesterday to try to wave it away, accusing those who raised legitimate concerns in this House of dragging down a good organisation. Sinn Féín is not undermining Bord Bia; the Government is by defending the indefensible, by refusing to acknowledge

mental distress is left behind in a waiting room. When we talk about crisis, we must also talk about our children. Pieta House recently shared a heartbreaking reminder that one in three people, which is a high statistic, under the age of 18 who turns … sought help, who did what we tell people to do, to reach out, go to your hospital, ask for support. His death has rightly prompted a hospital review. However, it must also prompt national reflection and reform. No person should ever walk into an Irish hospital seeking help

lack of water and wastewater treatment facilities. Many places do not have treatment plants. There are so many areas, such as 18 houses in one place in Knocknagoshel, that cannot get water. All their wells have gone rusty or whatever may be in them and the water … other words, the Government will have to buck up to ensure that people have a proper water supply. It is a basic human right

things are as bad as ever. One resident from Finglas I spoke to today said that every time they leave the house, they encounter a scrambler or a scrambler-type e-bike travelling dangerously on the roads, paths, green areas and parks. Last week, while they were … issues of road safety in relation to e-scooters and scramblers in the community are as bad as ever and it is not right. It is not acceptable. The concern is, as has been said, that this involves more promises without delivery. Injuries continue to happen. We have

Prime Minister Carney called that out in Davos and described the reality of the international world order as we see it today. The House is agreed on the brutality of the Iranian regime but if we are all honest, one would not have thought that for the past … There is a serious issue in the world. It is dangerous, without question. There is an absence of an international rules-based order right now. Of that, there is no question. It is dangerous for small nations like Ireland which depend on an international rules-based order

European army. This debate is about one thing. It is about our independence and whether we in Ireland should retain the sovereign right to decide for ourselves when and where we participate in peacekeeping missions. For decades, Ireland has earned an international reputation far beyond its size through … where Ireland sends its peacekeepers. Sinn Féin, ironically, would allow Britain more say than our Parliament over where we deploy our peacekeepers. This House is elected by the people of Ireland. The Irish Government is elected by Members of this House and ultimately the Opposition does not trust

community, goes online to look to see if a GoFundMe was set up. That is immoral to me and does not sit right. Furthermore, when someone applies for an exceptional needs payment, they are asked to disclose the means they have at the moment. They are not asked … fuel allowance. I have raised how this scenario of working adults living at home is happening more often because of the housing crisis and I would like the Minister to look at it. I wish to raise a final matter that I have raised before. I have noticed

symptomatic of a deeper systemic problem within the system. Let us not forget the ongoing scandal that I have consistently highlighted in this House, which to my mind has not been effectively addressed. The findings of the sexual exploitation research programme, SERP, report were very disturbing. The report … nothing short of criminally inadequate. This Bill is about protecting children from the influence of those guilty of major crimes. That is certainly right and necessary but even as we debate these measures here today, unknown numbers of vulnerable children remain in the care of the State

economic boom and there have also been crashes. The economy has been shattered but it has also been fantastic. I can tell the House that in some of the homes I visited, you would not know whether there was a boom or a bust going on because … this all day but the point I want to make is that no matter what the Government thinks it is doing and getting right, until no child is living in poverty it has not got it right. There is a way out of this but the Government needs

important that we work collectively with other countries to stop that. Crime is causing enormous stress for rural communities, in towns and villages right across the country. It is important that we have a serious conversation about what happens to people when they are released from prison. Over … place recently released offenders into privately run, profit-led facilities without any oversight. When you take a man who may have burgled a house and place him alongside a man who may have burgled a car, that is not a rehabilitation centre. You are effectively creating a school

Roughly speaking, we are planning on spending €275 billion out to 2035. That is badly needed for housing, for the enabling infrastructure for housing and a growing population and for the delivery of modern public services, including in the area of health. I and my colleague the Minister … constituency action in relation to that. On health specifically, we are expecting the HSE capital plan to be published, as the Deputy rightly said, in the next number of weeks. The Minister for Health will keep in close contact with the Deputy in relation to that and with

County Council and Meath County Council, with no overall cohesive plan for the area. We have two councils with no holistic plan for housing, infrastructure, transport, employment, and community and sporting amenities. This has proven to choke progress and stifle the growth of the largest town … government and more centralisation of powers instead of improving local government and delivering real local democracy. The Minister, Deputy Browne, recently noted that right now there are no formal criteria for awarding city status. Under the Planning and Development Act 2024 a city is defined primarily

parties in this Chamber that continuously seek to shut down conversations around this issue. There are conversations happening on immigration in nearly every house in the country, in every pub, in every sports ground and in every workplace at present. How can it be that there are going … freedom, but if people are coming to these countries to seek asylum, they should apply when they move from one island to another. Right now, the Government does not know how many people are coming from Britain through the North of Ireland into the South, or how many

hardship. We in the Independent Ireland party believe the Government must go much further and much faster. It must declare a national housing emergency because that is what it is. The Government must use emergency powers to cut through the endless red tape that is choking delivery … architectural certification and mechanical ventilation are pushing providers away and leaving children without a hot meal. Some children who are living in the right place can get it but others cannot. It is a case of tough luck. That is basically how the system the Government

group seeking urgent ring-fenced Government funding for residential care and housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. Their needs are threefold: purpose-built housing; establishment of a clear, gradual transition plan rather than emergency placement; and a dedicated Government-invested programme rather than the current piecemeal funding which … needs to be catered for. The Government has a legal and moral obligation to provide these services. Ireland has committed to protecting the rights of people with disabilities through legislation and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This convention recognises the rights of people

purpose and spirit committee members brought to the task at hand is manifest in the report. I urge all Members of both Houses and officials in all Departments to pay special attention to it. The report runs to 42 pages. Pages 9 to 11 are the key pages … appropriate along the way. What has become evident, and it is manifest in Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, is that the focus now has to be needs based and on the needs of the child, and not necessarily

implemented appropriately, they complement each other. The Data Protection Commission could also have a greater role. It has protected citizens and their rights through the enforcement of the GDPR. However, as AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, organisations increasingly need practical guidelines and guidance … commitment to online safety and the promotion of trustworthy AI innovation. I commend the Minister of State on bringing it to the House. I very much welcome