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finance relations with the State of Israel because of its involvement in genocide, apartheid and multiple breaches of international law and human rights is agreed. Second Stage will be agreed unless the Minister of State says "Not agreed". That is what is going to happen. Despite … doing, and it always has. I lived there. The reason the Minister of State has to put up with me in this House is because I went there. I was not political; I went there when I was 18 years of age and I stumbled into the first

felt in the community of Ballymun and by people right across this country, but nowhere more acutely than in Ballymun. As the Deputy rightly said, on 28 April, a man armed with a handgun was seen near Ballymun Garda station where a second man was being detained. Both … want to comment too much on that part, but I join with the Deputy and everyone else in this House in asking anybody with any information in connection with the investigation to come forward either to the local Garda station in Ballymun or to the Garda confidential line

costs, this becomes 42.6%. That is more than double. Even more worryingly, the 22% of supported renters in poverty jumps to 58% once housing costs are accounted for. The Minister of State and I both know that direct cash transfers in the form of additional child benefit … last year. That is 186.8% compared to 2020. These are all really serious factors which are impacting. The Children's Rights Alliance tells us that between 24 and 25 there has been an increase in the proportion of individuals living in consistent poverty and experiencing food deprivation. There

help. It is to be hoped they will get a targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grant for it. That will help water quality right around the country, which is the bottom line. The one part of it I am trying to fathom is that … concerns the changeover of buildings to allow a pub or whatever to be made into a residential property. Anything that will help with housing supply is a good thing. Anything that will give a roof over somebody's head is a good thing. We should welcome that people

board-led governance model for the HSE, first legislated for in 2019, was a vital reform. The 2013 directorate structure was rightly found by the Sláintecare report to be unfit for purpose. This Bill builds on that by ensuring that the CEO is directly accountable to the board … while the big ticket plans grab attention, it is equally important that we support smaller capital projects in communities, for example, delivering on housing and respite facilities for people living with disabilities. I know the Minister will continue that focus in budget 2026. I commend the Minister

they need to move somewhere else in the country or out of the country or any other reason – they simply cannot sell their house and so they are stuck with this. To add insult to injury, all this can then be passed on to their children after they … their fault; they must not be forced to pay financially, emotionally, psychologically and in the massive disruption to their lives. It is not right for all this to be put on them. It is the State and the private companies who are responsible and they should

still talking about mica, when the fact of the matter is that this is not just something that affects defective concrete blocks in houses but affects poured concrete and other building material. The core issue, as always in this country with anything during the Celtic tiger period … block scheme so no individual is ever forced to retain a foundation where engineering uncertainty exists. Homeowners must have an explicit, fully funded right to opt for a complete foundation replacement if there is reasonable doubt. We need to ensure that all residual structural risk remains with

follow on from Deputy Murphy's point, one of the biggest obstacles to solving the housing crisis and the chronic deficits in infrastructure in this country is the lack of skilled tradespeople. We are making it difficult for young people to qualify in these areas by allowing these … says young people, including those doing apprenticeships, should not be paid less than the minimum wage. The minimum wage should be a legal right and entitlement

Government has proposed to scrap the triple lock. In 2013, when the Taoiseach was on this side of House, he said "triple lock ... is at the core of our neutrality". I agree with what he said then. As a member of the defence committee, we have looked … weekend poll which again showed 71% of people in favour of maintaining neutrality. This comes on the back of a flood of right-wing propaganda in dozens of newspaper articles over the past 12 months calling for the scrapping of the triple lock and neutrality and the full

developed or deployed in the EU. It is designed to provide a high level of protection to people's health, safety and fundamental rights, while simultaneously promoting the adoption of human-centric, trustworthy AI. Its provisions will start to apply in a phased manner over the period … authorities' oversight and understanding of the opportunities, emerging risks and impacts of AI use. Additional information not given on the floor of the House. They should facilitate regulatory learning for both authorities and businesses. The participation in the AI regulatory sandbox should focus on issues that raise legal

need to grow that by a further 2,000. It is no wonder that recruitment and retention is such a chronic issue. The housing crisis permeates the Defence Forces, as it does all sectors of society. There has been continued failure on pay and conditions … tonight. If the Government is so confident in relation to lifting the triple lock - if those in government really believe that is the right thing to do and they believe they can win the argument on lifting or amending it - let us actually have a public debate

child benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department's projections of school place requirements. While the Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places … places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country. The programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced

There has not been a single round of sanctions. You would believe in here, with the speeches from the Ministers, that when they rightly describe Putin as a brutal imperialist thug that he is the only one in the world. There is barely a mention of the genocidal … spends $1.5 trillion, which is ten times what Russia spends on arms. Thousands of billions of euro that should be going into health, housing, education and addressing the cost of living are used to make missiles, weapons, bullets and ammunition, which are then sold on if they

committee. I served on that committee for eight years and I wish her well because it is an extraordinarily important committee of the Houses. I hear the Deputy's concerns and I thank her for raising the matter. As the former chair of the health committee, I understand … oriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services to enable a “home first” approach. It is acknowledged – as the Deputy has rightly said - that the Balbriggan area has grown significantly in recent years, with the population increasing by 12% between 2016 and 2022. Among towns with

their own Government. It is a fair point because the simple fact is the State has a legal obligation to vindicate the right of all children to an education, yet it is being taken to court for failing in that duty all the time. While sometimes the State … roles of a therapist and an SNA, and our SNAs are so overburdened? The Taoiseach often asks where the solutions are in this House. I have a set of solutions here for him. We have our motion. It is before the House tomorrow. I am asking the Taoiseach

behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy McCarthy for the opportunity to update the house on ambulance service provision in east Cork. I thank him for the manner in which he raised it and am sorry to hear about the person who passed away. As the Deputy will … ambulance response performance, provide for additional intermediate care service capacity and further development and expand NAS alternative care pathways, including community paramedic services right across the county. Regarding the south west, including east Cork, additional NAS resources for 2026 will include additional emergency vehicles in Cork city

conscious. It retreated because it was caught. It retreated because it knew that tomorrow thousands would take to the streets and tonight this House would hold it to account. We cannot allow a late-night rescue act to mask the fundamental truth. The system is still broken … cast iron whole-of-government commitment that every single child with additional needs will get the support they require as a matter of right, not as a matter of administrative convenience. The motion before the Dáil offers this Government a chance to do more than just reverse course

with other non-EU countries and, in respect of each or most of them, there has been similar democratic underpinning within Ireland's Houses of the Oireachtas so I think that is very clear evidence that the elected representatives of the Irish people have had a very significant … terrorism and serious crime. He will also be aware that this data has to be processed and controlled in accordance with fundamental human rights. He may be aware that a case was brought to the Court of Justice of the European Union, CJEU, back

supreme court in London to fight their case to see if they can get justice. To create legislation that gives a right to a British secretary of state to say "No" to an investigation, when we know this particular individual has already said "No" to investigations, is wrong … disappeared, files went missing and the investigation was closed within ten weeks. Motions have been passed a number of times in this House demanding the British Government make the necessary files on this available and it has refused to do so. Denise Mullen is a former Aontú councillor

moving of individuals between schools and dioceses and the use of legal processes to silence and deflect accountability. The terms of reference also rightly include a survivor engagement programme, grounded in a trauma-informed approach. This will also allow survivors and the family members of those who cannot … undo the past, we can honour their testimony with action, honesty and a firm commitment to justice. I urge all Members of this House to support the motion. Let us approve the establishment of the committee of investigation, not as a symbolic gesture but as a concrete step

drive innovation and ultimately secure employment and high-value jobs. Ireland is a leading player in several important industries, as everyone in this House knows well. We export the products of those industries worldwide, namely, pharmaceuticals and medicines, semiconductors and medical devices. We are home to many leading … creative and cultural industries match those employed in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, yet we hear a lot about the latter - rightly so - but the former is sometimes neglected. The arts and the creative industries are just as important as any other. The programme for Government sets

Opposition will retain a greater share of speaking time and more opportunities to question the Government than any other Opposition in Europe. No rights are being infringed. The opening of every day will continue to be dominated by questions from the Opposition, and the Opposition will continue … media to accept its framing of everything always being the fault of others. Sinn Féin believes that the dominance of briefings in Leinster House on news coverage would enable it to avoid having to answer any questions. That is why its Minister for enterprise in Belfast resigned

greyhound industry. Animal welfare charities were given €6 million. Last year the ISPCA was given €1.2 million, which was €868 per dog to house, while the greyhound industry got €8,000 per dog. What is so special about this industry that it gets so much more money than … have just banned it in New Zealand. It is really time Ireland caught up. Leo Varadkar described us as a laggard in animal rights. Unfortunately, he did not do a lot about it but now we have a chance to do this. This is an industry that

note the Labour Party motion, which sheds light on a very important matter we absolutely must tackle and deal with. I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this motion and on the important role young carers play in Ireland today. I thank my colleague … scheme and to provide 27,000 hours of respite per year. This is a Government that supports and will continue to support carers' rights throughout the country. It recognises the challenges that carers, especially young carers, face day to day and it is ambitious in its commitment

make a wider point about energy policy and delivery, which, the Minister will be aware, I have spoken of several times in this House. We can and must do two things at once. We must keep people safe in the energy system we have today while we accelerate … Minister for energy spent too much time tinkering around the edges and not enough time delivering solutions we need. If we get this right, it is not just about meeting targets. It is about energy security, reducing long-term costs, resilience and jobs, including in coastal communities which