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more expensive than using petrol or diesel. We are in 2026. How is the Government not able to get something basic like that right? It has not been able to address EV charging for people who do not have driveways and only have on-street parking. Years later … others are being squeezed out. Everybody else in the country is being squeezed out. They are not able to afford ever-increasing housing costs, an ever-increasing cost of living and ever-increasing electricity costs. The Government just forgets about them. The Government could and should be investing

which he was elected. I appreciate and understand fully where he is coming from. He has raised it on consistent occasions in the House. As he knows, the Minister, Deputy James Browne, met with various stakeholders in Donegal in May of this year, including representatives from the Mica … increased in 2024 again, based on expert advice at a level to ensure homeowners get the money they need to put their homes right. In order to ensure the grant scheme follows the most up-to-date science, changes were made to the scheme late last year

proposals from the Commission on a potential EU-wide windfall tax or levy if such proposals are brought forward. Governments across Europe are rightly attentive to developments in energy markets and their impact on households, businesses and the wider economy. The topic of windfall taxes was discussed … part. I wanted to make that comment because solar featured prominently in a lot of the contributions. I thank Deputies from across the House for their contributions. However, I do not accept the motion and I push the Government's countermotion in its place

friend’s child – unable to access the support so badly needed. We will and must do better for these children. The areas of housing and disability are the two main focuses of this Government, as well they should be. I want to return to those doors having enriched … heard. We now need to catch up with those therapies. Every day is a struggle for these families, even when they have the right supports in place and it is the least we can do to provide them. I was glad to hear the Minister say two things

users across Ireland, based in different locations. They even tracked naval vessels, people in Irish prisons and they tracked phones here in Leinster House. Using this data, as we know, they were able to trace the residential addresses of political representatives. The Minister and Deputy Barry Ward were … know this but, to date, it has not taken necessary action to protect people whose smartphone data is up for sale right now. It is welcome that the DPC has announced it will commence investigations with a view to taking enforcement proceedings against two of the companies featured

newbuilds and describes them as newbuilds; on the other hand, when it comes to actually being part of a scheme the Government has rightly put in place to protect exactly this type of building and exactly this type of resident, it tells them they do not qualify … regulation and the fire safety systems in their building and March 2026, when suddenly a U-turn was done by the Department of housing through the Housing Agency, which administers the scheme, and they were told sorry but they were out in the cold, the Department

agree with everything that has been said in the Chamber, from both this side of the House and the other side of the House. A timed amendment is appropriate and necessary. I thank the Government for engaging me on this crucial legislation. The Minister of State referred … Government for engaging with me on this crucial legislation. I offer to work constructively to see this crucial legislation become law. With the right supports, the right training and the right legal clarity, we can build a safer school environment for all children and school staff

refill their heating oil? People tell us they have to go into one room because it is too costly to heat the whole house. Elderly people tell us they are afraid to turn on the heat because the tank is running dry and the cost of refilling … about waiting, reviewing things and monitoring and that maybe by the end of the month it might do something. People are demanding action right here and right now. They are demanding leadership. They are looking for solutions. They are looking for a sign that the Government gets where

email at 2.30 p.m. on Friday that I would not be here yesterday. There was maybe a bit of inadvertent misleading of the House yesterday but we will pass over that. IFAC did a research note recently on the impact of US tariffs and other policy changes that … rule. Of course, we will be submitting a medium-term fiscal plan to Europe as is required, but we have to get it right. Deputy Bacik will be the first Deputy in here at next year's budget or the budget afterwards saying that we should have spent

activities for the town. The lack of a wastewater treatment plant has robbed the town of its potential over decades - the potential for housing development, economic development and tourism. It is a beautiful town, an absolutely stunning town, yet so much has been stolen from it. I recently … wastewater treatment plant in Newport. It is crucial that this happens. Out of respect for the people of Newport, it is only right and proper that we should engage with them in a way they deserve

continued sustainable development of Dublin Airport while balancing the rights of local residents. Will the Minister outline for me what the rights of local residents are exactly and how that balance will be achieved? The Minister will know, having represented this area for a long time - I have … changes to the flight paths that took place recently were shrouded in mystery. People who never had a plane go over their house before found themselves in flight paths and they found it very hard to get answers or to get to the bottom of it. They will

will say at the outset that it is good we finally have this Bill before the House. We have been waiting for it for a while now. A number of its provisions represent real common-sense reforms. They look at the modernisation of the national vehicle and driver … bend or junction in Blanchardstown and there have been six crashes there over the past three years, but because of GDPR right now they cannot convey that information to the local authority, Fingal County Council. That is going to be resolved in this Bill and it is something

themselves to the care of our natural environment. Their passion, knowledge and sense of responsibility are both humbling and inspiring. In 2019, this House declared a climate and biodiversity emergency. The 2020 programme for Government responded with the most ambitious nature commitments ever made by an Irish Government … have to listen so that we come up with a plan that is beneficial to biodiversity, species and habitats, but is also right for the people. In doing that we will remove any misinformation. Already, we are seeing some of that misinformation emerge, especially in the area

like to see any lower than that. By international standards, a rate of 7% is actually very high. The problem, as the Deputy rightly states, is that the levy is not being applied. This is why we are giving its collection to the Revenue Commissioners, which is effective … living city initiative, which is a tax incentive scheme that has been extended in the recent budget, and the recently published national housing action plan, Delivering Homes and Building Communities. The Deputy and I agree that dereliction is an absolute blight on our society. However, he is misidentifying

very careful that when we trade, we do so in a fair capacity and make sure we defend the environment, health and workers' rights in this country. In terms of Mercosur, the actions of the Government over the past number of years have been disgraceful. The Government … representatives of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael do not feel they owe their democratic loyalty to the people who elected them to this House. Many of them feel they owe their loyalty on these issues to the European Union at times and international organisations. That is a real

built last year. When the Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris, was asked what his source for this information was, he said it was the housing Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The CSO today confirmed that only 30,000 homes were built last year. Disabled people are forced to fight … cannot allow threats, implied or otherwise, from other countries to influence our foreign policy or stop us from standing up for human rights and international law and against genocide. The ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are very welcome. However, there must be accountability for genocide

that road to addressing some of these issues, a key part of a five-year programme. What I, or anybody else in this House, did not know at that time was how very unstable the geopolitical environment would be and how it would impact not just us here … Transport, I am delighted to confirm €6.5 million funding for the vehicle adaptation scheme in line with the Government's national human rights strategy for disabled people. The new scheme will support drivers and passengers who require adaptions to enter, exit or operate a motor vehicle. It will

kind of scrutiny. Ireland voted to take abortion out of the Constitution and into the hands of legislators in these Houses. No legislation is set in stone and no law is beyond improvement. The public know that. The legislation also explicitly included a mandatory review after three years … which results in overly cautious and risk-averse decision making and a tendency towards refusing to provide the care. Doctors are scared, and rightly so. Anyone would be with their licence and livelihood on the line. There is no other area of healthcare where practitioners are exposed

night. They are geared towards hooking people and keeping them clicking. There is the potential for massive exploitation. Users need to have the right to turn them off. Tech companies should be held liable if their AI tools are used without the safeguards. The Government needs to regulate … Presidency. That is fine, but we need to do it. We have a responsibility to do it, as the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas

accommodation is inappropriate at the moment in that it is an open-plan office on the fourth or fifth floor of Eden House near the railway station in Coventry. I ask the Minister to try to find some resources in the upcoming budget so that a proper place … back to the point in hand, I welcome that this is finally taking place. I know the Minister’s heart is in the right place. I am sure the commission will be established, be survivor-centred and that the justice survivors deserve will be achieved

raising this. It gives me the opportunity to address Members on this important issue. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority of mine and this Government. To address this, a number of structures have been established, including a dedicated vacant homes … country, and this is one of the areas in which I am engaged extensively with executive teams and chief executives. As Deputy Brennan rightly pointed out in his opening remarks, it is true to say some local authorities are doing really well while others have a long

spell and somebody said to me recently that a newborn baby had to be taken to stay at someone else's house overnight. It is the basics. The bottom line is that I genuinely cannot get an answer. What I hope I can get this evening … deal with this issue, is a generic answer. There is a huge room full of people protesting because they want their common right; a clear water supply so they know they can turn their taps or shower on in the morning or get an animal

will try to action them in as far as we can. It is clear that there is broad support across the House for implementing the main measures of this Bill. It is rooted in many of the personal stories that many Deputies have shared today, and that Deputies … definition? The Supreme Court noted in its judgment that the State had already defined cohabitation within the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. Therefore, reliance on the existing legal framework is, I think, a reasonable approach for an Oireachtas to adopt in regulating

benefit from this budget. To those people who said Fine Gael was tired and lacking energy, the Tánaiste obviously had it right in 2024 when he said we had not seen anything yet. The problem with the slogan of who gets up early in the morning is that … qualify for help to buy. It is absolutely no help whatsoever. Again, this shows how out of touch the Government is on housing and homelessness, which did not get one mention in the 90-minute speeches from both Ministers. Homelessness is the biggest crisis facing our country today

keeping. The success of outdoor dining has always been about more than tables or chairs; it speaks to something deeper, that is, the right of people to experience a city as citizens and participants in a social life rather than mere consumers moving through it. If we truly … leadership. Outdoor dining has shown us what is possible. The people of this city, businesses and councillors have already embraced it. This House overwhelmingly and clearly embraces it also. It is time for the Government to stop renewing temporary solutions and start backing permanent ones by making this