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current Finance Bill is doing. It is giving primary legislative underpinning to the financial resolution; no more, no less. We in this House voted through a financial resolution to reduce the excise duty on diesel, petrol and green diesel. If there is a large gap between a financial … therefore, take some time for things to restore to pre-war levels. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and reserve the right to adjust our response. We have to get the balance right between solid budgetary management, which gives us an ability to respond

away, and I thank them for that, although I wish they did not have to make yet another trip to the House to try to secure justice for their son and brother Shane. It was important that the truth of what happened that led to the death … Farrell family, today's apology brings some comfort. I know it does for other families. It brings some hope to those who right now search for the truth, those who are denied an inquest and those who are denied the truth. I refer to families like that

should not just tolerate or legalise but embrace and celebrate. Thankfully, we play a major role on the world stage for gay rights. I pay particular tribute to the courageous campaigners who did so much to help Ireland realise that, including people like former Senator David Norris, former … Parliament at Westminster in England. At many times since then it was a capital offence, punishable by death. Most in this House know it was only decriminalised in 1993. Shockingly, military law still refers to the old 19th century criminal laws which state it is an offence

children who had been in the care of Tusla or at some point were known to Tusla. I absolutely accept that it is right that there should be public concern, scrutiny and questions asked. However, in response to the call in this motion for the dissolution of Tusla … drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence, mental health difficulties and intergenerational poverty, to name just a few challenges. For the information of the House, I want to put it on record that all referrals to Tusla are screened within 24 hours for risk of immediate harm. Where there

Science. I look forward to working with the Minister responsible, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, and the committee members from across these Houses to add our voices to the future of this sector. The importance of this sector cannot be underestimated. Investing in education is an investment … this package, the Government commit to invest in research equipment. Currently, a lot of the infrastructure is outdated and, as the Minister rightly said, there is a real need, as recognised in the programme for Government, for a new programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI

have either recently found themselves in this circumstance or may over the coming months. We have had hours of debate in this House but very little progress. Even if this Bill does pass this evening, there is now an onus on the Government to expedite the legislation … simply a political fix that was put in place to try to make the legislation more palatable, as opposed to it being the right thing to do. There are women out there who, for a whole variety of reasons, fall outside the 12-week mark because

major technology firms. With that privilege, however, comes the important responsibility to take a leadership position in making sure these firms respect the rights of individuals. I called previously in this Chamber for Coimisiún na Meán to be given the powers to require all platforms to ensure that … here in Ireland, but we have to be honest with people about the trade-offs in terms of there being less capacity for housing connections and eating up the renewable energy capacity rather than allowing it to replace existing fossil fuel sources. It is our responsibility as legislators

commission of investigation. His voice was very low when I was talking to him. A member of his family was in the house and he did not want them to hear what he was talking to me about because of the shame and stigma that are still there … great family. He and all these victims need support. Some of them have had to do it alone and that is not right

right to be an Irish citizen. All I am saying is that because of that inherent right, it should be fulfilled in their rights to have a democratic franchise. That is what we are looking for with this. I accept and agree with the Minister of State … rapporteur for the enterprise committee and I was given the task of carrying out the first report in Leinster House on the all-Ireland economy since partition. I interviewed about 100 people from all different backgrounds in the North of Ireland from different communities including Catholics, Protestants, trade

suspended following his guilty plea to a low-end charge. Margaret Loftus described compellingly how her ex-husband exerted control over her right up to sentencing, even censoring her victim impact statement. Her allegations that he had previously made threats to kill and that he exerted coercive control … Natasha O'Brien. Margaret Loftus needs to be given reassurance. She has said she will handcuff herself to the gates of Leinster House if nothing is done to address a culture that may include cover-up. Will the Taoiseach confirm to her that neither the Garda

solid actions. As I said, communities are right to be disillusioned, frustrated, angered and, indeed, ignored because there are no protections and their rights are being trampled on. Communities like Lemanaghan, which I mentioned earlier, strongly object to the wanton destruction of their bog, not just from … solution ye see fit is a simple reply email and no action just fills me with anxiety about another winter of this. The house is vibrating here again, I've damage all over the house from the vibrations as well as all my family being sick ... [over

thank the Deputy for raising this issue; in fairness to him, he raises it on an ongoing and, quite rightly, intense basis. The pace at which the defective concrete blocks scheme is operating has clearly accelerated over the past two years. More than €155 million was spent … provided €225.65 million in capital funding for Donegal schools since 2020. On childcare which the Deputy has raised with me in the House before, as it relates to mica, Letterkenny Community Childcare was approved for a building blocks grant of €750,000 in May last year

poverty with a targeted second tier of child benefit and other measures to provide income supports to households. There are the choices this House will have to make over the next couple of months - a hand up to children to give them every chance of a good life … powers. I heard the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, on the "News at One" on RTÉ Radio last Friday. He said all the right things. He is well briefed. He also said that what we need now is the evidence to take the appropriate action and that process

intrinsic part of rural life in Ireland. In spite of the immovable political positions adopted by some of the largest parties in this House, it is absolutely not something that is supported by the majority of people in Ireland, in either rural or urban Ireland. Last week, speaking … like to raise one slight point of difference with Deputy Coppinger on the Bill. Her Bill seeks to outlaw drag hunting and she rightfully points out that in England, drag hunting

sensible decision to take. We should control the destiny of how we participate in peacekeeping. We should control those decisions in this House and by the Government of the day. We have a very honourable tradition of peacekeeping in this country. I pay tribute to members … Europe-US relationship and to the Ireland-US relationship. I believe that President Macron's visit yesterday was a positive step in the right direction in that regard

Nevertheless, it is an important target and one the RSA should meet and needs to deliver. For the information of the House, the wait time at the end of January was 22 weeks and not ten weeks. In some of the busiest test centres the current wait time … term contracts were given to 75 additional driver testers, for contracts of up to two years. The Opposition motion questions, as is its right, recruiting driver testers on a temporary basis. It was the right decision at the time, particularly after the pandemic, to see how the increased

themselves that others took for granted. These people were being denied basic knowledge of their identity. Had the Attorney General considered mothers' rights and demands to access their records, and after 2018, what did the Attorney General think of the EU data protection law requirements in that regard … what we are trying to do here. I commend Deputy Ivana Bacik for bringing forward the Bill and I commend it to the House

signatories to it, including James Connolly, would have very little patience for this in the face of a glaring need prompted by housing distress in Dublin and the devastating, unfulfilled promise of the Proclamation. Instead of having the GPO as a relic to the past, it would … then put in place a plan of between five and ten years for the appropriate development of the GPO. We need, rightly, to recognise its history and we also need to ensure it can be an artistic hub into the future, remembering the past but also, crucially, representing

much of people’s hard-earned savings remains in low-yield deposits, where inflation can erode value over time. Deposit accounts are right for many people and for many needs but they cannot be the only practical option that we have available for many. Investment in capital markets … allow accounts to be offered from 2027. I say sincerely to Deputy Doherty and all the Deputies in the House that if there are other people who wish to feed into this process and who feel they have not had that opportunity, I ask them to please come

what Deputies had to say. I have no objection to Deputies raising peripheral issues. Indeed, there seems to be great expertise in the House in terms of the raising of peripheral issues. Deputy Carthy raised the issue of towns and villages in Ireland. He specifically referred to Carrickmacross … alcoholic beer. I also listened to Deputy Gannon and agree that there have been great developments in respect of this area. He is right about Capel Street and the same applies in respect of South William Street and Drury Street. It has transformed not just Dublin city

primary and secondary legislation under the Control of Exports Act 2023 and Ireland's obligations under international treaties, including in relation to human rights. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are subject to overarching Government policy, ministerial policy direction and strict internal governance and compliance standards. It is very … based here and IDA client companies to continue the good work they do and we look forward to progressing it through the House

matter what way he tries to spin it, is that the only certainty it gives existing renters, the 250,000 households renting right now, is that their current tenancies will continue into the future with the same threat of eviction as exists today. They get no new security … they will not face that market reset of rents. What is set out here is a recipe for the disaster and catastrophe in housing to become even worse. It is a recipe for rising homelessness. That is what this Bill is. It will cause increased homelessness

really glad to have the opportunity to speak on these statements this evening and that the Minister is in the House to listen. My home town is Ballaghaderreen, west Roscommon. This is an issue I have raised repeatedly since my being elected in 2020 because our town … classrooms. The works need to be progressed very quickly. I hope the lesson will be learned that towns that welcome and do right by people should be supported. That was not the case in Ballaghaderreen. The reception centre is now seeking an extension, and the planning application

confidence motion that has not even been written yet? At a time when this country has such major issues in disability services, housing, the cost of living, healthcare and climate action, it is incredible that the Government is choosing to spend its time this way. It speaks … improved. Those recommendations were not implemented. In 2017, a damning report from the Ombudsman for Children, Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment: A Children’s Rights Issue, was published. It raised "huge concerns about the serious and ongoing violations of the rights of children waiting for scoliosis treatment". It concluded

which viability is a significant question in trying to construct hotels and high-quality accommodation. We have the strategy open for public consultation right now. It will be important that we look at other ways in which the State can help to grow our accommodation, particularly the delivery … that regard. I have met representatives of all the short-term letting agencies. I have been very accessible. They were in Leinster House and I brought them to my Department. I met eight or nine representatives. I met a number of them in many different counties