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rather than ascribing a motivation to them. I believe they are in many ways common-sense proposals. Citizenship is among the most important rights a state can confer on an individual. It is not just a paper document. It is a reflection of a connection to Ireland … proposals, I expect that those transition arrangements will also be dealt with in a common-sense way. I commend the Bill to the House

need to ensure we maintain pressure on the European Union for its failure around the EU-Israel association agreement and the human rights conditions which have not been followed through on. The fact is that we are dealing with a piece of legislation. I accept what the Minister … would all have hoped did not occur. This also goes for the period of 1981 when Kieran Doherty was elected to this House alongside Paddy Agnew in my constituency. It is absolutely fine for families to remember those sacrifices and the sacrifices of the likes of Francis Hughes

year-olds are too young to have a clue about voting. I beg to differ, and I will give the House some examples as to why I do not think this is true. I will say, as an aside, that many adults also do not have a clue … they knew how to communicate it as well. The world will not fall in if 16- and 17-year-olds are given the right to vote. As our briefing document states, it already happens in several other countries. In Argentina and Austria, they have the right to vote

what has gone on in the backdrop. I am very glad for this opportunity to clear this up; I think it is the right thing to do. I am also glad we have taken the opportunity to put a pause on this to get the best information … process and targeted interventions and actions as may be appropriate, to be determined by the regulator. If there is a person in this House who disagrees with that course of action, I would like to hear about it. It is very important. Separately, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

bust a few of those myths with the aim of countering some of what I am hearing from that side of the House. The word I want to use is one my late dad was really fond of and that is "bolloxology". I hope the Chair will pardon … international standing." That captures what a lot of us are trying to get across. We punch above our weight in diplomacy, human rights and the values we hold around solidarity and social justice. That is where we are good. We cannot compete with the military might of other

programme for Government commitments to prohibiting the imports of goods from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. The general scheme before the House delivers on this commitment. Trade and services are considerably more complex than is the case with goods. There remains considerable legal uncertainty as whether … Israel association agreement. Ireland has consistently called for the EU to take concrete action in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. We have made clear our view that the EU must keep these proposals on the table regardless. Ireland strongly supported successive rounds

being told about the reality of people's lives is that they cannot cover the basics. There are people in this country right now who are choosing whether or not to turn on the heating. I was in Artane in my constituency last week, talking to people … almost 5,500 children living in homelessness. They are in a form of poverty. People cannot afford the rent. They cannot afford the house prices. The cost-of-living crisis is hitting them as well. We have an economy that is deeply unequal. I spoke before about

this legislation has been ready to go to Second Stage for quite some time. Every chance I get when I am in this House, and the Minister of State herself will know this, I will raise this legislation. The Minister coming in here and saying … read the Bill if he did not see sections 6 and 11 that specifically work in relation to giving the Garda the right to seize nitrous oxide canisters. The Government often comes in here and criticises the Opposition for not bringing solutions. I am bringing in solutions

Because it said it was operating within this framework when it could have put in place measures that could be in this Bill right now such as a windfall tax on energy companies, a levy on the banks or a levy on data centres that could fund … buildings and sites that they were not adding previously? We know some of the issues they face. I have come from the housing committee where the issue was being discussed by the local authorities themselves. They say one of the big reasons is they do not know

greater Leinster area have to travel to Dublin for opiate stabilisation programmes provided by a small number of GPs, and indeed that happens right across the country; and it is real when I look at the people in my community and the communities across Dublin Central - across Dublin … will work. The citizens’ assembly clearly rejected that approach. We know from the experience of Portugal and many other countries that a halfway house will not work because as long as gardaí remain involved in stop-and-search operations and spending precious Garda hours prosecuting personal possession

applicants and the application of the asylum border procedure. The chief inspector will have the power to investigate allegations of breaches of rights and to inspect asylum border facilities. Part 12 will also establish an advisory board for the chief inspector. The advisory board’s purpose will … that is sustainable, fair and efficient and that meets our obligations under international law. I look forward to working with colleagues in the House as we continue our discussions on this important legislation in the coming weeks. It is obviously very significant legislation. It is very lengthy

debate on behalf of the Government. The Deputies have made good contributions. Deputy O'Gorman has done incredible work bringing this to the House. We acknowledge the work that he has done. From a safety point of view, there is an effective EU-wide regulatory framework that … work he has done in this area that and, indeed, Deputies on all sides for their work to give voice and representation rightly to their communities on this issue

Education and Youth. The Government is committed to the provision of additional special places for children with additional needs. The Deputy is right that there is huge frustration and stress being felt by parents, and that should not be the case. As I said earlier, as a former … engage directly with school boards of management in relation to the opening of new special classes, including early intervention classes. I assure the House that the Department, the Minister, the Minister of State and the NCSE are committed to ensuring sufficient special education placements remain available

listened to people. We listened to the workers, families and businesses within our communities who are desperately struggling with the price of fuel. Right now, they are telling us that prices are putting them under pressure. Workers' pay cheques no longer stretch as far. The price of filling … worse indictment of a government than that. Youth employment is increasing and is predicted to rise further. Young people are worried about housing, the cost of living and jobs. I will read a quote for the Ministers. I think it is worth listening to. I wanted to abolish

Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care, including children's rights groups, academics, trade unions, anti-poverty groups, equality and human rights groups, led by the National Women's Council of Ireland; acknowledges: — the Programme for Government commitment for the first time to public provision … looking for anything other than what has already been committed to. Of course, I and other colleagues on this side of the House, and indeed the Minister, could add much more to that list such as pay for our early years educators, who are left at the whim

know we have a fight on our hands to stop Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from watering down or removing children's right to access an assessment of need in a timely manner. I believe I can speak for all of the combined Opposition when I say that … that contract, he declared open season on the public finances, showing complete incompetence. Anybody who has signed a contract, whether to build a house or just to replace a kitchen, will know that you need a plan in place. Even when this was getting out of control

heard an apology for that. I was also amused to hear the lecture from Deputy Lahart on how great things were for workers right now. I do not think he ever visited the picket line for Debenhams workers at Tallaght the year it was on. This … trade committee, if the Government wishes it to. We need to say that this should not happen again. I note that the housing tsar will keep his salary but, in this country, the workers are always last. I will also mention that

Minister of State to give it the funding it deserves. I will bring people from Sphere 17 to the House next week and I look forward to speaking to them. We spoke about immigration and migration earlier and the significant matter of the Crown Paints site in Coolock … youth diversion projects, funding for technical and trade education on the northside and proper resourcing for community policing. The parents emailing are right to expect better. Our communities deserve better

social homes and continue the acquisitions programme. Homelessness services rise to €563.5 million, up sharply from last year. Water infrastructure, essential to new housing, gets a 29% increase for Uisce Éireann to €2.2 billion, with overall water services at about €2.5 billion. These are the building blocks … January 2026, worth almost €2,230 a year for a full-time worker, is a step in the right direction. Again, this was largely ignored by Opposition speakers. The USC 2% band moves up to €28,700 in line with the increase in the minimum wage

working people, building the affordable and social homes needed, banning rent increases for three years, delivering the investment needed to end the housing emergency and to restore the hope of a generation. It is a big fail on the Government's part. I come to broken promise number … rate of investment provided for in this budget, it would take more than a decade to abolish the means test. That is not right

Government to act on the findings of that report. The report recommended that the Special Criminal Court be abolished and that a human rights-centred non-jury court replace it. This must only be used if the threshold is reached. We need to have 21st century legislation … seen an increase in Garda visibility in recent times and I welcome this, as do most Dublin TDs and most TDs in this House. What this does, however, is push gangs and criminal activity further into the suburbs of Dublin and beyond, into the outlying counties, where Garda

thank all Deputies for their contributions and for their genuine advocacy and work in this area. I recognise the real hurt and anger right across the country of homeowners who have been impacted by legacy defects as a result of defective concrete blocks. I want to put that … possible. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has said, the Department, in partnership with the local authority sector and the Housing Agency, will update homeowners in the near future in as clear and comprehensive a way as possible regarding what this new standard might mean

UNCRPD. We dealt with a huge range of issues. It was everything from autism services for adults, to participation in sport right through to the role and impact of conflict on those with disabilities. I commend ambassador and permanent representative, Mr. Fergal Mythen, and the mission … representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association, Rehab and AsIAm. Conor Lynott and Áine Dunne, in particular, spoke about their cases in relation to housing but no more than the young people from the NOW Group, they spoke about getting jobs, and how we do not allow

here tonight to highlight an issue that is causing real pain, distress and uncertainty for families right across Cork city and county. I refer to the unacceptably long waiting times for patients seeking to be seen as outpatients by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the South Infirmary Victoria … travel long distances or consider private treatment because the public system cannot see the patient within a reasonable timeframe. I call on the House to take this genuine request and insist that the HSE prioritise additional funding and workforce supports specifically for orthopaedic services at the South Infirmary

March 2008. His repeated offending and the State’s response to his consistent breach of court orders and sentences merits repetition before the House. It is an illustration of the havoc and, as we know, tragedy that can derive from the actions of a recidivist offender … year leading up to the death of Shane O'Farrell. It will not result in people having to invoke their in re Haughey rights and lawyering up in a process that would inevitably take years. More importantly, it will not need to establish any facts since the relevant