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concerned, the Government parties' election promises were nothing more than a box-ticking exercise. For years, campaigners in this House have tried to push forward this occupied territories Bill and today I think about the Opposition TDs who have been pushing for this for years, Senator Francis Black … every 33 people in Gaza has been killed. Let us think about those numbers. The equivalent of five TDs in this House, when it is filled up, have been taken out and killed. One child has been killed every hour 24 hours a day for two years. That

have driven it and I want to get it done. By the way, I appreciate all the contributions that Members in this House make. It is not the case that they have not scrutinised the matter or given me their views on these issues. In many respects … Independence. I very much welcome the discussion on this. I know there is a lot in the Bill. Everyone in this House wants to get these provisions enacted, not for the benefit of Deputies or Ministers or anyone else but for the benefit of members of the public

Like everybody else in this House, I would have had loved to have plenty of time to speak to my amendment, which is No. 20. Out of respect to Deputy Gannon, who I presume is going to want to speak on this, I am going to be quite … counselling notes right from the very outset. It also reflects the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It essentially is looking for a halfway house on what the Minister has proposed and what we would like to see. We have accepted that a total ban on counselling notes

Antisocial behaviour in some local authority estates and approved housing body, AHB, estates is becoming a growing concern. Constituents regularly contact me regarding intimidation, harassment, bullying and serious criminal activity. In some cases, affected residents will not contact the Garda for fear of reprisals. I have zero tolerance … years to escape the situation while those causing the problems remain in place without consequences. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for housing to examine the current legislation and consider giving local authorities stronger powers to deal with antisocial behaviour and put more pressure on AHBs to deal

State continues to fund an international protection accommodation services, IPAS, centre on the site of the former historic Dundrum House Hotel despite repeated concerns raised by me around due diligence, transparency, planning compliance and the protection of our built heritage. On the issue of planning compliance, a decision … days, however, further evidence has emerged of the serious and accelerating deterioration of a protected structure on the site, that is, the manor house. What was once an important historic building is now being used as a dumping and storage area for the operation of the IPAS centre

violence against a former partner or partner to be included on a public register. We will seek to get the Bill through the House as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Chief Whip is very much focused on doing that. It shows that Members of the House

past few weeks we have had a large number of social housing projects in my area completed, namely, Millview, Melville and Piper's Square, which will contribute more than several hundred cost-rental and social units. Last week, we were informed that the Land Development Agency had bought … Taoiseach to do everything in his power to work with the LDA to ensure there is affordable purchase and cost-rental housing on this new site and that residents are engaged with about what that will mean for the area

Limerick faces a severe housing deficit. It is 6,000 homes behind delivery targets. The Taoiseach recently spoke at the Limerick Chamber business luncheon but planning permissions and housing commencements are down 40% in Limerick in the past year and both the Chamber and An Taisce

wider roll-out to special schools commencing in the 2026-27 school year. Additional information not given on the floor of the House It is planned that this service will be extended to special classes and mainstream classes following the roll-out to special schools. Initially the service … that special schools support children with complex needs. Other initiatives to support a whole-of-government approach to disability include increased investment in housing adaptation grants and in the public transport retrofit programme, along with enhanced supports for employers for the employment of disabled people. In addition, budget

point where we can all catch a breath. That, I think, is the one thing that unites us all in this House. Any of us with any sense, however, know that no government, regardless of how fortunate this country is in terms of the surpluses we post year … PAYE tax bands, rates and credits. We all know politics is about choices. I am comfortable with that and people in this House should be comfortable about it. It is the bread and butter of politics. I think the Minister of State will agree that politics is fundamentally

Bill the Minister of State has brought before the House in many ways represents everything that has been so wrong with the Government's approach to the fuel price crisis and to the broader cost-of-living crisis. Everything is too little, too late. It took … work. Green diesel costs nearly 50% more. The most bizarre aspect of the financial resolutions that have come before the House is the Government's commitment to increase the carbon tax every single year until 2030, despite the irrefutable evidence that carbon taxes hit lower income people

taken and families are destroyed anywhere in the world is 100% wrong but look at Irish history. There are people in this House who have been involved in the taking of lives. They are sitting in this House

synonymous with that country. The selective outrage directed as Israel, and only Israel, undermines the credibility of those demanding a boycott. This House has spent a disproportionate amount of time on this one international conflict, while urgent domestic issues - the housing emergency, the crippling cost of living

wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway. Deputy Malcolm Byrne … discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow. Deputy Keira Keogh - To discuss the transparency of the CODA process for LGFA clubs and players. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the urgent need for a person (details supplied) to have treatment under the EU cross

budgetary oversight committee too. First, it is being done in the context of the Estimates process for budget 2027. Transport is at 1.4%. Housing is at 0.1% and justice is at 0.7%. We have specifically provided a carve-out for housing for obvious reasons and similarly for justice

proper bodies. We want to simplify wider processes, which is why the Critical Infrastructure Bill is progressing at pace through the Houses. We also have the joint utilities and transport clearing house, which has started reducing co-ordination delays that are an issue across different areas of public

also welcome the Government's continued focus on accelerating the delivery of crucial infrastructure projects, particularly in view of the importance of housing, transport and utilities to economic growth and regional development. One issue that is occasionally raised by communities, businesses and local authorities is the need … faster decision-making across the agencies and Departments involved in major projects. Delays in infrastructure delivery can have very real consequences for housing supply, inward investment and regional growth. Can the Minister outline what practical improvements are being seen on the ground as a result of the implementation

capital plans. We responded to that with a €12 billion allocation. Some €2 billion of the €12 billion is even additional headroom for housing supply. We want to ensure that Irish Water builds and advances many of these projects. I do not have a specific breakdown with respect … villages. I will engage directly with Irish Water on that because there should be clarity with respect to capital plans also across housing development. People need to know their ability to connect into a wastewater treatment plant and how that meets their objectives with respect to planning permissions

million on top of the €4 million it already had, we could retain a multidisciplinary art space and build social and affordable housing on top of it, so we would get a win-win. We would get a community, arts and cultural space, which we badly need, rather … than allow it to be lost, and we would get social and affordable housing in the city centre for €6 million. Instead despite the promises of the Minister's predecessor to that community, it has been allowed to close down. By the way, it is not yet over

thank the Deputy. As I say of all Deputies across the House, the engagement they have with the education system is crucially important. We are able to have very informed debates here in Leinster House with Deputies' contributions. Deputy Heneghan mentioned a number of schools. We will certainly

believe in honest politics as well, and I think everyone in this House engages in good faith on behalf of the people they represent, as the Deputy does too. I reject the assertion that this is in any manner of means a cut because that would suggest that … payments. It must not impact Department of Health pay allocations - in other words, staffing - or Department of justice staffing. It must not impact housing, disability services or a number of other carve-outs. This is a levy that ranges from about 0.02% to 1.4%. In the context

believe that it is a coincidence that the deadline of 17 July was set. We do need accountability in this House. We know that, for example, the medium-term expenditure framework was published the day after the Dáil rose last December. That is a very significant five-year … decisions when the Dáil is in recess, with no accountability and with Ministers not being available to be held to account by this House for their own budgets for 2027 and their own Estimates in advance of budget 2027. This is a very significant development from the Minister

suggesting that data centres are costing all of this money. That ignores the fact that I put on the record of the House the economic analysis available to me, as Minister of Finance, in terms of the benefit to this country in terms of taxes and employment … does not have the luxury of ignoring that. If we did ignore it, the Deputies would be the first to come into this House and condemn the loss of jobs

Bill be now read a Second Time". I am pleased to introduce the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 for the consideration of the House on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. This Bill is a comprehensive legislative proposal which aims to improve transparency, accountability and value-for-money … Bill aims to fundamentally reform the governance and regulation of RTÉ and TG4. I look forward to working with all Members of the House as we progress this Bill

welcome that part of it. It is important that this second level of oversight is there and direct accountability to this House and the taxpayer in respect of public money. It is a key recommendation. It is key for the Minister of State to make sure that … conditions and they will have "if and when" contracts. That is a very uncertain way to live when the cost of a house in Dublin is so high and when someone has to have a permanent job and income to get a mortgage. Coimisiún na Meán's broadcasting

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the processes used by the fire brigade and emergency services to locate addresses; if those processes include Eircodes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37967/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 689 of 12 May 2026, if he will clarify what is meant by "under the microgeneration support scheme led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, 'solar

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of grants approved under the vacant property refurbishment grant since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38021/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of septic tank inspections carried out in County Louth under the National Inspection Plan 2022-2026, in each of the years from its inception to date, in tabular form; and if he will

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number LAWPRO requests for septic tank inspection were made to Louth County Council when they were working in a Priority Area for Action in 2024 and 2025; the number of these requests that were

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number grants given, from all funding streams available through his Department, to residents of County Louth in 2024 and 2025 for septic tank inspections and septic tank repairs, in tabular form

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which homeowners who require access to grant funding for septic tank inspections and septic tank repairs can access this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38236/26

national policy framework, operational guidance or internal protocol exists governing the placement of international protection applicants within residential estates or standard private housing developments. [37952/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department intends to expand the use of standard residential housing stock for international protection accommodation over the next three years. [37959/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of the prevalence of unlicenced gambling in some public houses; the body that is responsible for the enforcement of the law in this case; and if he will discuss the issue with the Gambling

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he proposes to take to address the monthly rise in homelessness and the record number of evictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37893/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the interventions, schemes, programmes and policies employed by his Department to avoid people being made homeless by eviction, prevent them from entering into homeless accommodation and reduce the number of people evicted into homelessness

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Celtic tiger-era building defects redress scheme and the interim fire safety remediation scheme. [37769/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken or commissioned any analysis of trends in landlord exits, reductions in rental listings or changes in small landlord participation following the introduction of rent regulation measures, including rent pressure zones

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made in addressing vacancy and dereliction following reports of the lowest number of quarter 1 electricity reconnections since Central Statistics Office, CSO, data began. [37512/26

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the impact of reduced parking provision in high-density residential developments on neighbouring estates, including the issue of overspill parking and its effect on community relations; and if he will make

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable homes delivered in Waterford in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36677/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain why open market value, OMV, is used as the starting price point for the affordable purchase scheme rather than all-in development costs; and to justify this policy in cases where

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to introduce planning guidelines for the development of solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37505/26

Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered introducing measures to support riding centres in meeting commercial rates liabilities, including the possibility of subsidising such centres or reclassifying them as agricultural rather than commercial; and if he will make

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has undertaken any assessment of the legislative changes required to support meaningful enforcement of principal primary residence use in Gaeltacht areas. [37975/26

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans to step up delivery of affordable purchase properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37519/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue an order to allow the cutting of turf at bogs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36514/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on delivery of the north-west quarter regeneration in Cork. [37511/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has undertaken in relation to planning exemptions under proposed short-term lets legislation; when he will publish new planning guidance to give greater clarity to the short-term letting sector