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provide for related matters. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this. The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 to 2024 to introduce smoke-free generation measures, whereby the sale and supply of tobacco products, nicotine products and nicotine … hospitalised every week. The major causes, as we know, are cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, and heart disease. The RCSI in estimating the costs of smoking has calculated that in Ireland there are about 5 million years in shorter lives as a result of smoking, 2.5 million

growth. The Institute of International and European Affairs reached a very different conclusion in 2024. Professor John FitzGerald and Professor Edgar Morgenroth estimated a basic cost of close to €11 billion a year. If wages, welfare and pensions in the North were raised immediately to southern levels, their … plainly. Productivity in Northern Ireland is in line with that in our Border and midlands regions, well behind the economy as a whole. Public sector employment accounts for 33% of jobs in the North, against a much lower figure here. The North has a far higher share

also being developed to support active citizenship and participation during the Presidency period. Another important way the Government aims to increase public participation and interest in the work of the European Union is through its EU jobs strategy. The strategy, A Career for EU, aims to improve Irish … candidates and advocating for reform of the EU recruitment processes. Outreach and awareness raising have expanded significantly, with third level careers events alone estimated to have reached approximately 30,000 students in 2025. Hundreds of Irish candidates received targeted training supports across multiple EU recruitment competitions including

vaccine, but at a time when vaccine scepticism is being mainstreamed, our take-up rates have been falling. A rough estimation is that approximately 16,000 eligible Irish kids are not taking up the vaccine each year. That is why the catch-up scheme is so important … giving us a timeline for that? However, if it is not going ahead, could she explain the rationale behind the fact that a public health campaign everyone says is delivering and is protecting young children is not going ahead

highest in Europe, those with disabilities cannot reliably charge vital machines. This LNG plan will drive bills up even higher. The estimated €60 million annual running costs will be socialised through an additional levy on household bills. Ordinary people should not be forced to foot the bill … stop-start short-term fixes and finally delivering the long-term infrastructure this island needs. That is why Sinn Féin supports greater public investment and public ownership in renewables to achieve genuine Irish energy dependence. It is critical for our security and it is the surest

people who are living alone are predominantly pensioners. That €12 billion is an increase of just over €700 million from the 2025 Revised Estimates. The investment in pensions, as we discussed at committee yesterday, is nearly 42% of the Department’s overall allocation. In terms of the choices … hear him in the context of budget 2027. Perhaps he might have a good chat with our colleague, the Minister for public expenditure, in relation to that

welcome the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, of €27.75 million for capital projects at Ireland’s publicly owned harbours under the 2025 fishery harbour centres and coastal infrastructure development programme. While welcome news for our coastal communities, the way this funding is being divided … over €11.2 million, while Donegal County Council, which is responsible for 155 piers and harbours, received just €450,000 towards projects costing an estimated €660,000. That is an unequal partnership, a drop in the ocean for our coastal local authorities which are struggling to maintain essential infrastructure

That is badly needed for housing, for the enabling infrastructure for housing and a growing population and for the delivery of modern public services, including in the area of health. I and my colleague the Minister, Deputy Chambers, agree with the Deputy. Alongside funding, the challenge … force, I am pleased to say that we are now seeing real delivery. There was a proposal before Cabinet this week that we estimate will cut around 20 weeks off the delivery of the projects by not having to go back to external consultants. I say that

Government agreed to progress and publish a draft schedule of amendments to the first revision to the national planning framework arising from the public consultation on 8 April 2025. The Government approved a final draft revised national planning framework following the conclusion of the environmental assessments … targets draw on the ESRI's demographic and econometric modelling of population growth and structural housing demand to 2040, but also includes estimates relating to unmet demand, including homelessness data published by my Department. In parallel with the national planning framework, the Government approved revised housing targets

protect households from the worst of the impact. Shielding people from the worst effects of inflation and external economic shocks requires strong public finances. It is prudent economic management that gives the Government the capacity to step in when necessary, not the Opposition’s continuous calls for increasing … respond in a timely way to help with this energy price shock, but this comes at a significant cost to the Exchequer. The estimated cost to the Exchequer from 1 September until the final restoration on 28 February 2027 as regards the extension of the temporary changes

through all of the various age categories. It is not that simple. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, as the Deputy knows, organised a significant public consultation which has received a significant number of responses. I attended the strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability … cost of disability payment arising out of all of that consultation. We will then assess that in the context of the Estimates for decisions in the next budget. As I said, the previous budget deliberately prioritised permanent structural supports that will endure in five and ten years' time

French law introduced in 2020 that brought in a scoring system for tech products and appliances where a sticker on packaging indicates an estimated lifespan and the durability and repairability of the product. It is simple but effective. It is something we in the Labour Party have called … introduces is one example. I also ask the Government to consider the Labour Party proposal to establish a national recycling and repair company. Public enterprises have played a critical role in the industrial and economic development of this State and as we reshape our economy to a more

acquisitions are on hold from last year and with a capital funding allocation for second-hand acquisitions at around €6 million, it is estimated that only 20 to 22 of these will proceed. That means is there is no capacity to purchase any future properties where notice … five years of failing to meet targets, of ever-increasing homelessness, of a general election where the actual targets were hidden and the public deceived, one might have hoped a new Minister would have brought a new approach - an approach that keeps people out of homelessness. Alas

take to increase the overall provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. In order to inform the development of the policy a comprehensive public consultation process was conducted to gather the views of various stakeholders, which of course includes children and young people. Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, also … been identified by stakeholders during the consultation process. These are being examined in light of existing provision for Irish-medium education, looking at estimated demand in the education system, as well as questions about teacher supply, the Department’s budgetary and legislative context and whether there is more

referenced previously with regard to the HSE, there is no centrally maintained list for residential services. I know the disability capacity review estimates that Ireland needs at least 1,900 additional residential places by 2032 but this is potentially up to 4,000 if we look at restoring … with one referral point, have annual regional targets as well as national targets to reduce emergency placements and out-of-area placements, expand public and not-for-profit provision through multi-annual funding while stabilising existing private placements to avoid forced moves - and as Deputy Coppinger has said

this legislation is being progressed as expeditiously as possible and the Bill is included in the autumn 2025 Government Legislation Programme for Priority Publication; — Local Authorities, working together with the Office for Emergency Planning and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management have systems in place … including the banking industry, engineers, construction, insurance, and the legal sector; — the remediation option grant amount paid to homeowners, which is based on estimates provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and augmented by the Expert Group, includes an amount for Value-Added Tax charged to homeowners

likelihood or severity of flooding, typically through physical works such as flood relief schemes. Preparedness means reducing the consequences of flooding through public information, planning and emergency response. The OPW plays a key role in co-ordinating measures to meet the Government's national flood risk policy, particularly … Island; Poddle River; River Wad; Templemore and Whitechurch. Once completed, these schemes will protect a further 2,880 properties and deliver an estimated €361 million in avoided damages and losses. Five of these schemes are at an advanced stage, with at least three expected to reach substantial completion

anti-coercion instrument, the ACI, which could have an enormous affect on US businesses, their services to the EU and their access to public procurement tenders in the future. In fairness to him, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Harris, rightly stated this would … very exposed to international trade as well. This increase in global tariffs will affect international trade in a significant fashion. It is estimated that there is a 60% chance of a global recession and this will hurt Ireland hard. There is no doubt in my mind that

national planning framework. I refer to objectives 10 and 97 on the requirement for a transport-orientated development approach served by high-capacity public transport in the metropolitan areas of the five cities destined to grow, with Galway being one of them. Moreover, section 2.1 of the revised … states that, at a minimum, on an annual basis, traffic congestion in Galway is costing €35 million. This figure will rise to an estimated €107 million and more in 2040. We are not talking about the cost of fines, lack of productivity, travelling and so on. That report

states safe and how we co-operate with our European neighbours to ensure the rights of our citizens are protected. The Minister has publicly stated that the Bill is an important step in demonstrating Ireland's commitment to implementing the EU's e-evidence package and improving access … Department of justice? We have heard that the expectation is that the office could grow in size to 150 staff. The estimate based on current numbers is that it will deal with 24,000 notifications each year. However, the actual number could be much higher. The Department

immediately. We see this in the context of a €200 payment for every household taking the fuel allowance or household benefit package. We estimate that this is about 750,000 households and that it would cost about €150 million. We also think there should be an examination … carbon tax but because our economy continues to be entirely dependent on imported fossil fuels. The carbon tax is the one piece of public policy that is ring-fenced to tackle that, through immediate supports for the most vulnerable, increased social protection payments and longer term measures

support it. The fact apartments are not included for higher tax and within the maximum of nine needs to change. The Central Bank estimates 47,000 homes are owned in the State by investment institutions or vulture funds, with 500 of those in Laois. This distorts the housing … billion on deposit in banks and building societies. Several years ago, the Irish League of Credit Unions said to the Government publicly that it had €8 billion or €9 billion and that this could be used for home construction with a modest return on it. That

rail, bus and Luas. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport network. I acknowledge there is a sense of frustration among many that contactless systems of payment are not available here as they … focus of the project is on the greater Dublin area, rolled out across four phases. This is a major, complex project, with an estimated capital cost of over €160 million to implement it in the greater Dublin area alone. Phase 1 is due to launch in summer

learning and childcare capacity, which is increasing under this Government. Data from the annual early years sector profile 2023-2024 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by 19% from two years previously. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the number of registered … intention that it be resourced and transformed into a forward planning and delivery unit to identify areas of need, forecast demand and deliver public supply where required. A forward planning model is in development in the unit and will be central to the Minister’s plans to achieve

itself. We can see that Garda resources were stretched in the likes of the Dublin riots. Some improvements have been made and the public order units have been expanded, which will be welcome when the units are needed, but the response needs to be proportionate. What happened over … that kind of oppression of women and invasiveness down here. There needs to be Garda accountability in this regard. On the Estimates overall, the Garda and the funding of justice are important. We have seen some improvement in the Garda stations, which is to be welcomed