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system to better protect and support victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including the provision of effective training for legal professionals and the Judiciary. We called for consistency in sentencing and the provision of access to rehabilitation programmes for perpetrators of domestic, sexual … work. I now move to prosecution decisions. The DPP's guidelines for prosecutors state that a prosecution should not be instituted unless there is admissible, relevant, credible and reliable evidence. The guidelines also state that it is not the practice to operate a rule under which conviction would

issues they may wish to raise or are affected by in the sections which are now being included in the Copyright Act. Legal advice was sought. We carefully considered this Bill with the Office of the Attorney General. It was highlighted that the controller of intellectual property … states of the European zone. The Department also consulted relevant Ministers across Government, including the Department of justice with regard to the measures included. On the issue raised about platforms, that will be considered in the context of the review of the European Commission and the Digital Services

reference to substantially better linkage between the zoning of land and the availability of infrastructure. Policy objective 103 states, "When considering zoning land for development purposes that cannot be serviced within the life of the relevant plan, such lands should not be zoned for development." The problem with … plans are for the lifetime of the development plans. Tiered zoning refers to lower tiers with fewer services. Many current plans are tiered even when they both have access to services. There should be no tiered zoning in these cases. If, for example, tier 1 zoning

Social Democrats' motion tells the Central Bank that by acting as the enabling cog in the fundraising machine, it is putting the State at risk of a charge of complicity in genocide. The Government's amendment urges all parties to return to talks. The Social Democrat's motion … sale of Israeli bonds. The Government's amendment tells us that it would progress legislation prohibiting goods from settlements, but not services. It is a much-weakened occupied territories Bill that is not what the Government told the electorate it would do. The Social Democrats' motion asks

enacting the occupied territories Bill, which would ban the trading of goods and services into Ireland from Palestinian lands that have been colonised, occupied and illegally settled by Israel. Not only is it a legal response to Israel's brutal crimes but it chimes directly with the values … accountability. Worse still, the words of support and common cause to the genocidal Netanyahu regime and the arming of Israel by the United States, Britain and others in Europe is an obscenity

State. This action plan responds to well-documented challenges of lengthy development timelines, fragmented processes and rising costs. These have all been identified as major barriers to achieving Ireland’s housing, energy and climate objectives. The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, namely, legal … different legislation and statutes; and preparing reforms to the infrastructure guidelines, which is being progressed this month. I have also launched a new service to accelerate major Government capital investment through the expertise of the National Development Finance Agency. We have had the first meeting

have enough to be doing to support and parent their child without having to be activists to be able to get the basic legal entitlement for an assessment of need for their child. Parents are exhausted and they feel ignored. They are disappointed and desperate. I have said … people get it? Families have no choice but to access private services. Some parents are able to handle financial cost and others parents are not. Why should they have to pay for a service that the State is, by law, supposed to be providing? The system is broken

been done and what more can be done. The Deputy is right to talk about the moral imperative. There is also a legal imperative based on the International Court of Justice, ICJ. Ireland has acted on that and become a party to the case. The Deputy understandably mentioned … pass legislation that sought to do what they wanted us to do in terms of the occupied territories Bill for goods and, indeed, services and if that was feasible, they would replicate that legislation. That is how we build the coalition the Deputy spoke of in his opening

first line of defence is to say liability does not rest with us, it rests with you as the householder. This is despite service level agreements between the local authority and Uisce Éireann. We need to extend the first fix sewage pipe breaks on properties, particularly those that … State pays another, which creates an unneeded circle of bureaucracy. I listened to some of our colleagues on the Opposition benches earlier accuse the Government of not supporting their Bill to make permanent the abolition of water charges. The Opposition is well capable of taking legal advice

missing the mark. We could be ending HIV transmissions in this decade if we would just commit to putting in the services, doing the rapid testing and rolling out pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP. We know what needs to be done but the Government is not committing to doing … still not been enacted and we are still waiting for it to happen. It should have happened 33 years ago when the State decriminalised homosexuality. We have been left waiting and it not good enough. Rainbow flags outside Government Buildings are nice but what we actually want

propose to take Question Nos. 10, 53, 55 and 61 together. As Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, I am responsible for setting the overall expenditure allocations and monitoring it at Departmental level. In the programme for Government, there is a clear prioritisation … published last December. This report sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, with each addressing a key area of reform, and legal reform noted as a core element for accelerating infrastructure across the country. Among other measures, this work will include increasing exemption thresholds for critical

approvals for critical infrastructure projects is very welcome, so is the greater co-ordination to be demanded across the public service on infrastructure delivery. A duty for State bodies to co-operate in making land available and accessible for critical infrastructure, something that would seem so blindingly obvious … performance against this plan to account. I do, however, have concerns about the Government's over-zealous focus on judicial reviews, JRs. Legal reforms may be a necessary part of a comprehensive process like this but the Government seems to view limits to judicial reviews as a panacea

Genocide Convention. I also commend the Government on the funding provided to UNRWA for humanitarian aid and for the recognition of the State of Palestine. However, that is where the commendation ceases. This Government has failed to implement a single solidarity economic sanction against the genocidal Israeli regime … territories Bill in advance of the general election, he now differentiates between goods and services to water down its impact. The International Court of Justice did not differentiate between trade in goods and services in its ruling on the consequences of Israel's action. Nor did the Government

includes all the requirements it is meant to under the EU regulation in this area. Neither the issuer - in this case the State of Israel - or the financial products - in this case the Government bonds - become regulated or endorsed as a result of this assessment. They … seeking to permit the Central Bank to step outside the financial services legislation in the area, I am advised that these measures will be judged to be inconsistent with EU law and therefore subject to legal challenge. I hope the Dáil this evening can appreciate that any attempts

Hamas or Israel. We believe those actions are undermining the stability of peace in the region and of the ultimate solution, a two-state solution. Ireland has taken strong action on this. In fact, we have been one of the loudest voices in the global community … certainly of concern. As the previous speaker said, we should try to do everything we can legally do to prevent any support. The important word is "legally". The Central Bank does not issue, sell, trade, list or oversee Israeli bonds. Its role is under EU regulation

legal professionals? Surely not. The suggestion about group counselling is neither practical nor legal. The key question is whether there will be legal advice for individuals. Who will conduct the assessments and what qualifications will they have? What does the phrase "suitable medical means of assessing age" mean … independent will the independent monitoring mechanism be? It appears that the Government may remove the chief inspector "in the best interests of the State ". That is very broad and, I would suggest, open to abuse. I refer in particular to the question of family reunification. We all need

otherwise. This Bill is a short one but it deals with fundamental rights under our Constitution, including Article 42A, which provides that the State recognises and affirms the natural and imprescriptible rights of all children and shall by its laws, as far as practicable, protect and vindicate those … policy intent in respect of the appointment of guardians ad litem and the provision to them of legal advice and legal representation under the guardian ad litem national service are further elaborated in the legislation. These amendments are necessary for the proper operation of this Bill. Many details

their collar and often find it impossible to keep up with the workload and the demands on the service. Despite this, County Wexford can consider itself lucky to be in a position to have a refuge. Sadly, nine counties - Cavan, Carlow, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon … from knowing that they do not have access to the safe haven of a refuge in their communities or localities. As the motion states, only 5% of those who experience sexual violence as an adult report it to An Garda. It is estimated that just

since entering the House. We have heard from now-elected TDs who are legal experts, who were involved in various football clubs and GAA clubs and who worked previously in home-school liaison services as youth workers and social workers. It is really useful for us to have … mindful of the fact that a multifaceted and agile approach is needed to support young people who may come to rely on the State for help. Of course, diverting young people away from crime is vital. However, it is important to address what the State can do when

because they suffer from a delusion that it would transform the situation, although it would have an impact in encouraging other states, but because of the statement that it makes, which is that the law has to apply. The law has to apply to Israel … should not be adopted here. The issue of goods and services was discussed at length by the Oireachtas joint committee. It is true that there is a specific clause in the import regulation on goods and services that allows for public policy exemptions. Professor Panos Koutrakos told

would argue that if Spain can take a principled, legally sound stand without bringing economic ruin to its industries, then so can Ireland. If we ban the import of goods but allow the exchange of lucrative services, we are making a mockery of our own values … giving a green light to economic activity that entrenches this illegal occupation. An occupied territories Bill without services is a Bill without much impact. I very conscious that we are taking on the EU Presidency. As I said last night in the Chamber, we had Kaja Kallas only

further amended by way of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 as a result of a legal challenge. Britain is currently the only country that has been designated as a safe third country under Irish law, but the Irish Government … important facilities and services have become overstretched from this failed approach. We cannot have confidence that the asylum decisions that are being made are being enforced or that those who are not entitled to be in Ireland are actually leaving the country. This State must do whatever

impact in Ireland. The Department seems to think there will be minimal impact on court services but the Courts Service itself seems much more circumspect and has stated there is limited data available on the number of cases that may arise after commencement. It went … officials acknowledged at the committee that in theory the regulation is based on the idea of full faith and credit in the member states' legal systems. "Theory" is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting here. In the past decade, we have seen democratic backsliding from some European

thank the Minister. I know she is not responsible for this and it is something that has really come to light. The legal implications of the valuation tribunal and a case in the High Court have had an impact since 2024 but there is an urgency about this … hour, they too should be exempt. This is affecting services in four counties but it is coming to more counties. I have seen bills ranging from €1,000 to €10,000 for ECCE-only services. These services are 100% Government-funded. Why would the Government give them funding

delivery of mental health services has progressed significantly since that time. The 2001 Act does not fully reflect our current approach to mental health services, such as the shift towards community-based services, the adoption of a recovery approach in service delivery, and the importance of listening … that underpins and regulates our mental health services sets the standards we must all work to deliver and includes protections for those who use mental health services. The Mental Health Bill is not the only strand through which our services can be modernised and improved. Our national mental