Search the record

will share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley. I thank the Deputies for seeking the opportunity for statements on the fishing quotas for 2026. The Minister of State and I welcome the opportunity to further discuss this important issue and the concerns that continue … million to €105 million on the estimated value of the 2025 quota. This reduction in fishing opportunities will present ongoing challenges for fleet planning, processing throughput and coastal communities that are highly dependent on specific fisheries. While the scientific advice is disappointing and, above all, concerning

investment that is planned to modernise the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant to prevent pollution in Dublin Bay, and if he would make a statement on the matter. The question was disallowed, however, because, under the Water Services Act, the Minister cannot give directions to Uisce Éireann … great things in the past to protect Dublin Bay for us right now. Otherwise, it would have been filled in, which was the plan at the time. In another question, I asked if the Taoiseach could provide a clear timeline for the completion of the upgrade works

them on board, particularly those relating to procurement. That is one we need to look at further. It is clear from today’s statements that there is an immense impact in our communities. We are talking about are businesses, but I have to disagree with Deputy Gibney. They … directed at growing and developing the capital supports required by enterprises, as well as soft supports such as capacity building, leadership development, strategic planning and increasing readiness for more mainstream financial supports to help these companies grow and prosper. I am proud of the support my Department gives

Making statements on biodiversity in Ireland is a bit like that time when Ghandi was asked about western civilisation and he retorted: "I think it would be a good idea." Biodiversity in Ireland would be a good idea if we followed through. I welcome the €2.9 million funding … knock-on effect. Air and water pollution from these sources destroys our ecosystem and needs to be tackled. We have this big, national biodiversity action plan that does not look like it is going to meet its targets. I have read through it. It has a puffin

intends to build on the progress of the HSE's Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland action plan. It is the Department's ambition to develop a new whole-of-government national breastfeeding strategy and to continually increase breastfeeding supports to all mothers and families in Ireland. Work … evaluation and research systems. We will continue to be guided by both evidence and data. To that end, the Department is progressing a national infant feeding survey with the All Island Institute of Public Health, which is the first survey of its kind to be conducted since

engage in stakeholder consultation. I am aware there is broad-based support for the scheme across the sector, and I have met the National Campaign for the Arts to discuss this. I intend to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of budget 2026, using … artists in receipt of it. It has also been the subject of much positive commentary at home and abroad, and makes an important statement about how Ireland values the arts. A Government decision will be required on any successor scheme to the pilot, and the future

warmly welcome that we are having these statements today. It is the tail end of National Breastfeeding Week. I warmly welcome all our guests in the Gallery today, including those from La Leche League, Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland and Bainne Beatha. Mary Byrd has been fighting … last few seconds, I just want to say that significant work must be done with regard to developing a national breastfeeding strategy. The Healthy Ireland action plan expired a year ago, so we need to see a new action plan and for it to be resourced. We also

approach. We must be willing to recognise and respond to clear and immediate threats to us. We need a more systematic approach to national security issues and we need further sustained investment in Óglaigh na hÉireann. For the first time since 2017, the numbers in our Defence Forces … home or to afford a place to rent. Clear and sustained action on housing must be central to the new Government's plan. Protecting the health of the Irish people is, for us also, an essential part of any programme we agree. The development of specialist care services

housing delivery. The key difference between Housing for All and this plan is a greater emphasis on creating the environment for more homes. To deliver more homes at speed, the State will do more but this plan will also empower others, particularly those in the private sector … pillars in the plan: activating supply and supporting people. The first pillar, activating supply, is about removing structural barriers to homebuilding and ensuring we deliver 300,000 new homes in the lifetime of this plan. This includes measures aimed at unlocking land, reforming planning, delivering infrastructure and creating

hiomlán i gceart as Gaeilge, leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh as Béarla. As I do not speak sufficient Irish, I will continue my statement in English. I assure the House and those who spoke in Irish that it is something I am working on with my old Irish teacher … important motion. I thank Sinn Féin for tabling it. The Irish language is a great source of pride for our nation and people. It is a great symbol of our heritage and history. Many of us, although we cannot speak Irish as we would like, take great pride

recent years, as outlined by the Minister, Deputy James Browne, in his opening statement, including those relating to social and affordable housing delivery, and to set out the key changes introduced and our plans ahead to scale up the supply of housing across all tenure types. Some … helping activate thousands of planning permissions for apartments in our five cities. The housing activation office was established in April of last year to accelerate homebuilding by unblocking infrastructure delays and co-ordinating investment in servicing zoned land. The office supports public infrastructure planning and investment

Israel has committed a genocide on the people of Gaza. I welcome that the Tánaiste has used that language consistently, including in his statement today, that Israel has committed a genocide. When we use that language the people and the regime that commit genocide must face consequences down … their role in active warfare and logistical support ever contemplated that these companies would, in such a big way, replace the United Nations, the World Food Programme and other trusted aid agencies and multilateral organisations that provide aid to people. It will be a hugely concerning and worrying

trade and investment relationship, building on the work that has been done to date, including the ongoing implementation of the EU-US joint statement, which benefits all of us. We will ensure that the work around the digital dialogue that needs to happen will continue. That … framework for the life science sector - looking at not just the pharmaceutical sector but also the medical technology sector - to ensure we are planning for the future of those importance industries not just for Ireland but for the EU, and doing so in a strategic

startling. I have read through this Bill. I do not see anything in this Bill at the moment that would speed up the national children's hospital. There is nothing in the Bill, when a project is in situ, that would actually make it happen faster. The other … planning process in more co-ordinated fashion, making sure that, for example, a planning application does not need to have 30,000 pages and does not need a van to bring it to the local authority or saying we do not need four different versions of the planning

thank the Minister of State for his statement and his work on this matter, in particular his commitment. The Minister of State has visited Carlow and Kilkenny but I have seen him and the Taoiseach go around the country to anywhere that was flooded, which is important … will receive these plans in the coming weeks. We are keen to progress any work that will reduce the risk of flooding for communities that have been badly affected. Flood forecasting and warnings are critical for preparation. I welcome that stage I of the national flood forecasting

public service pay agreement; and — Budget 2027 also includes a range of measures to support household incomes and living standards; regrets that the planned strike action on Wednesday, 14th October, will cause great disruption to the public, especially the most vulnerable in our society, and also result … clear that I want to make progress and am hopeful that it may be possible to find a way forward shortly in the national interest, in workers' interests and in the interests of the millions of people who rely on our public services. More broadly, it is important

exercise rather than any substantive change. Notably, it allows the Minister to extend the performance delivery plan over any period the Minister wishes, but it does not require a multi-annual plan by default. The Bill also places an additional legal requirement on the HSE to exercise … budget failures without providing the reforms that are truly necessary. The Bill retains the shortsighted focus on annual-based planning. Year-to-year planning in the health service does not work. No multibillion organisation operates on a year-to-year basis in the same way that

State on their new appointments. I look forward to working with them on these important issues. I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on this very important issue. The Labour Party introduced a motion in the Dáil on this very topic in May last year … under the new Road Safety Act. The Labour Party welcomes this. Now it is imperative that the reductions in urban areas and on national secondary roads come in on schedule later this year. Funding for signage should be made available for that immediately. We know from evidence

months. In the HSE Dublin and Midlands area, there were more than 6,500 children overdue completed assessment of need reports. Nationally, the figure is over 20,000. Figures from the HSE also show that 8,200 children were waiting for their first contact from the CDNT … secure a special school place for their loved one. Time is, unfortunately, against them. I am sure the Minister is aware of statements made by the INTO calling this a profound breach of trust, a sentiment we in the Labour Party continue to echo. The Taoiseach even said

Government by saying what the budget was providing for 2024 simply was not enough. We had to have a summer economic statement. We had to have a supplementary budget of €1.5 billion in the middle of 2024 and an additional €1.2 billion this year. The Government obviously messed … whether those corrective measures apply to the voluntary hospitals or not. The other elephant in the room for me relates to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, which is not being addressed here as I understand it. This has been the subject of lots of committee hearings

There are a few points I want to speak about. I cannot answer everything. I answered a lot of questions in the opening statement, which was quite long. I know people have copies of it and they will get a lot of information from that. The first thing … supports for men with €2 million, partnered with family resource centres and Community Therapy Ireland, Exchange House Ireland, and with the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, ONE, the retired veterans' association. It is also partnered with the farmers, and the Irish Farmers Association, IFA. That is important

location of Irish Embassies and State enterprise agencies to support Irish business globally; and — in addition, the development of a new action plan on trade diversification for consideration by Government by end-May 2025.". As everybody appreciates, the events of last week have fundamentally changed the international trade … have expressed this publicly. Ireland's response is grounded in some core principles, that is, unity with our EU partners, clarity in our national interest and a relentless commitment to dialogue and negotiation. This commitment to dialogue and negotiation also extends directly from the Irish Government

questions as long as my arm that need to be answered. As a new TD, I do not believe this format of long statements and posing questions without getting direct answers works. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to think about that in the context of the functioning … there any legal proceedings against CHI as result of the scandal? Does the Minister trust CHI to take on the running of the national children's hospital? These are just ten of the many questions that I, others and parents have. They are questions we would like

with President Metsola as well as the Irish MEPs. I look forward to addressing COSAC, which is the conference of EU committees of national parliaments, next week in Dublin Castle. My key takeaway from all these meetings is that while there will be many challenges ahead … member states to advance both candidacies in line with the merit-based approach. I look forward to the planned strategic discussion on enlargement, and associated reforms, that is now planned for the October meeting of the European Council. As Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues into a fifth

delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that, the Government: — condemns the renewed Israeli military offensive and plans to establish full control of the Gaza Strip; — urges all parties to return to talks aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal; — recalls … exert pressure, to allow a full resumption of aid in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles, and to enable the United Nations (UN) and humanitarian organisations to work independently and do their job; — that the Government will progress legislation prohibiting the import of goods from Israeli settlements

Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the capital investment allocated to each county under the National Development Plan from 2022 to 2025, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58700/25

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number and qualifications of staffing envisioned for the planned National Artificial Intelligence Office, when recruitment for these posts will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58930/25

Ward asked the Minister for Health for a status update on development of the national breastfeeding strategy, the progress and plans for the launch of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54315/25

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the national disability strategy and the plans to implement it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47574/25

essential medicines, by category; the medicines experiencing repeated shortages since 2023; the plan to establish a rotating national reserve and domestic fill finish capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47208/25

will be given to allocating funding for after-school facilities as part of the National Development Plan Review 2025; for a breakdown of figures regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44359/25

Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Minister for Finance regarding the revised National Development Plan; the dates of meetings; the subject discussed; the attendees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43354/25

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the plans to extend the branding of our national tourism product (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40060/25

Cearúil asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to address the skills gap in the advanced manufacturing sector nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34314/25

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to update on the creation of an integrated national apprenticeship system as laid out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27251/25

Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7656/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether patient registries or national prevalence datasets will form part of the planned rare disease reimbursement reforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42493/26

implant surveillance and long-term outcome monitoring arrangements that replaced it; if there are plans to establish a national spinal registry in line with international best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43685/26

implementing the actions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy and the subsequent National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan (2025), including regulatory development, market design and infrastructure planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/26

Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health to outline the planned activities for 2026 and 2027 under the National Adult Palliative Care policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37939/26

childcare where reduced hours of care lead to higher overall costs under the national childcare scheme; whether changes are planned to ensure the scheme supports affordability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33571/26

families in north County Dublin regarding the lack of flexible childcare options under the national childcare scheme; the policy or operational changes planned to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33572/26

rural communities, including community-based initiatives and outreach programmes; whether his Department has plans to expand or coordinate these supports with national mental-health initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67780/25

elevated risk event, including PCR and genomic sequencing; the maximum weekly throughput assumed in national planning; and the turnaround times used by her Department for preparedness modelling.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73502/25

revised Department sectoral plan which was compiled following the review of the National Development Plan; if he can provide a cost of refurbishing the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68101/25

provide the most recent breakdown; and if not, to state whether a national dementia register exists or is planned, and the timeline for its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66559/25

Cork following a meeting held with An Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and Minister for Transport in October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63755/25

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop a national pathway and specialist multidisciplinary functional neurological disorder clinic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63121/25

more than 75 per cent of its allocation from the Regional and National Partnership Plan (NRPP) to maintain the CAP budget at its 2027 level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53136/25

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the recommendations from the national clinical trials oversight group she plans to progress; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51472/25