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Gaza, with intolerable conditions that are only getting worse. Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip. More broadly, it must completely cease the actions it is taking in the West Bank and Lebanon … response to Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles, and we are trying to use all the tools at our disposal - political, legal and diplomatic - to advocate for peace, accountability and an end to the Israeli Government’s devastating policies in Gaza and the West Bank

remains considerable legal uncertainty as whether the inclusion of services is permissible under EU law. We also have to take account of practical issues with regard to implementation where services are to be included in the scope of this Bill. By their very nature, services are varied, intangible … called for a political path to end the cycle of violence. We also welcomed that a number of states took steps towards the recognition of the State of Palestine in the lead up to and during the UN high-level week last September. The working connection with

every statistic is a person, a child, a life, forever altered. Survivors came forward not just to be heard but to ask the State to act. Today, we have taken the important step in answering that call. I fully support the Government's decision to establish a full … child protection system and legal reforms. The work ahead on financial redress will not be easy, but it is critical. Survivors have been clear: accountability must include those who oversaw and enabled abuse. I welcome the Government's commitment to explore every legal and constitutional mechanism to ensure

strategy was published in 2014. It was important, but 12 years later too many services remain fragmented, under-resourced and uneven across the State. Families still describe a system where they have to fight for information, assessments, home support, respite and continuity of care. Everybody accepts that … wider reform of ageing social care, primary care and communities services. We had some discussions with the Minister for Health earlier during priority questions and oral questions on many of these topics. The health service must be built around getting people the right care in the right place

assessment of need, AON, in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. Unfortunately, demand has outpaced the capacity of the system to respond, resulting in long waiting lists for children to receive their … opposed to the High Court judicial review process. The total legal spend for the period from 2020 to 2025 is €498,072. These are the HSE's own fees and do not include the legal spend of the parties who bring claims against the HSE, which have been

very worrying if the message were to go out that we are trying to control or dissuade behaviours. The history of our State has been trying to control and dissuade behaviours when we know that behaviours are happening. The intent behind this amendment in particular is for vulnerable … part of child protection but it also has to be considered separately because it is an immediate need for a young woman who legally remains a child but who may be involved in sexual behaviour at the age of 16. Of course, we know there are other girls

Indeed, under that article, Ireland commits to accepting the principles of international law "as its rule of conduct in its relations with other States". Here is a clear opportunity for us to comply with international law as per the ruling of the ICJ in July 2024. Two years … have a measure to do that. Rather than looking at, for example, the Spanish language as a barrier or the European-level services gambit as a proposal or a way forward, why are we not starting from this point? How will we develop legislation that is compliant with

been deeply moved by the people I have met across Ireland - farmers, conservationists, local leaders, volunteers and of course National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, staff - who are dedicating themselves to the care of our natural environment. Their passion, knowledge and sense of responsibility are both humbling … governance and conservation of biodiversity. For the first time in the history of the State, the NBAP is underpinned by law, following the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023, which mandates both the legal requirement to have an NBAP and to report on its implementation and progress. Supporting the NPWS

rules, directives and guidance notes. Coursing licences carry 44 separate conditions overseen by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Coursing meetings are supervised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure compliance with the 44 conditions associated with section 32 and 34 licenses issued by the Minister … Irish Coursing Club and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to monitor developments in coursing. In that regard, the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a controlled manner. Hares are legally protected under the Wildlife Act. Catching and tagging

written to the Joint Committee on Health stating her support for an exploration of transfers of value between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare practitioners and organisations. It is necessary that any examination encompasses the regulatory and legal aspects in advance of any measures being introduced. Such considerations need … ensuring accountability and managing conflicts of interest. Our joint goal should be to provide the best care possible for patients and healthcare service users. It is essential that further and broader consideration take place in advance of this Bill progressing. The amendment to the motion will allow

incapacitant spray by prison officers. Ireland is one of the very few EU states where prison officers cannot currently use incapacitant spray and the Bill removes that legal anomaly. This is not just to protect prison officers but also to protect other prisoners from aggressive and violent behaviour … impact and a price has to be paid for them. However, as a society, we probably do not know enough about community service. In my time as a county councillor I was familiar with some community service activities that took place and were implemented by the Courts Service

grieve in peace. The Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance wanted to find out where the mothers' babies were buried. They were involved in legal submissions to a different application and employed experts and so forth. By the way, they do not believe that the current area of lands … entirety of the 60 acres. It is for a part of it. There are two other lots of land. There are State services on the land. One hundred people are working in different services in Bessborough. There is childcare there, and so forth. It has been an active

right. The Government claims legal impediments. That is a hallow argument. It is no argument at all. The International Court of Justice makes no distinction between goods and services. Spain has led the way. It has banned the advertising of services from illegal settlements. If I cannot advertise … could include services if it wanted to? It is because they already are. The Government already applies sanctions on services in Russian occupied Ukraine. It knows how to do it. It is simply refusing to apply the same standard to the rogue state of Israel. This

European capitals, housing was the number one issue that came across from all EU governments. The more the EU can support member states on housing, the better. We need more supply. That is the fundamental issue for us. Deputy Coppinger referred to George Orwell … Deputy Heneghan's comments, I will discuss again with the Minister for foreign affairs the legal opinion that was in before Christmas on the occupied territories Bill. My comments on services are well known. There are issues with services, to be quite frank. I have said that

great pleasure to address the House on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, who will join us momentarily. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment asked me to begin by addressing the serious concerns that all of us have in relation to the abuse … under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management. Under the Digital Services Act, the European Commission has powers with respect to the proliferation of illegal content online on platforms, including X, and the protection of fundamental rights

State. I apologise, I meant the civil legal aid scheme, which saw a 60% reduction that has been attributed to the fee model that was applied there. The Minister has repeatedly stated that he has a responsibility to address the excessive adjournments, and I agree with that. However … forget about solicitors, however, because people who are seeking access to justice, including victims, need to be assured that our court services are operating. Right now, they are not. It is the Minister's imperative, in my view, to engage with the stakeholders and engage constructively to bring

itself. The new system is not just legal reform; it is a rights-based shift. Supported decision-making is supposed to be supporting with, not doing for. However, we all know the transition has been very slow. The Minister of State's figures show 391 people have been … that the Minister of State engage on this. Investments and financial management are an important issue and must be addressed. There is a clear call to ensure that the transfer of wards of court decision to the Decision Support Service does not result in continued substitute decision-making

significant number of safeguards have been secured. That is contrary to what was there a year ago. They are taking the form of legal instruments that the Commission has committed to. We succeeded in securing the nitrates derogation. It is a significant advancement that we now have that … initiative under Mercosur would allow 99,000 of those to be brought in under a reduced tariff preference. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, spoke about the wider issues around Mercosur. All trade agreements bring benefits and losses. There is no heresy in saying that. The Canada

children with international protection applicants who are unaccompanied minors. This is a real child safeguarding issue. My concern is that it appears two State agencies - Tusla and the Department of justice - are somewhat at loggerheads and in dispute. Some weeks after the appearance of Tusla before the Committee … acknowledged that as a matter of law - the laws that have been passed in the Dáil, Seanad and Houses of the Oireachtas - the legal responsibility for carrying out age verification is, in fact, vested in the Department of justice and the Minister for justice. It has been

Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade held a number of hearings … Government to prohibit the import of goods from settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods and there remains considerable legal uncertainty as to whether the inclusion of services is permissible under EU law. Legal clarity

will modify the existing requirement regarding the so-called triple lock mechanism in relation to the despatch of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as part of an international United Nations force. It is important to note that the Bill will also seek to amend … Council. Had the mandate for UNIFIL not been renewed - as was the case for a short period of time - Ireland would have been legally obliged to plan for the immediate withdrawal of Defence Forces personnel from that mission. Similar issues arise in respect of other operations, with concerns

thing that was lacking in the Taoiseach's speech was any reference to rights and protections. Normally, he at least pays lip service to the issue but there is nothing in his contribution about the fact that while we allow businesses to flourish and create systems and ecosystems … particular in light of the security risks and privacy concerns around the European digital identity wallet. What assurances can the Minister of State provide that any digital omnibus package will address those vulnerabilities, rather than accelerate their adoption without the adequate protections that citizens require? I want

safely administered to immunocompromised patients. Internationally, Shingrix has also replaced Zostavax as the preferred vaccine against shingles. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee guidelines state that the Shingrix vaccine may be considered in those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease … cost-effectiveness of health technologies, providing advice to the Minister for Health on budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. These evaluations take the form of health technology assessments, HTAs. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about

really hard to deliver a service. I look forward to visiting the service in Drogheda, for example, that supports many hundreds of children and young people aged under 18 years. I agree with the Deputy in relation to the service in Loughlinstown. I am not convinced. There … must monitor and reduce the wait times systematically, as we must across all health services. We must publish a full model of care as soon as possible. We must expand capacity in gender services, including examining the development of new regional hubs that have worked in other areas

there is an extensive range of statutory provisions in place to provide the legislative support for a voluntary system in industrial relations. The State provides industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms, such as the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, to support parties in resolving their differences. This … collective bargaining. The EU directive on adequate minimum wages requires member states where the collective bargaining rate is less than a threshold of 80%, as is the case in a majority of EU states including Ireland, to establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining. The programme