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State acknowledged that of the €333 million in additional funding provided in 2025, €290 million was allocated to maintain existing levels of service for people with disabilities, so where is the substantive funding for improvement? In the context of all the pressure to make services available … year according to the HSE’s estimates. This is shocking stuff. The Government is outrageously in breach of its legal obligations, as every Deputy has referenced, and as of now I do not see evidence of a pathway being carved to sort out this mess. Why then

about it. The trade agreement also provides that the investment protection provisions shall not be interpreted as a commitment from governments that their legal frameworks will remain unchanged. The Dáil and the European Union can change legislation. The agreements further clarify that the fact a measure may negatively … joint interpretive instrument. The negotiators, the member states of the European Union and Canada, have gone far to address any concerns on this. The joint interpretive instrument says that CETA preserves the ability of the European Union and its member states and Canada to adopt and apply their

clear legal pitfalls to this. On vulnerability assessments, the Bill relies heavily on preliminary checks at screening but does not require ongoing or repeat assessments. We know that vulnerability is not static. Trauma, pregnancy, disability and mental health needs often emerge later. Psychological states can change over time … entire process. The Bill creates duties the State is not resourced to meet. It accelerates timelines while hollowing out care. That does not save money; it creates crises, litigation and long-term harm. This is not about adding luxury services to our international protection system. It is about

next five years, between 2026 and 2030, which is of course very welcome. The Government’s stated aim is to provide the legal and financial framework for upgrading and reinforcing Ireland’s electricity network to support the roll-out of generation, new housing, electric vehicles and climate adaptation … surge in data-centre consumption. This is not a minor technical amendment; it is a strategic investment Bill that will determine where the State places its financial and infrastructural priorities for the rest of this decade. Therefore, it deserves a high level of scrutiny. I will begin with

workers and social care workers who are overstretched and under huge pressure in so many parts of the State. Clearly, there are serious personnel gaps in these critical services, and the most vulnerable children are suffering as a result. This is wholly unacceptable. We really need to make … build up with them. However, many of the findings in that report paint a very bleak and concerning reality of our child protection services. In some cases, it took over six months before referrals to social workers were reviewed, meaning that immediate safeguarding action could not be undertaken

attempts. Last month marked ten years since the passage of the Gender Recognition Act. I pay tribute to the unyielding campaigning of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, TENI, and so many others and the courage of people like Dr. Lydia … recently honoured at our Labour Party conference. For the Labour Party's part, the former Minister, Joan Burton, and the former Minister of State, Kevin Humphreys, were key to passing the law because they saw the need for change. Ten years on, much unfinished work remains, particularly when

allowance. One in three was refused. Yet, of those who appealed, 60% were successful. In the most extreme cases, 67 families took the State to the High Court and in every resolved case, they won that case. This is not a fair process. It is a system that … expanding the educational therapy support service, which is being piloted in 75 schools, into both special and mainstream schools nationwide. This kind of wraparound support is crucial, but it is being undermined by the battles parents still face, not just in service delivery from our child disability network

unanimously by the House. The Dáil voted for the Bill to be enacted by last Christmas and to include provision for goods and services. The Minister has used her position not to progress the Bill but to delay it. The Government has supposedly been conducting an examination … would amount to boycott, divestment and sanctions on the State of Israel. To this I say, "Yes, that is precisely what we need". How can anyone say that a state that is committing genocide, a state that is built on apartheid, forcible ethnic cleansing and throwing people

fast-food bosses, big multinationals, builders and developers instead of caring for children with additional needs. The motion contains simple actions that the State could take to end the assessment-of-needs backlog. The Government is not opposing the motion, but is the motion just going … emergency action plan? What is the longer-term workforce plan? How much additional funding will be allocated to provide special needs services and appropriate school places for all? I want to mention an awful, tragic case I was asked to raise, namely that of a young girl called

Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan. My understanding is that there is a ten-year modernisation programme already under way within the Courts Service and that significant progress is being made in that regard. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to provide for a reporting requirement in relation … changes in such levels or in the average duration of proceedings. Judicial reviews against the State, in which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitor under the guidance of the Office of the Attorney General. An Coimisiún Pleanála

give them early or accelerated access to services only to find that, even if they are provided with an assessment report, it leads only to another waiting list. Some parents feel they have no option but to turn to the legal system to ensure their statutory rights enshrined … service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges across the specialist disability services. However, it is important to emphasise that increased capacity and enhanced service delivery in the disability sector will not be possible unless we, as a Government, ensure there are proper resources in place to service

involuntarily detained may be very fearful, highly distressed, over-sedated, isolated from family and dealing with teams and professionals using clinical and legal language. Many people in that situation will find it overwhelming. In that context, independent advocacy should be a basic safeguard. A nominated person … rights and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting them. Without guaranteed independent advocacy, many people will be left alone at the precise moment the State is exercising the greatest power over them. Related to that, the independent complaints mechanism was also ruled out of order earlier. It is important

Bill significantly expands mandatory medical and vulnerability assessments, as required under the EU pact, but it gives very little clarity on how the State will actually deliver those assessments. During the Oireachtas joint committee's pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme, front-line healthcare representatives warned that … healthcare professionals, including for vulnerability and medical checks, this Bill risks leaving both physical and mental health needs unaddressed. Drills such as medical legal assessments, which are essential for certain claims, are already beyond existing capacity unless resourced properly. The justice committee's report endorsed these concerns

legal counselling to include the provision of legal advice. Legal advice is a separate concept to legal counselling. That will be apparent when the definition of "legal counselling" is introduced later. The introduction of legal counselling is not intended to replace an applicant's ability to access legal … advice either through private means or through the Legal Aid Board. Legal counselling will be an additional service intended to provide support for an applicant at the very early stage of an application. I am also concerned that Deputy Carthy's amendment would mandate that legal counselling

formal briefing note, including the name of the accommodation provider, the type and nature of accommodation to be provided and details about the services to be put in place. In terms of the provider themselves, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject … ensure Companies Registration Office and tax compliance. In line with EU trade arrangements, a company or company director from another EU member state may operate contracts within Ireland or work with an Irish business to do so. In terms of the contract in this case, the registered company

national climate objective; and the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is a public body to which these requirements apply and with which they actively comply. Section … electricity and promote the use of renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy. These legal powers, as employed in the CRU’s large energy user policy document, demonstrate that the CRU has sufficient legal competence to impose requirements on large energy users to employ emissions reduction and offsetting

more inclusive education system, one that enables every student to thrive and feel he or she belongs. This means action on support services, curriculum design, resource allocation, the role of the SNA and school infrastructure, among others. As in all other countries, though perhaps known by different names … would like to extend my sincere thanks to all stakeholder groups, including students, parent and guardian representatives, advocacy groups, academic experts, State agencies and Departments. I also deeply appreciate the engagement of students, parents and educational professionals and the wider public, whose contributions have shaped what we know

access to all services. We will continue to work towards that goal. It is difficult to see how the HSE could fulfil the legal obligation that this Bill would impose without clarity around the additional expenditure that would be required. For these reasons, the Government will oppose … grow our general practice services over the coming years. The Minister for Health and the Government understand the need to expand access to GP services and have undertaken measures that reflect many of those proposed by the motion. As already stated, the Government does not oppose the motion

that an end-to-end State-managed option must be made available to guarantee transparency, cost control, and effective delivery; — partial remediation continues despite the acknowledged need to revise I.S.465:2018, forcing families into unsafe works and exposing the State to charges of negligence, recklessness, and breach … statutory authority, and a scientifically sound replacement of I.S.465:2018, as failure to legislate comprehensively will prolong suffering and expose the State to constitutional and legal challenge; and — declare the defective concrete crisis a national emergency, mobilising the full powers of the State to vindicate the constitutional

legislate to protect the health of our children. This Bill needs to be notified at EU level and assessed by other member states and the European Commission. The required notification was made in December. There is a six-month assessment period which must be served. It has been … people. The responses to the consultation along with evidence reviews, a regulatory impact assessment and legal advice, have informed our proposed law. We are working to ensure that it will be legally robust as well as effective. As was said today, this has to work

detail and, crucially, we have no clear sense of whether decriminalisation is part of a future plan. We need the Minister of State to be straight with us because if the health diversion approach is as far as this Government is preparing to go, then she needs … should be no legal limit for personal possession. To introduce one would be to undermine the very process of taking away the judgment, profiling and targeting of those who use drugs. Decriminalisation has to be accompanied by a dramatic increase in investment into services. Our public spaces must

really hard to provide services. However, we attended a meeting just before Christmas in the building that Nora runs Remember Us out of. We met with parents there. They all had one concern. This will not be new to the Minister of State and I thank … column when he wrote that he had seen a letter that had come from the HSE. It advised a parent that they are legally obliged to support their daughter, and that includes the provision of accommodation - accommodation that will go on after the parent has died

including discussions on a Quality Jobs Roadmap, provides an opportunity to share best practice and learn from other member states; — a strong economy is essential to funding public services, sustaining employment, and enabling continued improvements in workers' rights and living standards; and — changes to employment law must … take the opportunity to speak about some of these this evening. First, I must point out that there is no constitutional or legal impediment which prevents parties who wish to exercise their right to collectively bargain from freely doing so in Ireland. There is an extensive range

been unsuccessful. This lady is saving the State a lot of money by caring for her 55-year-old son yet the State is unable to provide her with assistance. She is 89 years of age. There is a severe lack of home helps in west Cork … abortions in Ireland, which is up 63% on 2019. The promise made during the 2018 referendum that abortion would be safe, legal and rare has well and truly been broken. The figure of 10,852 is the highest number of abortions we have ever seen. In my county

public protest, sleep-outs and the threat of legal action before the Government moved to act. Parents and guardians had to fight tooth and nail just to be heard. Not every parent has the capacity to take on the State. Many are exhausted, dispirited and worn down … transport has not been provided, which means children cannot even attend the hard-fought place their parents secured after much campaigning. Across the State, parents and guardians have been forced to campaign, protest and litigate just to secure what should be guaranteed, their child's basic right. Educators