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When I stand up to speak on agricultural issues, it causes great mirth among my colleagues in the parliamentary party but it is an important issue for all of us. The sooner we realise that agriculture affects everybody in this country, not just those in rural communities … extension, something we have been part of for generations now, is a hugely important part of the infrastructure that supports agriculture. It allows agriculture to exist beyond a subsistence level and to be a functional part of our economy. It supports functioning farms that are profit-making

Ukraine parliamentary friendship group met with the ambassador, H.E. Larysa Gerasko. One of the concerns she expressed was that she has heard that Ukraine is no longer a priority for Ireland. I have never heard any such statement from any member of my party, of the Minister … State's party or of Government. Will the Minister confirm that Ukraine remains a priority for Ireland as regards the aid and support we can give to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion? Following on from that, I ask the Minister of State about the ship, the Shtandart

equality team. We are very fortunate that within politics now, in all parties and none, there are many role models and within political parties there are LGBT groups and supportive mechanisms in place to encourage people of all backgrounds to become involved. Having those role models is critically … this country, yet Wicklow County Council has made the decision to allow the rainbow crossing to fade. It says the Department of Transport does not provide or allow for rainbow crossings. I have asked a parliamentary question specifically on this. The Department of Transport has said

public services in as effective and efficient a way as possible, that it is targeted at those who need supports, and that it allows for us to have a better society in which to live. Artificial intelligence cuts across all of those. It is the most transformative technology … that I have learned so much at this committee. I felt we worked in a really collaborative way. People took off their party hats. I learned from colleagues as well and I thank James, Darren and Sinéad, and all the members of the committee for their views. There

other Departments and the relevant State agencies needs to be very transparent too. That is an issue on which the Labour Party and I will focus minutely with regard to every State agency and Department. In the area of justice, we have a crisis in An Garda Síochána … willing to do it if the conditions were better. We need an employment order on the rate of pay, travel, meals and other allowances. An employment order would mean more people would work and more people would stay at home so the taxpayer would not get caught

alliance; — hold a national plebiscite, to take place before any legislation to amend the Triple Lock mechanism is brought before the Dáil, to allow the Irish people to express their view on whether a United Nations mandate should remain a requirement for Ireland to deploy peacekeeping troops overseas … this issue. Uplift is doing amazing work to mobilise communities across Ireland. I am very proud to be a member of the parliamentary wing of the Irish Neutrality League. As Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned, when it was originally formed, the league included as members heroes of mine such

appeal. I submitted parliamentary questions to try to get to the bottom of this and see what information I could get back. I was informed that 33% of all first-time applications for the domiciliary care allowance were refused. Of this, 50% of the applicants appealed … honest with the Minister of State. I will recommend to any parent out there who has been turned down for the domiciliary care allowance to appeal because based on these figures, it is likely they will win. As one parent said to me, "You would think the Government

will get a period of finer weather that will allow contractors to do the work that is necessary. There has been extensive damage to the road network around Termonfeckin, for example, and I tabled a series of parliamentary questions recently in relation to the flood response issue … Wellington Quay in Drogheda, beside the River Boyne, are very vulnerable indeed. I will make two further points before passing over to my party colleague Deputy O'Donoghue. I have always found the response of the Department of Social Protection to be excellent, in terms of the management

Labour Party fully support this and have no difficulty with it but we must also look at many of our own domestic insolvency issues. A company may choose liquidation when insolvent and unable to meet its financial obligations. Liquidation allows for the orderly sale of assets to repay … State or, to be more precise, by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. In response to a parliamentary question I submitted in March of this year, the Minister of State said: I am informed by the Commissioners of Public Works (OPW) that Section

Peter Burke; our party leader, Deputy Simon Harris; all of my colleagues in the parliamentary party, particularly Seanad colleagues; MEPs; city and county councillors in Galway; others who came to assist; and party members. As I said, it is a distinct honour to have been successful in that … important to note the moneys that derive from that tax go into very important areas of our economy, including ACRES for farmers, fuel allowance for those in need and home retrofit schemes. While no tax is popular, it is important to acknowledge where carbon tax revenues go, although

That means future trade agreements that could impose new liabilities on taxpayers or restrict our regulatory freedom could be approved quietly without proper parliamentary scrutiny. That is not democracy. That is governance by stealth. Investor court mechanisms have been used worldwide to challenge health protections, environmental safeguards … Irish communities. By that measure, this Bill fails. For all of these reasons, Independent Ireland will oppose this legislation. We will not allow sovereignty, fairness and rural Ireland to be sacrificed for the sake of an investment court. Deputy Ward, who has unfortunately just left the Chamber

uphold Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders. In August 2022, I travelled to Kyiv as part of a parliamentary delegation from across Europe. I saw ruined homes, schools, crèches, community centres and businesses that had been deliberately targeted by Russian forces. Since then … seeing the situation on the ground and reinforcing Ireland’s position at a European level. His visit underlines that this is a cross-party, all-institution effort to keep Ukraine high on the agenda when other crises risk crowding it out. Russia’s war is not just

very direct concern on behalf of many small towns and villages across my county of Offaly and the wider midlands area. We cannot allow a situation where preferential treatment for designated key towns ends up diverting resources, planning capacity or infrastructural investment away from the smaller communities, communities … planning processes, I must contrast that ambition with the massive and escalating backlog within Tailte Éireann, an issue I have repeatedly exposed through parliamentary questions. We are all given an Oireachtas email to correspond with Tailte Éireann, but, as far as I can see, it is an absolute

thank the Deputy for raising the matter and for constructively discussing it with me at the last parliamentary questions session on defence matters. I have had engagement with my officials to try to tease through some of this since we last discussed this … State. It is also important to me that, where possible, litigation of this nature can be concluded on reasonable terms agreeable to all parties to spare people having to take other routes. In the event that this cannot be achieved, the matter will fall to be determined

what the Deputy has said and from what we are all aware of, it is very clear that an unfortunate situation has been allowed to develop. A number of coastal states, of which Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands form a trio, have, through the unilateral allocation … scientific advice. That has had a huge impact on fish stocks. As the Deputy said, I met fishermen, fisherwomen and other interested parties in Killybegs on 5 October. On 8 October, I met relevant stakeholder groups as part of the annual sustainability impact assessment process. This provided

statutory undertaker in the first instance, but does not alter the requirements or predetermine the outcome of the planning process itself. All relevant parties, including landowners, will still retain their existing rights to participate in the planning process. Another example is section 53, which makes an amendment … where it is considered only by An Coimisiún Pleanála, as may otherwise be applicable. The Bill will also make amendments to allow for the modification of an existing permission in accordance with appropriate apartment design standards. The agile application of these criteria to permissions already granted including, where

party in 2010 proposed setting up a utility, Irish Water. It was followed up by Fine Gael and the Labour Party in government. There is an allowance there now, with an excess over that of 1.7 times the average use. I find people generally are conserving water … piping system and the sewage treatment plants, then we would be a long ways on. I got a reply to a parliamentary question in recent weeks. It said an extra €1 billion is going to Irish Water from the sale of AIB shares. The sale brought

same means test to those of its own citizens. The Czech Republic limits free accommodation to 90 days and has set modest monthly allowances. Poland has withdrawn its cash payments to private hosts. Slovakia has reduced its accommodation support by half. Ireland, one of the few states that … Ukrainian passport holder upon arrival, without a means test and without proof of prior residence in Ukraine. In a reply to a recent parliamentary question from me, the HSE confirmed that since 2022, more than €92 million has been spent on medical cards alone, consisting of €14.15 million

unsuccessful candidates who put their names forward and did not succeed, the scars may linger. Either way, they are to be commended on allowing their names to go forward. Chambers such as these are the lifeblood of a functioning democracy. Having succeeded in being elected … ensure that every Member is heard, this House must function smoothly and efficiently. Every Member is equal, irrespective of their political persuasion, political party or grouping. Every Member has a mandate and no one mandate is more important than the other. If elected as Ceann Comhairle, I will

action proposals. There is already a requirement on the HSE to operate within budget. I do not think the CEO of the HSE allows the organisation to run over budget intentionally. This again seems to be rather meaningless. Notably, the Bill provides that where the HSE goes over … expenditure. There is an issue with accountability, even with regard to parliamentary questions. The purpose of the public-only contract that we put in place was to facilitate public work on weekends, but insourcing has allowed private practice in public hospitals on weekends, which is far more lucrative

pays €54 of that in council rent. That is absolutely unacceptable. The Government should give instructions to local authorities to exclude carer's allowance from determinations of rent. The next issue that impinges hugely on families is motoring costs, which are a huge burden on families, particularly those … years of age or 13% living in poverty and that will increase to 17.6% in 2026. These figures were provided by the Parliamentary Budget Office. Families and households are also under huge pressure from energy with 298,000 families in arrears on their electricity bills

other producing the worst of outcomes. What we have here is Fianna Fáil adopting Fine Gael foreign and trade policy wholesale and both parties adopting Bertie-era Fianna Fáil tactics to ride roughshod through these Houses. Independent lackeys pretending to be in government and opposition at the same … worst aspects of CETA. It will open up Ireland to the corporate court systems not available to ordinary Irish citizens. These courts will allow big businesses to sue Ireland for what they call a loss of profit. What could this mean? The answer is vulture funds suing Ireland

immediate ceasefire. The unconditional and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas is an absolute imperative. Israel must fully lift the blockade and allow humanitarian assistance at scale into Gaza, delivered by UN agencies including UNRWA and partner humanitarian organisations. It is a sobering reality that famine … father has been killed by the Israelis, there are still siblings and children in Gaza, and we will continue to work with all parties in the House to make sure families can be unified in a timely manner. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is completely seized of their

division claimed to be taken immediately) Wednesday’s private members' business shall be the Motion re Abolition of Carer’s Allowance Means Test, selected by the Social Democrats. Thursday's business shall be Statements on the Community Pharmacy Agreement (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes). Thursday … time, on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the commencement times for Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Transport, and topical issues; 2. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken

Government's genius new laws. I condemn those laws because the Government is making a bad situation worse. It shows that Government parties are shifting further to the left. In fact, they are becoming more left than the left themselves. The Government has absolutely no right to dictate … battle to get planning permission for another home as he already made use of the rule allowing a build if you have a local connection. I established, through a series of parliamentary questions last month, that there are massive delays in the registration process within Tailte Éireann