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consultations required for termination in early pregnancy to take place remotely. As outlined earlier by the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, this alleviates some of the difficulty that may be associated with the mandatory three-day waiting period in that it reduces the time and expense involved … Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Act. The cumulative effect of all these measures is to substantially reduce barriers and increase access to services for those who need them. The feedback received directly from clinicians indicates that the service is working well. This is particularly significant

State body, be that An Garda Síochána or another designated State body, and the steps to be taken by the head of the State body on receipt of such a request. The head of the State body could be the Garda Commissioner, the Chief of Staff … sovereignty and security of the State and other essential interests of the State, would be likely to prejudice a criminal investigation of criminal proceedings in the State or would otherwise being inconsistent with the functions, whether statutory or otherwise, of the designated State body. I emphasise that

amended. This is a Bill his own party introduced to the Dáil in 2019 on behalf of Senator Black. The sound legal basis of this Bill has been established by a range of Irish and international experts, among them the former justice Minister and Attorney General, Senator Michael … known for being on the radical left. The foreign affairs committee recommended the inclusion in the Bill of goods and services. How can you continue to argue against it, and to delay and dilute it, as Palestinians in the West Bank are subjected to unprecedented cycles of abuse

Minister of State saying the motion is not being opposed, but is the Government going to deliver? That is the question here, and it is a huge question. Since I came here in 2016, that has been the case - non-delivery for home care services. I thank John … Government has been rolling out this statutory home care scheme since 2016, and in 2025 there is still no deadline and no legal right to home care. This is not reform; it is a farce. We want a timeline. We want rights-based care

international law. It is time for the Government to finally show some leadership and get behind this campaign to Stop the Game on legal and moral grounds. Stand with the people of Ireland who do not want this game to go ahead. Stand with the people of Palestine … experiencing genocide. There is a moral obligation on us to do so. On the one hand, the Government says the Israeli State is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people but on the other hand, the Government is content to welcome its sports teams here. Where

children in those crucial early years of life. I am pleased to say that provision has been made for women involved in public service both here in this House and in our councils across the country. In the past two years, our councillors and Oireachtas Members … senior leadership teams is vital for enhancing decision-making and fostering innovation. The EU directive on gender balance on corporate boards requires member states to ensure that, by the end of June 2026, listed companies achieve 40% representation of women as board members. I am happy to report

that she accept it. If not, I hope we can find some solution in regard to these sets of circumstances. We need a legal framework to be followed up with guidelines that are issued to all the necessary stakeholders. That is absolutely vital. We are talking about people … people in such circumstances. The situation of one such constituent is finally, after many months, being dealt with. Many people, including staff in State services, were trying to get the issue resolved but could not do so. This reflects a failure of the existing legislation and the Bill

development plans, creating a dynamic and respectful reuse of a key historical civic landmark; and furthermore, notes: — the acquisition by the State of the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street; — the significant stabilisation and weathering works undertaken by the Government to preserve and save the buildings from … such project, where detailed work into the refurbishment of the national monument is well progressed. As all well know, legal proceedings from 2016 thwarted the State's hope and stopped all works, apart from essential stabilisation and preservation measures that were agreed by the High Court. Since

councillor Jim Finucane from Kerry, who passed away in recent days. People who serve at local government level are the essence of public service and they do our democracies, parties and traditions proud. We think of their families today. I thank the Deputy for raising the really important … Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Dillon, who is here with me today. I will make sure that all of those matters are considered in an appropriate manner. Receivership is a long-standing legal mechanism for the enforcement of a security

wish the Minister of State well in her new role. I am concerned about these opt-ins. We are opting in very often without any proper legal scrutiny or impact analysis. None of us can say there is not a huge problem with gun crime. The availability … where it might end up when it comes down on top of us. I also have huge issues with the Prison Service at the moment. Our prisons have double the number of prisoners that they can hold and they are releasing prisoners on a regular basis to unscrupulous

children waiting for an assessment of need and that over 90% of those assessments are not being completed within the legally mandated six-month timeframe. In Dublin South Central at the end of 2024 there were 1,652 children waiting over three months for an assessment of need … assessment of need for a child when they most need it? When a child receives an assessment of need, where are the services thereafter? The Disability Act 2005 clearly sets out that children should have an assessment of need starting within three months of application and concluding within

estimated that one third of staff leaving services are doing so to move to another service. Staff turnover is linked to pay and working conditions. However, the State is not an employer of staff and neither I nor my Department set pay or working conditions. The joint labour … development of career pathways, the role profiles of educator, lead educator and manager, which were set out in Nurturing Skills, were given legal meaning when used as the basis for the employment regulations orders for the sector. These orders now embed a career structure by setting different rates

chair will be shortly conducting pre-legislative scrutiny of. I have some fears, though, due to the remarks by the Minister of State. What the Government has done very well is set out what the problems may be in terms of a potential constitutional challenge. It has done … victims and survivors, both in the context of the experience of dealing with the policing system and the Courts Service and the supports that are provided through the legal process and afterwards. All of this needs to be premised on ensuring that the process does

action plan is in ensuring a greater level of transparency in all aspects of our insurance market. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is very much to the fore in this regard. When reforms have shifted behaviour, such as through the Injuries Resolution Board … guaranteed baseline of hospital treatment cover, regardless of the plan type they hold. While insurers make their own commercial decisions on which service and provider to cover, they must do so within the framework and are regulated by the Health Insurance Authority. That said, patients are strongly encouraged

service and how they are being addressed. I thank Members of the House who continue to engage with me on this. I have placed a significant and systemic focus on productivity generally in our hospitals but particularly in this most acute area of need of paediatric spinal services … than has been the case before. There has been a significant focus on investment for these services. In 2024, 52 new full-time equivalent posts were approved to strengthen paediatric spinal services, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nursing staff and allied health professionals. Forty-one of those staff

there and the young people detained there. Fórsa has stated: Members have repeatedly raised concerns that staffing shortfalls are placing unsustainable pressure on services and increasing risks in a challenging custodial environment for children and staff alike. If it isn't safe for staff, it cannot be safe … were stretched and operational demands intensified." That is the situation with which we are dealing. I am sure the Minister of State will talk about the State's industrial relations infrastructure and framework. However, the underlying issue at Oberstown arises from the problems with staffing capacity

detect there is a little scepticism coming in because of a lack of understanding. I must credit the Oireachtas Library and Research Service. The documents and supports available to us on different issues are absolutely fantastic. We possibly take them for granted. When I go back to Meath … could be through schools, when our MEPs return, which would offer an opportunity to give information on Europe Day and on the legal framework and things like why we transpose directives and what are the different pieces of legislation, what they go through, whether they are directly transposed

House have supported. I would like to know why. It would be a dedicated body to monitor public spending, ensure timely resolution of legal disputes and prevent runaway costs in future inquiries. Such a Department would set clear timelines, enforce cost controls, and publish real-time updates … acceptable in this island that this carry on is happening when others are suffering and we are trying to deliver services and infrastructure. To put it in perspective, the €71 million already spent on the Moriarty tribunal could have funded over 350 new social housing units, given that

framework, and the current drafting is clear and consistent with the language of the underlying regulation. Recital 8 of the AI Act states the regulation supports the objective of promoting the European-centric approach to AI and making the Union a global leader in the development of secure … service desk, which are intended to support and reinforce consistent implementation of harmonised rules across the EU. I am satisfied that these provisions already capture the proposed paragraphs (h), (i) and (j), and reinstating them in granular subparagraphs would result in legislative duplication without adding substantive legal effect

hospitals and nursing homes, yet carers, both paid and unpaid, are under significant and unsustainable strain due to inconsistent access to services, limited financial supports, inadequate staffing levels and regional disparities in care provision. We also know from all our constituencies that nursing homes are overstretched … deliver the statutory home care scheme, a long-term commitment of the Government. We have proposed a scheme that would give a legal entitlement to health and social care, which would try to keep people in their homes. Again, there is a regional issue here with regard

studies, but have just two minutes, so I will briefly mention two cases. One is a Gorey parent, Kellie Nolan, who contacted me, stating that her ten-year-old son, Finn, has been waiting for seven years for an assessment of need and supports, so basically … therefore breaking the law. We in Sinn Féin will continue to fight until it is sorted and children get the services and supports that they are legally entitled to access and deserve. I call on the Government to support Sinn Féin's motion this evening

your assessment of needs, the fight continues for therapies, school places and very basic services. The Government has broken the law over and over again. There is a legal requirement on the Government to provide an assessment of needs within six months and it has broken this over … lays out the clear, concrete steps needed if the Government is serious about tackling assessment of needs waiting lists and complying with its legal and moral obligations. Tá an dlí briste ag an Taoiseach arís is arís eile. Tá teip shuntasach á déanamh ar leanaí faoi mhíchumas atá

nonaligned stance has allowed us to act as a moral honest broker, an advocate for peace and a supporter of proper humanitarian legal systems on the world stage. As an Independent TD, I believe we must protect that legacy but real neutrality is not free and being militarily … misinformation being spread and the ability to take out whole grids. That is a power belonging to some of the nefarious state and non-state operators. These and other sinister actions, like the explosions on the Ukrainian border recently, impact directly on Ireland whether we like

isolation, resulting in a situation where both disabled persons and their carers are hospitalised. It is important to note that carers save the State about €20 billion each year, preventing avoidable hospital admissions and enabling many people to remain in their homes safely for longer periods … extracted two tranches of funding for this service. Unfortunately, even with the extra funding, we will still be running to standstill and the Government will continue to break the law, denying thousands of children their legal right to an assessment within the six-month time limit. This

legal entitlement to an Assessment of Need under the Disability Act 2005; — deliver a longer term sustainable solution, including an urgent workforce plan to recruit, train and retain enough staff to finally end this breach of children's rights once and for all; — fund special needs services, including … change the law. It has attempted to suggest this has been to streamline the delivery of services, to use capacity better and to ensure the children get the services they are entitled to but the sad reality is that if the Government removes or waters down the right