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reside on the Curragh Plains and it has engaged regularly with the Chief State Solicitor's Office to ensure that all legal steps are taken to promptly protect the plains. The Department initiated legal proceedings in April for relief for trespass in the High Court … inclusion in the programme for Government. To this end, Department officials are continuing to engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, which has undertaken an initial scoping of their likely requirements. I am informed that officials from the Department's property management branch met with officials

reminds me a bit of the Disability Act 2005 where the Government of the day decided rightly that we would confer a legal right for a child to access an assessment of need and that that assessment of would look at the health and education needs of each … That never happened. Of course, what has happened is that people are waiting, waiting and waiting. Parents are taking the State to court. I have a concern that is what is holding back the Government on this. It is saying, "Hang on a second here", or maybe

Exchange, including Ryanair, Smurfit Kappa and the Dalata Hotel Group. The Irish Stock Exchange also supports a thriving ecosystem of brokers, advisers and legal services, etc. Ireland has been losing out by not supporting more indigenous enterprises to access private capital through public markets, which is evidenced … employs a stamp duty of 1% on the trading of shares. However, Ireland's rate is an outlier when compared with other European states, many of whom have a 0% rate or at most, a 0.2% or 0.3% rate. Stamp duty should be exempted from the trading

have also been raised that national security limits could restrict disclosure because governments, particularly the Government of our nearest neighbour, often protect intelligence services and operations. Under the terms of this Bill, as they stand, officials may decline to provide evidence and broad security claims could be used … hope the Minister of State will engage with this aim in a constructive spirit, recognising that Sinn Féin’s amendments are intended to be helpful, and give genuine consideration to accepting them. Amendment No. 1 addresses a matter raised by legal representatives of the Omagh families. It replaces

first board and CEO be appointed by the Minister for enterprise with little reference to any binding recommendations from the Public Appointments Service or procedures in the appointment to safeguard independence from the beginning. This is not for a caretaker or interim period before permanent appointments … myriad of examples of agencies and bodies in this State where these constraints are not applied and we see the benefit in ensuring accountability, boosting public confidence and giving us all clarity when it comes to legal and policy areas that need work. I want the perspective

carers and people with disabilities, recognising their contribution and the security they deserve. We will build more homes and deliver infrastructure and public services to continue meeting this country's needs with faster delivery, less bureaucracy and better value for every euro. We will do so responsibly, protecting … receiving the working family payment, with approximately 470,000 households now benefiting. That is close to one in every four households across the State. The Tánaiste has also made clear that the planned phased restoration of excise duty due to begin in November must be considered in light

focus on service provision. Those increases totalled over €600 million. The Government is committed to the introduction of a cost-of-disability payment and a lot of very good work is being done by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and others … protest starts and ends. Lots of genuine, decent people protested this week. There were also people who crossed the line in terms of legality. I saw people saying pretty horrific things to Deputy Murphy about his support for LGBT people in this country. I agree with

very real financial worries for families. Hours are being spent in traffic and people are dealing with unreliable and stretched bus and train services. We all know the impact but I am not sure this Government necessarily cares or understands it. I will give the House an example … more affordable housing. The understanding was that he could work remotely and that the arrangement would continue. I ask the Minister of State to listen to what he said: Now we find ourselves commuting sometimes a four hour round trip if traffic is bad, increased travel costs, parking

gaining some considerable traction around the European Union. The Single Market is the engine of our success. Deepening it and completing it in services, in digital and in capital markets is an Irish priority of the longest standing. The savings and investment union, the so-called … vitally important for Ireland. Ireland is supportive of the initiatives at EU level to increase resilience and capabilities of member states. We see value in member states and partners working together to mitigate the threats and challenges we collectively face. Ireland is investing significantly in its own security

will strengthen the legal framework that underpins the State's care and protection system. At its core, the Bill will improve how the State protects children from harm, supports families earlier and ensures that decisions are taken in line with the best interests and the voice … unclear responsibilities and inconsistent follow through across agencies. Co-operation between Departments, Tusla and other bodies is absolutely essential. The introduction of a legal duty on relevant bodies to co-operate with Tusla is a significant and overdue measure and it will help to close the gap that

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, having received legal advice in relation to the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, welcomed that the advisory opinion of the ICJ stated that states have a duty including "an obligation to take steps to prevent trade … authoritative statement of applicable international law, which is binding on all states and international organisations"; and — in advance of the general election of 29th November, 2024, during a televised leaders' debate, then Taoiseach Simon Harris TD, stated "I'll support the legislation [the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied

this conflict to end. I will offer a word on the wider region. While we are all following the headlines from the Gulf states and the safety of our friends and family members there remains paramount, we must not lose sight of the situation in the wider region … political effort to turn a new page, establishing a new Government, revitalising its security forces and tackling the huge challenges of political and legal reform and economic reconstruction. Much had been achieved. Now, for the second time in two and a half years, Hezbollah has gratuitously attacked Israel

have attended dozens of meetings with parents of children with disabilities throughout the State. They are heartbreaking meetings because the parents are trying to do their best for their children. It strikes me that what really drives them mad, and I do not blame them … Government say you do not really need an assessment to access services and you can access services without an assessment. Most of the parents I meet at these meetings do not get services. The services are almost non-existent. They are stuck on waiting lists for speech

Indeed, the Tánaiste spearheaded several engagements prior to the announcement of this series of tariffs with the trade ministers of many EU member states sharing similar economies and sectorial challenges. This visit is not just symbolic but a vital opportunity for the Government to reiterate our message that … sector that starkly demonstrates that punitive trade barriers not only hurt foreign exporters but also damage domestic supply chains, customer access and health services. Several Deputies raised concerns about the potential impact of these developments on Irish businesses, especially SMEs. I reassure the Dáil that the Government

clear the false economy the Government is imposing on these communities. It is saying you cannot reduce the number of units to meet legally required minimum standards, so you have to retrofit the units as they are. However, fewer people will be allowed to live in them. That … Bond House where it would deliver an additional 43 homes. The scheme has a net gain of 15 homes, and the Minister of State's Government is saying "No" to the people of Oliver Bond House. It is utterly disgraceful. What needs to happen? The Government needs

rule confirmed that too many parents leave the family court feeling silenced, confused or powerless and do not understand why they are not legally allowed to talk about their cases. That cannot be healthy in any modern democracy or system of law. England and Wales have introduced controlled … phased implementation plan that is due to begin in 2027 and the commitment in the programme for Government to modernise family justice services and put children's welfare at the centre of proceedings. Democracies cannot operate behind closed doors. A judicial system that operates largely behind closed doors

penalties for conditionality. This week, Commissioner Hansen announced a new draft CAP simplification package, bringing forward proposals for some further changes to the legal framework. I welcome any proposals that will simplify and reduce the administrative burden for farmers and national administrations. As with any new legislation … farmers' day-to-day operations. This is a mandatory condition of the payment of the BISS, and EU regulations require all member states to have a standard in place from the start of this year. Failure to have done so would have exposed Ireland to significant and recurring

independent review of the offences against the State Acts. Last year, the Minister set out the direction he was going and that he broadly accepted the majority report recommendations to repeal and replace the Offences against the State Act. He indicated that new legislation would not be ready … reply the Minister of State might be able to give us some indication of same. We have had the Hederman report in 2002, the Peart majority and minority reports, various other reports, reviews and recommendations, and the Law Reform Commission report on jury service in 2013. I could

legal authorities in this State or elsewhere. It is not considered to be demeaning to your character if you are accused of assisting state authorities. Lies were able to be published ad nauseam and Sunday newspapers were competing against one another to see who could accuse the highest … being flippant about it. It is to say that media have a big responsibility and they are not always held legally accountable. I have seen articles written that were untrue but to prove they were defamatory would be difficult. That gets to the crux of why this

homeless services and in the crisis of homelessness. We do not fully count how many children go through emergency accommodation and present as homeless, and we have not fundamentally accepted the deeply damaging impact on children of spending time in emergency accommodation. The Minister of State's party … moving. Fine Gael has been in power for 15 years and homelessness has risen year after year and then the Minister of State gets up and talks about how the Government's big move on homelessness is to restrict access to emergency accommodation. It is not right

done a lot of work in his own right. I want to state unequivocally that people with coexisting mental disorders and substance misuse disorders can and do access inpatient and community mental health services. This was not always the case. An awful lot of people still have … treatment. My position is that the solution to this issue is to continue to fund both general mental health services and specialised dual diagnosis mental health services to improve access for all. I am not going to stand here and say there is not an issue. There

welcome. Every one of us remembers that fateful Friday afternoon in October 2022. We remember the reports of an explosion at an Applegreen service station and apartments in the small Donegal village and how that shock later turned to disbelief as we learned that the explosion had claimed … response is that a public inquiry cannot be granted while the criminal investigation is ongoing, but the former Garda Commissioner was clear. He stated that it was possible to hold a public inquiry without compromising that investigation. The families' reasons for wanting a public inquiry are very well

consistent across the country and not subject to a post code lottery. People in crisis cannot wait another decade. They need the State to meet them with a sense of urgency and containment consistently and in every part of the country. I conclude by coming back … cold, detached handling of the closure of the Owenacurra Centre in Midleton across 2021 and 2022 and the transfer of vulnerable adult service users from a single-room, town-centre location where they had lived and become integrated into community over decades, only to be moved to dormitory

other Departments - this is a Department of Finance Bill - is we will pass on their suggestions to the relevant Minister or Minister of State in the Department of Health. I appreciate that any Deputy will take the opportunity to raise points relevant to supporting people undergoing treatment … allows us to deliver the protections now without compromising legal certainty or operational viability. We heard concerns about enforcement. I reiterate the Government will bring forward amendments on Committee Stage to strengthen enforcement by designating the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman as the appropriate body to handle complaints

market, having been bought up by funds that are now providing a service across multiple homes. We have heard from HIQA that there is an issue in this regard. The funds are complex legal entities with deep pockets that can end up out of the reach of regulation … measures documented to mitigate the risk but these measures had not always been effective and failed to protect residents from abuse. It states this finding was evidenced by “the continuance of physical and verbal peer-to-peer abuse incidents by a number of residents in the centre”. This