Search the record

them exposed to fuel shocks like the one we are experiencing at present. The solution has to be further and urgent investment in public transport and active travel expansion, improved bus services in our rural communities, light rail for cities such as Cork and Galway and the DART … Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal war in Iran, following the shut-down of a major LNG facility in Qatar. The Government has estimated that its proposed LNG terminal will cost almost €1 billion, paid for of course by ordinary bill payers. The likely increase in that cost arising

leis. I understand there is a constitutional requirement for this Bill as it legislates for the financial resolutions, which include all of the Estimates agreed by the Dáil this year. The sums granted from the Central Fund under the Central Fund (Permanent Provisions) Act 1965 will go towards … impact there. Oranmore train station is always packed out with cars. We then have additional stops that are crucially needed to ensure better public transport in Galway city. I refer to the likes of having an additional stop at Roscam to serve the people in the east side

which has increased from €707 million in 2022, to €1.52 billion this year, an increase of circa 116 per cent; further welcomes: — the publication of Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan Phase 1 Report, in December 2025; — the extensive consultation process that has been designed to inform … Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024, which were designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which an estimated 13,000 childminders work; — an independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former Chief Executive Officer of Education

measures in the area of freedom, security and justice on a case-by-case basis. That flexibility was central to securing public consent for the Treaty of Lisbon. People voted on the understanding that Ireland would retain control over sensitive areas like migration, asylum and justice. This Government … scale of profiteering that has been allowed to exist under this Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Government. It is eye watering. An estimated €1.2 billion of taxpayers' money was spent on IPAS accommodation in 2025 alone. Bed-per-night rates are skyrocketing. They

does not do enough to deal with it. The budget for Ireland's CAP strategic plan is €9.8 billion and an estimated 2.5% of that will result in effective action for biodiversity, a tiny fraction. Security for small farmers is not delivered either by CAP. A thousand … They should be content and well cared for. If dogs and cats were kept in any of those conditions, there would be a public outcry - no question - but because these are farm animals, it seems to be acceptable. Nobody should want their food produced in this

increasing age profile in our population. By 2030, we will have over a million people over the age of 66. County Laois is estimated to have between 13,000 and 14,000 people over that age. According to the 2022 census, 11,978 people were over that … frustrating that some of them are not trained to provide the level of care. I know from my time on the Committee of Public Accounts that HSE employees are cheaper in the long run and in the short run than staff provided by private companies. Private companies providing

using SWITCH, the ESRI tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax increase and the compensatory welfare package estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive - they help people who are less well off, something the Opposition fails to acknowledge. Half … Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, calculates the maximum tolls for the Dublin tunnel and the M50 and decides the tolls that should apply. The public-private partnership, PPP, companies calculate the maximum tolls for the eight PPP concession schemes and propose the tolls that should apply. The mechanism

laid before the Houses on 5 March this year. The findings of the review were informed by a nationally representative survey; a public consultation which received more than 8,000 responses; and engagement with the Workplace Relations Commission, employer and employee representatives and the Minister for Children, Disability … have already outlined, and the progress achieved in reaching a living wage. The Low Pay Commission, using CSO earnings data, has estimated that the 2025 national minimum wage represented just under 60% of median hourly earnings, and approximately 56% using labour force survey data, underlining the significant progress

next week. Of course, the problem with that is not only is there a lack of scrutiny and a lack of media and public attention, it also means that whatever the Government's intentions, the negative consequences of the legislation are probably going to be even worse. Again … rents for existing renters, rents for new renters, look at the difference and that will give you a pretty reasonable estimation of the potential increased rent from the market reset. In fact, that data is from quarter 2 of 2025, which means the scale of the uplift

Ukraine. Yet, as I said, they are not sufficiently debated in this House. It is horrific that there are now an estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred to areas under Russian control by the Russian defence forces. Think about that number - 20,000 children … world, and they will tell them exactly about the threats we face. I believe that in this House and in many of the public debates, we have been naive and gullible about the threat being faced in Europe by Russia. We really need to finally face

provides that the office shall promote and foster AI innovation and literacy and section 9(1)(d) provides that it shall enhance public awareness of the use of AI systems and the rights and obligations under the artificial intelligence regulation. These functions complement the range of supports that … which introduces the provisions concerning energy consumption and transparency. Providers of the general purpose AI models are required to document the known or estimated energy consumption of their models as part of their technical documentation obligations under annex XI of the AI Act. To support this, the European

transposition of the EU violence against women directive. Looking ahead, Ireland will continue to explore ways to strengthen victim reporting systems and raise public awareness. Of course, during our upcoming Presidency of the European Union, we will use that as a platform to advance greater online safety … goal we share in our own domestic policy agenda. We all know the scale of the challenge. The European Institute for Gender Equality estimates that at the current rate of change, it could take 50 years for the EU to reach full gender equality. That is why days

subject matter of the Bill. As Deputies will be aware, Ireland’s electricity demand will grow significantly over the coming decade. It is estimated that electricity demand will double by 2035; this is in addition to the 25% growth that has taken place over the past ten years … stock by ESB in return for payment up to the value of €1.5 billion. The stock shall be issued to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. Issuing capital stock which will be fully subscribed

which is among the largest per capita of any EU state; — these measures have been further extended until 1st September, 2026, at an estimated cost of €270 million; — the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate on electricity bills has been reduced to 9 per cent, until 2030; — enhanced social … from 2028; — achieving value for money must be sought at all stages of policy formation, and it is the responsibility of every Minister, public and civil servants within all Departments; — earlier this year, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation published Circular 21/2026 Expenditure

visibility gaps that still exist and highlights the need to amplify women’s sport across every platform. I believe there is substantial public interest in women’s sport, and this is illustrated, for example, by Kate O’Connor being the third most visible athlete in media coverage … economy. It saw 47,000 spectators packing out the Aviva stadium with over 25,000 attendees coming from overseas, and it is estimated to have supported almost 300 jobs. It gave us a significant taste of what it will be like when we host EURO 2028 games

onto households, small businesses and other parts of the economy. We are exempting this liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal but for every other public body in Ireland, the commitment to national mitigation plans and to the adaptation frameworks and the transition objectives all are legally binding. They … will talk a little about the project itself because it is not going to deliver energy security in the short term. The best estimate we got in the committee was that it would take three and a half years - until 2030 - before this would be built, assuming there

allowance, carer's benefit, carer's support grant and the domiciliary care allowance. The total value of payments in these schemes is estimated to be over €1.9 billion in 2025. Recognising the vital role of carers, the programme for Government sets out a timeline that commits to significantly … goal is demonstrated by the allocation of €4 million in budget 2025 to staff and operationalise an additional 615 community beds. Those are public beds. The new nursing home residential upgrade scheme, with a sanction of €10 million, will provide financial support to private and voluntary nursing homes

with an estimated first-sale value of €205 million. This represents a decrease of one third - €100 million to €105 million - on the estimated value of the 2025 quota. These figures reflect quota outcomes for Ireland across the main pelagic, demersal and nephrops stocks … additional resources will be required to carry this out. I have already had conversations, on a number of occasions, with the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, and I have had his support in this regard. We intend to move quickly

been a little over a month since the Minister for Finance and Minister for public expenditure stood in this Chamber and delivered to the country this Government's budget for 2026. We heard on that day all about the choices this Government was making - which industries it wanted … Furthermore, changes to thresholds for means tests only make weak efforts towards proper recognition of all carers' work. By the Minister's own estimates, he chose to purposefully exclude 30% of carers from carer's allowance. Tens of thousands of people who care for the most vulnerable

very significant number of homes, and securing those homes for purchase by homeowners; — as of Q4 2025, since May 2021, a total estimate of 63,962 houses and duplex units received planning permission, with conditions restricting the bulk purchasing or multiple sales to a single purchaser; — based … ownership, deliver record levels of social and affordable housing, prevent the inappropriate bulk purchasing of family homes, strengthen tenant protections; and mobilise both public and private investment to build the homes our growing population requires. Delivering Homes, Building Communities is a funded, actionable plan. It recognises that solving