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capture the full climate footprint of additional flights, arrivals and departures, carbon dioxide and non-carbon dioxide effects alike, it is inviting a legal challenge that, on the weight of recent European jurisprudence, it stands a real chance of losing. Exempting the Minister from section … number of aircraft flying overhead. We have seen where this can lead us. A ruling in the Hague District Court in 2024 stated that the Dutch Government had acted unlawfully in failing to protect residents near Schiphol Airport from noise pollution, breaching Article 8 of the ECHR

families’ ability to care for their own families, if they have young families. As to the minimum respite guarantee, this motion proposes a legal entitlement to a minimum number of weeks of respite care each year for all carers, acknowledging the importance of breaks for carers … person they are caring for. We have to allow for this through respite. This motion also calls for improvements to home support services, including ensuring adequate funding for home support hours and addressing workforce shortages. I do not believe there is anyone in this House who values what

reverse the decision to delay DART+ South West and Luas Finglas, and prioritise the rollout of public transport projects including additional Local Link services, Bus Connects, and active travel infrastructure, including quick-build segregated cycle lanes throughout Dublin city and county; and — prioritise the rollout of new Luas … difference to congestion. It is routinely ignored by motorists largely because there is no meaningful enforcement mechanism even though the system is now legally binding. TII, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, has been clear that without a change in Government policy, all of the available options have been exhausted

crime in our communities. A number of measures are proposed for assessment in this motion that require very careful consideration from a legal and operational point of view. However, the spirit of these suggestions is something on which we can all agree. Nobody should live in fear … State. It is hoped the implementation of a modernised CCTV platform for An Garda Síochána can commence in 2026. I can also assure Deputies the Government is resolute in its commitment to tackle the issue of retail crime and to protecting retail workers, who provide an essential service

people are going to other European countries, such as Georgia, to do their tests because the waiting times are much lower. This completely legal process sees the applicant acquire their licence in Georgia and then return to Ireland to exchange it for an Irish one a week … services. The big fear I have is that people perceiving the testing system to have so many delays in it will increase the number of no-shows, further compounding the issue we have, with more delays being clogged into the system. I know the Minister of State

tangible plan to hire specialist assessors and therapists within weeks, and monitor and report progress publicly every month until every child receives their legal entitlement. I highlight a stark warning from Ireland's disability coalition, which is also outside Leinster House today. Someone from my community, Sarah Attridge … happen by accident. It is the result of policy decisions. The coalition is calling for emergency winter fuel funding. The Minister of State cannot stand idly by and not accept that that is a crisis. We need urgent action including, as I say, an emergency winter payment

lack of statutory home support rights. Ireland does not yet have a fully implemented statutory home support scheme, meaning there is no legal entitlement to home care comparable to the provisions of the fair deal scheme for residential care. This contributes to unequal access, a lack of transparency … delays; and increase home support funding in future budgets to close the gap with residential care investment. Home support is more than a service. It is a lifeline that enables dignity, independence and quality of life. Today's statistics show that Ireland's ageing population and rising demand

booklet called Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree was distributed to Irish schools. It included an endorsement from the then Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, waffling about forests being homes for birds and animals - not if they are Sitka spruce, they are not. These plantations … core demand of this motion, that is, for the Government to recommit to reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030, a supposedly legally binding commitment. Instead, we get vague waffle about being "fully committed to ... climate ambition". However, the only semi-concrete target mentioned is climate neutrality

Bill 2026. I thank the Minister of State and her officials for their efforts to update this largely technical but important legislation which impacts many of the most vulnerable in our society. This is a targeted, necessary measure to provide legal certainty for people who remain in wardship … have resulted in discharge orders, with about 1,537 still pending. In those circumstances, doing nothing would risk leaving people in an unacceptable legal limbo, with knock-on uncertainty for families and clinicians alike. What this Bill does is straightforward. It gives the High Court discretion

change in legislation and services and understanding of child sexual exploitation since 1987 has been profound and the approach of the statutory services has changed beyond recognition. An Garda Síochána now has a more modern and professional approach to dealing with complaints of sexual exploitation of children, including … then we must be held to account and dealt with by exacting laws. Otherwise, trust in the institutions and basic functioning of our State will be undermined. I am also aware that some of the victims of Bill Kenneally have instituted proceedings against An Garda Síochána

including enhancing effective, safe and dignified return and readmission and strengthening and developing legal migration to member states. It will also contribute to enhancing solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility between the member states, including through practical co-operation, innovative methods and new technologies. In a similar vein … operation between member states. In its conclusions in June this year, the European Council recalled that serious and organised crime, terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism - both online and offline - represent a major threat to European citizens and the security of member states. As we know only too well

that there is a level playing field for all involved in this because it cannot be the case that the inquiry and the State have access to documents but parents and families do not. There is a real worry among families that will happen. We need … that the external expert panel review will take 12 months. Can the Minister confirm that whether that is the case and whether the legal issues with the Nayagam review will have any impact on this expert panel’s work? It would be good to know. I refer

decision-making system. Faster processing will mean that applicants spend less time in International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, centres and will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State. Faster decision-making will also mean that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner … country of origin sooner. Having a common system across the EU makes sure that all applicants are treated the same in every member state, with no incentive to move from one to another. If Ireland had not opted in to the pact, it is likely that we would

help bring about a ceasefire. All political parties need to use their own political networks and links in European countries and the United States and everywhere else to try to help amplify that. What we see happening today and what we have seen happening for a very significant … replicate what we are doing. On the issue of services, and before I am misrepresented again, as I constantly seem to be, I have no difficulty with services being included if we can find a legal way forward in that regard. There is no policy difference. We have

campaign. This issue, of course, was huge in the election campaign, and we had all sorts of promises and commitments. Housing and disability services were the biggest issues during the campaign and they are supposed to be the Government's highest priorities. "More needs to be done." That … limit. The HSE stated there will be 25,000 children on the list at the end of this year and the average waiting time will be more than two years. These figures are shocking. Children are being failed every hour of every day. The State is breaking

stage, putting that on a firm statutory basis, as this legislation will do, is really important. I also acknowledge in this Bill the legal requirement for relevant bodies to co-operate. That is provided for in section 11, relating to the duty to co-operate, which mandates … State, that is a significant moment. I welcome the measures addressed towards foster carers. A safe and nurturing foster home is always a better option for a child than being in a residential placement, particularly at a time of such enormous demand for Tusla's services. Efforts have

services to work in a more co-ordinated and integrated manner. A major issue in those services is what is known in clinical circles as defensive practice, which refers to a service having overly rigid exclusion criteria, basically repelling referrals of children in an unreasonable and inflexible manner … necessary recruitment to meet the additional demand on those primary care services. It reflects a fragmented and disjointed approach to service development. Earlier this year, HSE figures released to me highlighted the dire state of these services across disciplines and throughout the country. Primary care services

immense contribution to Irish society. People are welcome to come here, work, study and join family so long as they do so legally, as the vast majority do. Migrants' presence here in Ireland contributes to a rich and culturally diverse society that we should all value. Amidst … also signals the Government's intention to shift away from the emergency use of hotels, with a preference now expressed for facilities on State-owned land. This will be a welcome relief to hoteliers and local communities, and will also be cheaper in the long run. I commend

secretary of state, which is a role broadly equivalent to a minister of State. In Ireland, there are 15 Ministers. In other jurisdictions that are similar in size, such as New Zealand and Norway, I am told there are 20 ministers and ministers of state, but this figure … Government will be focusing its attention and where the assistance and support provided by a Minister of State will be essential to achieve these specific responsibilities. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will have special responsibility for fisheries and he will

heard with respect and without judgment. I acknowledge the work that has been done by the Government, the Minister, the Minister of State and others. The RTSS and the fuel support scheme represent a really meaningful step forward. These schemes will provide relief for many operators … year in tolls, with larger operators paying up to a €250,000 annually. This is not sustainable. Is it true that hauliers are legally entitled to a 10% discount under toll bylaws but in practice, they cannot get access to this very easily? Is it true that

used correctly, or so I am told because I do not use it at all myself. It can help businesses to grow, improve services and make life easier for people. No one in this House disputes that. However, when it is misused we start to see real problems … receiving end of AI-generated communications, messages and letters that look like they have come from solicitors, are dressed up in legal language and are designed to put the fear of God into them. These are automated, often aggressive in tone and sent out in bulk. That

welcome. While the Bill creates the legal basis to share collision data, it does not require systematic collision analysis, a publication of findings or safety action plans arising from that data. As this Bill goes through, I hope the Minister of State will look at the data sharing … time when national policy is and should be moving us towards lower speeds and a safe systems approach. Will the Minister of State give an assurance that these amendments will not undermine the intent of the 30 km built-up area policy and the wider speed review

February 2021, sets the vision for water services based on the full integration of water services provided by 31 local authorities into one national authority, Uisce Éireann. The objective is to deliver a world-class public water services authority that meets customer needs, operates in line with best … water services, under the direction of Uisce Éireann, until 31 December 2026. Opportunities for those staff who do not seek to transfer to Uisce Éireann will be identified during the transition period to 2026. Local authorities will cease any involvement in the direct provision of water services

polls and placed the interest of Brussels and bureaucracy above the basic needs of its own citizens. The Government had the option - the legal right under the Lisbon treaty - to opt out of the EU migration pact. Instead, it rolled over and surrendered. It signed … ignoring the concern of exhausted residents in Citywest, Dundrum, Athlone and areas all over Dublin? In my constituency, in communities where services are stretched and schools are full, people are told to just get on with it. The people of Saggart and surrounding areas were promised that

over the next five years; and - generative AI systems are used to massively generate outputs used to commit streaming fraud, with music streaming service Deezer finding in April 2026 that up to 85 per cent of the streams generated by fully AI-generated tracks in 2025 were fraudulent … uploaded to Deezer every day, representing roughly 44 per cent of total daily uploads; notes that a majority of European Union (EU) member states responding to a consultation by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU into lessons learned on Article 15 of the Directive