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dealt with funding and housing to some degree in the introduction, so I might now deal with education and language rights, which are the other two features of the protest and the demands of the movement. The striking thing in education is the mismatch between parents' aspirations

student should ever have to be in a situation where they are not properly housed. Similarly, 1.7% of students are couchsurfing. How is the Minister going to put things to rights

European Union to put forward the Irish position and that of the people in Gaza. Right now, we are bystanders on this. We have talked a good game here in this House but that is it. Now is the time to take the lead in the conversation across

will make one point before I do so. We need to deal with the housing crisis and it needs to get sorted for the ordinary people who are being shoved left, right and centre. There is no emergency accommodation in Galway city or county. People are told

Minister is absolutely right. We look to the monastic settlements, the round tower, the high crosses, St. Columcille's House and the Spire of Lloyd. The Minister mentioned those. There are incredible sites of historic significance. The Minister will know, and I suppose it is the point

concern around the activities of some who are loosely termed the "far right" who turn up and intimidate and wear balaclavas and face masks. They stood outside your house and my house shouting and roaring and causing significant concern to people in terms of their safety. This

accept that for one second. Over many years, this House has dealt with many issues that have been proceeding through the courts and the State rightly did not intervene as between the two different parties or try to disturb the process of the courts. However, that is totally

journalists' phones were compromised by another Israeli company, Paragon Solutions. This is right on our doorstep, up North and across the water. Will the Taoiseach guarantee to this House and the public watching that no journalists, public representatives or members of civic society are in any way being

tender for social housing? The fact is that if you did not build a social house in the past five years, you cannot tender for a State job. Is that the right way of doing things or should we be allowing more builders to tender? Are we saying

heads of Bill to be published and another three years before it got to the House. It is not good enough. Although the existing Act is at odds with international human rights law, it remains on the Statute Book. Time and again, the language of human rights

help people secure their first home during 2025. Under the affordable housing fund, which the Deputy is asking about specifically, we hit a record number of new affordable homes completed last year - at more than 900 - right across the country. Even more affordable purchase homes are currently being … County Meath. These are homes made available for middle income families who up to now may have been priced out of the housing market. We need to do more. That is very much acknowledged. We are doing more to get affordable housing built where it is needed

scale, and people deserve straight talk rather than false reassurance. I also want to say something about the protests we have seen. The right to protest is fundamental, and I respect it absolutely. I thank the gardaí who had to operate in challenging environments trying to balance legitimate … alone will not get us through this. What will, though, is willingness across the House and across the country to face hard choices honestly together. This Bill is a step in that right direction

levels of lending and commercial practices that only create further difficulty. The Minister for housing will have the same view as me in that regard. What he is doing, as is his right, is looking at the different options that can be put in place to lead

into government. This includes the allocation of €1.4 billion in additional capital funding for housing in 2025, bringing the total capital funding for housing programmes this year to €7.5 billion to support the provision of new social and affordable homes, bringing vacant homes back into residential use, second … find the right mix of measures to address these challenges. The new plan will be published in the coming weeks and I am confident that we can build on our success to date and achieve further momentum across all different areas of housing delivery over the lifetime

into spina bifida and scoliosis services, with a further meeting to take place shortly with Gillian and Stephen and representative groups. In this House, the Government will work with anyone who wants to work constructively to make progress on this matter. That is my priority in responding … mistakes, I acknowledge them. I do not always get everything right, but let us distinguish scrutiny from cynicism and accountability from opportunism. Let us reduce the toxicity in political debate. I respect every Member of this House because each one carries a mandate directly from the Irish people

from across the House will support it as it proceeds through the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. We are not acting alone. Many other EU states share Ireland’s view that the EU’s trade relationship with Israel must be consistent with its own humanitarian rights commitment. I commend … full respect for international law and the right of both peoples to live in dignity and security. Until that happens, as violence continues, suffering will deepen and the prospect of peace will fade further. That is why we in this House and those across

Government announced what can only be described as the most controversial restructuring of the private rental sector in a decade. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage unilaterally changed apartment standards, and not in a good way. He outlined changes to rent regulation that were introduced earlier … apartments but, rather, the right kind of supply in the right place at the right price. That requires the Government to introduce the kinds of reforms set out by Sinn Féin, the Housing Commission and others to see the supply of social, genuinely affordable and private for-purchase

environment and, crucially, providing the capacity required to address the housing crisis in this country. This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services and support improved water supplies right across Ireland, as well as a range of programmes delivering improved water quality

failure of this State to uphold their human rights. I get countless pleas in my constituency of Dublin Bay South from people living in flats with mouldy walls, rotting woodwork and rat infestations in places like Pearse House and Markievicz House. The endless tick-tacking between central government

more than balance the books. Of course, it did not get everything right. NAMA facilitated the delivery of over 44,500 new homes, though. It delivered nearly 3,000 social housing units directly. It transferred the National Asset Residential Property Service, NARPS, social housing portfolio and two major … banking system remains real. The exit of Ulster Bank and KBC reduces competition further. I have highlighted this point in the House many times previously. I also note what Deputy Nash has just said in terms of PTSB and the recent developments there. The Department of Finance

need to see an evidence-based approach whereby when housing developments are being planned, it is not simply a childcare facility that is stipulated. What else does a community need? There are people in Kildare right now who are queuing up overnight to buy homes

that the Celtic tiger is back. That is simply not true and is a mischaracterisation of the truth. We constantly hear the Housing Commission being referenced in these debates. We are putting on the table and suggesting solutions that have been put forward by that commission. One solution … that we want to see an end to. The Deputies are right to bring these up and this is their opportunity to raise those issues, but what we never hear from the Opposition is how Housing for All has helped people and where it has been a success

Minister for Justice when the House debated Second Stage. It is important that I, as Minister, acknowledge the difficult role the Oireachtas is trying to perform when it comes to enacting defamation legislation. We are trying to balance two competing constitutional rights. On one hand, there … Dáil Éireann since 2016 is that there is probably greater advocacy on behalf of the right to freedom of expression than the right to the protection of one’s good name. That is probably because the former is more organised than the protection of the latter. However

within Title V legal basis and as a result it triggers Ireland's right or discretion to opt in under Protocol 21 annexed to the Lisbon treaty. I am seeking the support of the House for an Article 2 opt-in, which must be completed by 30 April … challenges to criminal proceedings where VRD is utilised in the future. Ireland successfully negotiated additional recital language to better reflect our Protocol 21 rights and our sovereignty in the area of freedom, security and justice. This proposal will promote enhanced police co-operation between Ireland

mortar. It is about dignity, justice and the right to a safe home. These are real people. Their walls are cracking, their ceilings are falling and their lives are unravelling. Let us not forget those in social housing left paying rent for homes that are falling apart, homes … social housing and private rental accommodation. This Government cannot continue to turn its back on them. The message from Clare and other areas is loud and clear: we need fairness. We need a Government that will stop making excuses and start making things right. While Ministers talk about