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thank Deputy O'Gorman for bringing forward this motion. It is certainly a motion that my party and I are very much looking forward to supporting. One of the starkest differences between Ireland and other European countries is our poor public transport system. Under successive Governments, one abandoned … Sundays to allow young people to socialise in town without having to worry about getting a bus home or without driving people back into their cars. As part of BusConnects, nearly €9 million has been spent on contactless fares. On the basis of replies to parliamentary questions, this

emergency legislation to explicitly force the CBI to stop facilitating the sale of Israel Bonds. I thank all the parties that have worked together on this cross-party motion. I especially thank the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the activists in it who have been working for months … mean these words when they say them. I know that. However, allowing the continued sale of Israeli bonds in Europe and allowing the continued facilitation of this by the Irish Central Bank is standing idly by. Allowing munitions destined for Israel through Irish airspace that are literally being

impact it had on his family. We need more whistleblowers, not fewer. That is why the Labour Party introduced legislation to protect them. If the perception is allowed to remain that the State will try to crush you for speaking up, then we need to seriously review … reform them to ensure a quicker path to justice for relatives and survivors. We must develop legislation to allow for the appointment of a parliamentary inspector, as used in Australia, as an alternative to tribunals and commissions of inquiry for issues such as those the Commission of Investigation

statutory instrument being overturned in the way I pioneered. What was done was wrong and I cannot blame anyone but those in my party. We need to set up a new office to engage with the European Commission. I recommend that to the Minister of State. The Minister … Ministers of that time, whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Minister for the marine. They should never have allowed that to happen. They did it in the interests of mother Ireland but, for the second or perhaps umpteenth time, they threw the fishing sector under

talking about here. There was a lot of excitement when Sláintecare was agreed. Deputy O'Reilly was the representative of my party on the committee at the time. A huge amount of work by many people went into ensuring we set out a roadmap that could transform … Sláintecare targets we agreed to. The Bill specifies 12 types of service for which there should be maximum wait times and allows the Minister to specify any other service. The Minister must have regard to the Sláintecare report, best practice, outcomes and the effect on services of specifying

take questions of pay out of the public procurement issue where employers compete on quality and standards rather than pay. Through replies to parliamentary questions, doing some additional research and uncovering the facts a number of years ago, it was found that a considerable number of contractors … being set up by my party colleague then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin. It was called Benefacts. It drove a huge amount of change and transparency in the not-for-profit sector. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform allowed this organisation to grow from

with wider codification of search, arrest and detention. It also contained a dedicated part on the protection of fundamental rights. That makes proper parliamentary scrutiny all the more important. Some of the concerns we are discussing today are not new at all. One of the recommendations to come … lawfully seized. That authorisation can allow gardaí to capture data and carry out privileged screening or a digital forensic examination. The journalist is not there nor is the solicitor. Nobody is there to argue the other side of this. Section 24 allows the High Court to determine whether

report itself does, with the interests of victims, survivors and their families. I wish to offer the condolences of the Labour Party to all those injured, bereaved and affected by the atrocities committed during the Troubles. This is the report of victims and survivors. Their decades of pain … naming him in this House. I also welcome the fact we are speaking openly about his activities. It is extraordinary that he was allowed to kill with impunity. He was resettled, financially rewarded, shielded from justice and protected to the end and beyond, extraordinarily to the same level

ended in its current guise. The motion should only be passed, therefore, if the Sinn Féin amendment is passed because we cannot allow the current situation to continue. At the beginning, it has to be recognised that this scheme was brought forward as an emergency measure to support … impact of this scheme on the rental sector. Last week, the Minister, Deputy Foley, confirmed to me in a reply to a parliamentary question that she had not sought any briefings, reports or analysis on the impact of the ARP on the rental sector and, apparently, is relying

foreign institutional funds. He has turned the nature of our housing market on its head from when Fianna Fáil was supposedly the party standing up for the homeowner, for the middle people and for people to be able to buy their property. Fianna Fáil has turned … realise it because he is deluding himself about a policy that is about allowing rents rise for renters-tenants. These are the people who fought for and founded this State. The Minister is allowing institutional investors to essentially charge whatever rent they want to people and force them

also had the opportunity to go to Finland to experience the hot school meals programme there. I particularly thank the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, which drafted this legislation. The office is such a help, particularly for new TDs who need that help and guidance. I thank … appropriate portion sizes and methods of preparation. It would ensure certain food types are offered on a rotating basis. The Bill would allow for the prohibition of certain foods as well as the inclusion of healthy drinks and the provision of vegetarian options, as well as dietary requirements

important part of all of our lives. Procurement is very far-reaching and covers everything we buy as a State. As a party, we were trying to figure out how to make procurement sexy, and I do not know if we can, but one way of trying … been done in consultation with the OGP throughout these eight years of work and, indeed, with the co-operation of the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, in the development of the legislation itself. Sections 5 and 6 then go on to deal with certain other elements

years into illegal flights through our airspace conveying weapons to be used by the Israel Defense Forces. I put down a parliamentary question about the progress of that examination every few months. It is apparently still ongoing and the Minister cannot tell me when it might … time of war, is a crime under international law, which they [states that are party to the convention, which includes Ireland] undertake to prevent and to punish." Article V states, "The Contracting Parties undertake to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation to give effect

issues with the NTA or saying, "This is a matter for the Garda Commissioner." It is very hard to get direct answers to parliamentary questions or hold agencies to account in the same way. Having a Minister directly involved in the media just provides ammunition to the conspiracy … allegations of political interference. Down the line, there may be parties in government that are more inclined to seek to interfere in the political process, and we have seen that with the rise of populist parties across Europe. It is a good thing to have this set aside

road safety crisis but we also need to look at serious injuries that are happening on our roads. My colleague and the Labour Party's health spokesperson, Deputy Marie Sherlock, has done some important work in this area. There is a gap between Garda collision statistics and hospital … comes to road safety and the rules of the road, ambiguity poses a genuine danger. It also sends the wrong message about allowing higher speeds in built-up areas. Drivers could legitimately ask why it is okay for one road to have a speed limit of 60 km/h

return in January on the recently published Accelerating Infrastructure plan. Such a debate has not yet happened. We in the Labour Party have given the general approach of the plan a measured and calibrated welcome, with some caveats in relation to what we view as dangerous limitations being … have all been working on the basis that the summer economic statement was the gospel, published well ahead of the October budget, allowing for clear data on ELS for the subsequent year, and making it clear as well what fiscal space was available, on a more or less

supported in a way where change is managed. I have a deep concern in this regard. Our commitment in the Labour Party to An Garda Síochána is demonstrated by this motion. I have got huge support from members of the force across all ranks. We need to change … have some suggestions, because the Minister often challenges others to put forward their own proposals. So, here we go. The training allowance should be linked to pay to show gardaí what they will be earning initially. We need more investment in Templemore to show gardaí the infrastructure they

Israel’s international obligations. Ireland and the EU must be unequivocal in our calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. The European Union can and should continue to do more to use the levers at its disposal to exert … that we face, from conventional warfare to cyberattacks, energy coercion, and disinformation campaigns. Ireland, while a militarily neutral state, is not a neutral party when it comes to violations of international law, human rights, or the sovereignty of our neighbours. We are, and remain, an active contributor

Bill, is perfect or going to solve the problem by itself, allowing Bills such as these to progress to at least Committee Stage allows for further consideration of the matters and proper discussion. My difficulty with the Government’s opposing this Bill is nothing the Minister of State … startling because on Tuesday EnergyCloud Ireland came before the committee. The Minister of State is well aware of EnergyCloud and he and his party colleagues are supporting it. In one of the questions I asked, I made the case that while EnergyCloud is currently focusing on social housing

countermotion. We must oppose this motion because it calls for a restatement of commitments already in law, does not reflect established statutory and parliamentary processes and fails to acknowledge the significant body of work under way across government. Let me be clear from the outset that the Government … first time ever, in budget 2026 there was an allocation of €100 million for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which allows us to put in place a structure where we can restore nature across the board. I will give a brief example of what this looks like

real challenges we face at present in our justice system and delivers on important commitments in the programme for Government. People voted for parties on the basis of what we committed to in the programme for Government. That is why Deputy O'Callaghan is the Minister for justice … practical requirements around things as normal as licensing laws to try to clarify some of the issues in that regard. Before coming into parliamentary political life, I practised for a decade as a psychotherapist and I sat with people in moments where they felt broken, ashamed, frightened

highlight the plight of the Sudanese people wherever possible in this Chamber, in the other Chamber, at local authority level, within party groupings, within European party collectives and beyond. Our collective commitment as a Parliament is vital in this regard. We cannot let this tragedy fade from … constriction of the humanitarian space by the parties to the conflict. They have demonstrated a blatant and outrageous disregard for international human rights and humanitarian norms and obligations. In their blood struggle for power the parties to the conflict have imposed a preventable and man-made crisis

concerned about animal welfare. If animal welfare really was a top priority, however, people would not be capturing hares from the wild and allowing dogs to run after them. Let us get real about what sort of regulation we are talking about and what hare coursing involves … happens, because the membership will push them to do it. It is really about finding justifications for not going in line with the party's membership, assuming that the vote on fox hunting and hare coursing would be very similar and not in line with the majority

against the backdrop of Ireland running a deficit once the windfall corporation tax receipts are excluded. According to the work of the Parliamentary Budget Office, PBO, in its post-budget analysis, there was a total of €434.2 million announced on budget day in revenue-raising measures, with … some pro-enterprise initiatives in it. It will lead to markedly increased demands for pay increases as the real value of wages is allowed in so many cases to fall. It is my view, and I have argued this time and again, that we should legislate to provide

health services in Ireland modern, person-centred, and accessible. It is my hope that 2025 will see us all work together, across all parties, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health difficulties, to promote the message that recovery is possible, and to emphasise the common message that … services, including community child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. Officials in the Department have been working diligently with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General, along with key stakeholders such as the HSE, the Mental Health Commission, the College of Psychiatrists