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widespread, snide slur made on the record of my party. The Deputy is right on the need to do more when it comes to renewable energy. I have already said in this House that, to be fair, the Deputy’s party has put forward ideas that definitely merit … year in the number of people looking to get windows or doors replaced or to get solar panels. That is going in the right direction. I am not suggesting that the Deputy is, but we can sometimes be fatalistic about climate, climate action and our ability to make

Exactly. What we can do is work with an approved housing body, AHB, to build that residential. The HSE is for delivery of healthcare and we try to make it work as well as we can but here are the things … that example because I happened to be there so recently. The Deputy is right about acquired brain injury and dementia but the HSE has to focus on healthcare and partner with bodies like approved housing bodies that are experts in building housing

month - in advance of the Deputy's Bill being tabled for discussion in this House - building on the Minister, Deputy McEntee's work to make sure that we rectify the exact issue she rightly highlighted. I too have met victims. I am horrified; how can anyone not shudder … progress on this on a cross-party basis and work together in this regard. For the record of the House, there was an effort in 2017 to reform the law in this area and put in place a process through which the courts would assess the relevance

call on the Minister for housing and local government to intervene in a most urgent matter in County Kerry where subcontractors to Uisce Éireann are being left to wait for two, three or four months without being paid for work that has been carried out. This … happening right across my county in Tralee, Dingle, Killarney, east Kerry, Killorglin and Kenmare. In every corner of Kerry, this is happening as we speak. It is disgraceful carry-on by Uisce Éireann. It is not acceptable. Will the Minister of State request the Minister for housing

decision but left it to the private bin companies to decide how to implement those changes. There was consternation at that result, and rightly so. For most households, the impact was going to be a doubling, trebling or even more of an increase in their existing waste costs … comfort and deprivation live cheek by jowl. There is appalling exploitation of people right across my constituency who are in desperate need of appropriate accommodation and who are crammed into three- and four-bedroom houses where there could be 16 people. It is an inhumane squeezing of people

never heard that before. I have had people come to clinics to talk about the taxation of cars, medical cards and housing but I had never heard a group of people say they live in fear in the community that is their home. That is very worrying … people are allowed to do after a six- or eight-week period, they should rightly be paying for that because every other person in this country, be they accommodated in emergency accommodation, social housing or any form of accommodation, pays a contribution that is appropriate and equal

former residents is a step in the right direction, we must say honestly that it does not go far enough, particularly when it comes to the protection of unrecorded burial sites. The request from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to local authorities, including Cork City … died and those whose resting places may not be fully known. It is about trust in the State to do what is right even when it is difficult, trust in our institutions to engage honestly with the past and trust that the voices of survivors will continue

model of ensuring that national governments step up to the plate when there is a common European norm. With issues such as gender rights and climate policy, we have seen how Europe has challenged Ireland over many years to go further than perhaps national governments would have … electricity-consuming heating systems in homes. There is a lot of talk in this House about plug-in solar but we have to ensure that we get the safety, electricity and regulation right. We can do more in this regard. With the better energy warmer homes scheme

appropriate. This would require the Minister to issue guidelines on qualitative, environmental, social, human rights and equality considerations that may arise in public contracts and create a system of reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas. I will now set out the reasons behind the Government's concerns … apply. I will now expand further on the Government’s immediate priority, namely, delivering the critical infrastructure that we need to resolve the housing crisis. Since the Bill was put on the Order Paper, Government approved the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. Pillar 3 of the plan

thank the Deputy for the question on housing and how we give our young people hope in terms of the ability to own or indeed in some cases to build their own home. I do not say this in any way disrespectfully to the Deputy but taxes … more on rural housing. We have to make sure that people have an ability to live in their own community. It is a really important part of balanced regional development and the regeneration of rural communities and we have got to get it right. It is not about

households and business are facing at present. It provides us with another opportunity to tease out the respective positions of parties in this House in that regard. It would be remiss of me not to remind Government that just two weeks ago, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independent … consequences for households, businesses and citizens. We do that by ensuring that housing is safe, secure and affordable. We create a resilient economy by investing in education at all levels, from early years right through to fourth level and lifelong learning. We do that by getting to grips

Come on, Pearse, give everybody a chance in this House. No bully-boy tactics, please. We support the Critical Infrastructure Bill. We will be happy to tease through the detail of it. The Deputy is right in that there are lots of factors involved. At times, environmental … about all projects; it is about those that are deemed to be critical. As the Minister takes the Bill through the House, he will engage constructively and tease through the detail

other services; it is successive Governments. While the problems remain in housing and public services, migration must be managed in that context. People who arrive on these shores seeking international protection, and who have a right to be here, should be given every opportunity the State can afford

like it or not, there will not be houses, farmers, sheep, cattle, horticulture or whatever. There will be the sawmill, which gives employment, but look at the ratio of it. If we were doing everything so right in the whole of Europe over the last 15 years … million probably multiplied by 2.5; when we are doing an election that is how we tally up how many are in a house. It is 12.5 million people who are now not in farming. That should ring alarm bells for us that we need a commission

personal items such as PlayStations, Xboxes and smartphones. Are we serious here? Am I right to believe the Government is not opposing a motion that calls for someone to go into somebody's house and take away their PlayStation? Who exactly? A garda? Is the Government messing … realising the outcome we all have in mind here, which is making our streets safer and breaking the perpetual cycle. The evidence is right in front of us. In our communities, mine being no exception, great projects are doing amazing work to counter the tide of antisocial behaviour

message that innovation must always be accompanied by responsibility and respect for fundamental rights. It is often said that legislation struggles to keep pace with technology but Deputy Byrne has ensured that this House is actively engaging with these challenges, rather than simply reacting to them … strong voice in Europe for a digital economy which supports competitiveness and innovation, while also protecting data privacy and fundamental rights. In that context, consideration of the Bill's contents is timely. As Al tools have become more capable, with Al video becoming more proficient at depicting people

participation, while maintaining access to the courts for those who genuinely seek to assert their rights. I am hopeful that with Members co-operation, we can facilitate its swift passage through the House with a view to early enactment and completion of the transposition requirements and I commend

state solution and ensuring that Ireland remains consistent in its commitment to justice, human rights and peace. I welcome the introduction of the Bill and look forward to its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas

rural regeneration, town and village renewal, rural transport, broadband and community development projects right across the country. However, there is still more work to do. Rural communities want to see continued support for housing delivery, improved local services, stronger infrastructure and greater opportunities for young people to live

does not just sit with the local authorities. The European Committee of Social Rights in 2017 found that Ireland violated Article 16 of the European Social Charter due to substandard social housing. The issues that I am seeing in St. Nathy's and other places in my constituency

that house connecting the 1990 blockwork to the 2025 blockwork. Who is going to certify it? I deal with engineers daily. For certification of anything that I need, I would have to get all the different certificates right down to the nails that are used. Everything

somebody else's opinion. It is called respect. I have been heckled in this House on more than one occasion, be that for my religion, for being over here, for being far right. I am going to put something very clear to you: I am a parent

want the Minister to address in terms of the alignment of social protection and housing. We support the principle of auto-enrolment, but we have always said that we want the right auto-enrolment scheme at the right time. As Deputy Louise O'Reilly pointed out, this

keep in close contact with the Deputy in relation to this. The Deputy is right, however. I have been briefed on this and I, too, am convinced that this assists in relation to housing, energy costs and our ability to attract investment into Ireland. At a time when

thank Deputy McGrath. He is entirely right. The postmasters have, quite rightly, been vigorously engaging with us. This is an issue of concern for them and I assure the House and the postmasters that the Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and a sustainable post office