Search the record

because it did not have regard to a principle that nobody in this House might have sympathy for but that the court assessing the law inevitably would, namely, the balancing of the two rights. Having fought for so long to have this law in place in respect

violence units, which is up 30% from 2022, and the number of safe houses, which really needs a huge amount of additional work. I would accept that there are a lot of gaps right across the country that we have to fill. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, took

That is right. We are on the same page regarding the need to put these public transport systems in place as the houses are being built so that the private car is not the default option for a lot of these people moving into these homes. That

behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people and housing, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, who sends his apologies for not being able to be here tonight. The Deputy is quite right. I was a Minister of State in the previous Dáil for four

fastest growing areas in the country. We are seeing more houses being built and more people moving in, and they require school places. Sometimes the Department of education can be right on the macro and wrong on the micro. It needs to take a look again at specific

have estates built without the playgrounds, parks or community centres that make a house a home. The Government's proposed solution to this self-made crisis is to restrict the public's right to planning justice and silence the very communities it has failed. This is not reform

When I get up in the morning or I walk into the house, I do not hear the patter of feet or hear her. We are a nation of dog lovers, but right under our nose we know that dogs are being mistreated, abused, used and discarded. Yesterday

better outcomes for those children into adulthood. I will continue to update the House. There were more debates than ever about special education in the last term and again this time. That is right and proper because children and families need to have certainty on it. I will

months will not be interfered with, nor will the right to seek an AON. On any legislative changes, it is our ambition that they will be brought to the House during this term

what will be possible. The Deputy knows, as does everyone else in the House, that this is the normal way we engage in the budget process. We are not announcing measures or changes right now. We are engaging in the summer economic statement process and agreeing

would be a transformational project for the north Dublin area from the airport right into the city through Ballymun, and indeed beyond. The challenge and opportunity for the Government and everyone in the House is that many of these projects are now coming through planning, including DART+ South

security and defence seriously. I accept there are very different views in the House on the terms, conditions and parameters on which we decide to deploy personnel abroad for peacekeeping. The Deputy is right that we have to get to a point. We are about

thank Deputy Daly for giving me the opportunity to update the house on behalf of the Minister for Health on the developments at Roscommon University Hospital. To ensure delivery of the right care in the right place at the right time, there are robust systems and procedures

sincerely wish her the best in achieving that because the state of play right now is unacceptable when it comes to the intersectionality of the issues facing people with disabilities. If there is a housing crisis, we can be sure that the housing crisis facing people with disabilities

underpins our nation's democracy. I also thank all the TDs in the House. We may differ on matters - we do not agree on everything - but I believe we are all here for the right reason, which is to advance the interests of the people of this country … proper investment in the productive capacity of our economy and society into the future. Investments in water infrastructure, the energy grid and housing have all been announced in the context of the national development plan. Big projects like MetroLink have been green-lighted and are on their

Deputy rightly raised the issues and the range of measures being taken by the Government to address vacancy and dereliction, which are a huge success. Vacancy levels are declining. An historical level of funding has been made available and this significant investment, through schemes such as the urban … across the country. The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The Deputy is absolutely right. I grew up over a shop, a newsagent

circumstances. The right to life is absolutely fundamental and universal. We are all particularly concerned by the discriminatory nature of this legislation as it relates to Palestinians. I fully understand, and I share, the depth of feeling of many people in Ireland, in this House … motivate this Bill, that I do not believe this legislation is the most effective or legally sustainable path forward. The Bill before the House would, in practice, amount to a blanket prohibition on trade in all goods, and certain services, between Ireland and Israel. In effect, it amounts

rightly outraged by what is going on. That being said, Ireland is a leader in the world on Palestine. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Government have been very strong on this issue. I do not like to see divisiveness in this House when it comes … Government. It has been treated with urgency and importance, but with something as important as this, it has to be got right. Imposing sanctions on trade and goods from Israel are issues we are all of the one word on. It is not than

thank Deputy Gallagher again. I absolutely take his point and I appreciate the urgency of this. The families and constituents the Deputy represents right across the board have been severely impacted by defective blocks. They have had their lives turned upside down and have experienced significant upheaval. Regarding … comes to those who may have had their houses formally adapted for mobility and the fact that it is not as straightforward as upping sticks and going to another home that is not adapted, as the Deputy quite rightly outlined. The latter is just not a possibility, which

right that at one stage, there was a proposal that that Bill would be included in the Bill now before these House, and a decision was taken to split those Bills? Is it the Minister of State's position now that, when that Bill is brought before these … Presidency starts tomorrow. It gives me some encouragement about when the next Bill, albeit not the AI Bill, comes before these Houses. I ask, specifically with regard to that Bill, that we create some kind of structure, although I do not know how would be created, where

privilege to be able to bring this vital Bill before the House on Second Stage. We have a chance today to make clear our commitment to standing up for the most fundamental of rights, the right to bargain collectively for better conditions, pay and a fairer workplace. This … forever hamstrung. We will lose a crucial pillar of our industrial relations framework and will fall yet further behind our neighbours on workers' rights. In October 2022, the high-level group on collective bargaining, which included IBEC and ICTU, published its final report. It made it clear that

that we look at what other levers are available. It is a priority for this Government, and a priority in the Government’s housing plan. The Derelict Site Act contains a number of actions and powers that can be provided to the local authorities. There is a derelict … much better at this than others. He rightly said the number of properties in Wicklow on the derelict site register is far too low at four so much more needs to be done. I understand the Department of housing has recently met Wicklow County Council to highlight this

terrified of the roof falling down on their house because the walls are crumbling and cannot hold up the roof. What is being proposed here is an improvement on the original scheme but it is nowhere near enough. People right down the west coast as far as Limerick … twice for those homes. It is very disrespectful to publish the Bill only a few short hours before the debate. I know the housing committee waived pre-legislative scrutiny on this weeks ago to ensure that it could be done as soon as possible. When we are talking

achieve. These are the measures of success for young people. I reject the assertion that the NCSE operates, as one Member of this House has claimed, as an "unaccountable gatekeeper". Checks and balances are in place to ensure the review process is robust and stands up to scrutiny … achieve their ambitions, whatever they may be. I assure the House, the people protesting around the country, families, school communities and young people that this Government is listening. We are committed to doing the right thing and ensuring that supports are provided to those who need them

watch these graduates choose a different career because there is something quite unsustainable about choosing a career of early years education and childcare right now. I appeal to the Minister of State. I will move my amendment and hopefully it will pass and then we could look … directly in a formal way and bring recommendations to this House as to what that vision would look like. I would appreciate careful consideration being given to our amendment to the motion this evening. It is right that childcare and equality are part of the same Department because