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Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the various disruptions we have had in recent years that are putting significant pressure on energy prices right across Europe. On the purchasing power index through Eurostat, Ireland is approximately eighth for energy prices. It is not first, but electricity is still … renewables will be critical in that regard, but I will turn to that in a moment. I assure the House that supply, which is critical for an island nation, is being monitored on a regular basis. Thankfully, approximately 50% of our electricity is generated through renewable sources

given an opportunity to raise concerns, here is what will happen. Just as we warned Eoghan Murphy and Simon Coveney with strategic housing development, SHD, and the 2018 specific planning policy requirements, SPPRs, and design standards for apartments' building heights, it will lead to a dramatic increase … long time, the number of JRs fell dramatically. The Minister's officials have confirmed that to us, as have developers. Yet, as rightly pointed out by the Irish Planning Institute, by not only introducing the guidelines but the retrospective application through the certification process, the Minister risks undoing

then have their travel pass removed when they go to work. That needs to be changed. I have raised it consistently in this House and I would love it to be looked at again. With the cost of disability and everything they are facing at the moment, that … Wall. It is one of the big arteries into the city centre. With the change to the traffic flow, if someone is turning right, it creates an entire bottleneck. I would love that to be changed. The other is on the main road. I said this yesterday

however, lies something far more human - a person, a family, a home. Today, this motion brought by Independent Ireland is asking that this House do more than just debate figures. We are asking the Government to confront a crisis of care, a silent systemic failure unfolding daily … step in where the State takes the step back. They do this not for recognition or reward but because it is simply the right thing to do. In doing so, they save this country billions of euro. What do they receive? They receive a patchwork of supports which

will insist that residents have to bring their wheelie bins up a hill or out onto a main road. That is not right, but there is no way of regulating it because we have competition in the market not competition for the market. I do hear what … position to make way more decisions about everything that happens in their area. If Dublin City Council had been allowed address the housing crisis back in 2012, 2013 or 2014, when it was impacting the city far more than anywhere else, we would have been ahead

propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 117 together. The Deputy is absolutely right that this is a really important area of focus. I mentioned earlier the broader need for construction skills across every sector to meet the ambitions the Government has set out in terms of infrastructure … metro project or DART+ - I know the Deputy’s constituency is in line for some benefits from the public transport programmes - the housing needs we have, which are central to the Government's ambition, and the retrofit and green energy revolution that is at our fingertips

Most of all, I thank my team, particularly my parliamentary assistant, for the work they have done in bringing this Bill to the House. The justification for this Bill is that it brings about significant reforms to the area of flexible working, which affects a huge part … committee and here in the Chamber, the current legislation does not deal with the issue. There is a mechanism by which the right to request remote working is dealt with but, unfortunately, it is just not working and the numbers tell the tale. Only 70 workers have achieved

party of jobs. We have a proud record, uniquely in opposition, of job creation. We have a proud record of standing for workers' rights. We do not take economic growth for granted. We welcome measures to support innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the development of AI. We absolutely welcome … Government caved to lobbyists on the VAT cut, so it has caved to the demands of landlords and developers on the housing package. Instead of a winter blitz on vacancy and dereliction, as the Labour Party proposed, it has proposed a new tax. We welcome the derelict property

House before about people in mental health distress being in unsuitable locations at that time. It was part of our Private Members' business on accident and emergency units and adults and children in mental health distress. I do not believe that the Garda station is the right place … needs to be done in a place that is appropriate and in an age-appropriate way. We have had this debate in the House repeatedly, but I do not think any child should be placed in an adult unit, particularly because of pressures in the system elsewhere. That

inventive it will find any way it can to get past whatever level of regulation comes in. We are seeing this right now with nicotine pouches. If vaping is the revenge of the tobacco industry then nicotine pouches are the revenge of the vaping industry. I have been … dealing with this soon with a separate piece of legislation. I was shocked when I went into a local shop near my house a couple of months ago and was offered a nicotine pouch. I was asked did I want to sample a nicotine pouch for nothing

building an equal and inclusive Houses of the Oireachtas. It does mean something and it is important. I thank all Members of the House for their participation in this important debate. It is not just a debate; it is an opportunity to participate in a discussion and look … Milk has been a hero of mine. I was struck by these words of his: It takes no compromise to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression

goes to the House of Lords, which is a significant step towards implementing the joint framework agreed by both governments. We must advance our own legislation and ensure these arrangements deliver answers for families. Currently, however, there is no barrier to doing the right thing. An independent truth

means I am seeing houses being opened up across the country that I genuinely have not seen open for generations. As I said, 400 working hubs are now connected and give people a chance to work from high-quality locations in rural areas right across the country. Many

meant no new Housing First tenancies have been created in Dublin for two years. We also have to be honest. While the public is exercised about issues of homelessness, this particular cohort of very vulnerable people often get forgotten. The focus is often rightly on child and family

find the right support. For too long, they have felt let down by the State. These difficulties affect people from every age and every background. They can affect relationships, education and employment and the ability to manage everyday life. Everyone in these Houses knows too well about those

regime we in these Houses passed. This is despite every effort by the Garda and others to encourage parents not to purchase e-scooters for their kids - they should not have them. I see in my own constituency gardaí seizing e-scooters right, left and centre. Parents

budgetary context, and rightly so. I want to see services work better for people and that happens through improved recruitment in health, education and disability services and ensuring we deliver for people across our country. It is similar in regard to affordability in housing. That

facilities and social housing projects. In addition, my Department also publishes the Project Ireland 2040 annual report and regional reports, highlighting achievements and giving a detailed overview of the public investments that have been made, are being made and are planned to be made right throughout the country

live in two houses. That is wrong, because they were saving the State money. They wanted to get €250 a week but the general cost of a nursing home is €1,000 or €1,100. We should appreciate the work done by carers right across the country

workers of Leinster House who make our lives so much more enjoyable as we come in every day to do our work. Lá na n-Oibrithe sona daoibh go léir. I will talk about three specific topics within the area of workers’ rights. I will focus on collective

seems the Government is running away from scrutiny. I was present last Thursday, as was Deputy Ó Laoghaire, at the event in Europe House on Balfe Street organised by Lynn Boylan, MEP, which was a de facto pre-legislative scrutiny hearing. It was really good. It should have … speak to the Costello judgment, may be constitutional, although I would imagine that will be tested, but it does not make it right. It certainly does not provide comfort when, in the Minister’s statement, the reforms include standing two-tier tribunals established under each agreement as opposed

earth mounds erected to block key routes, isolating Palestinian communities and restricting movement. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented settler attacks that forcibly displaced families from the wilderness around Tuqu’. One family of three brothers, their wives and eight children were … foot, which is of course completely untrue with regard to Palestinians. The advertisement also describes a "wide and beautifully decorated" house in another area where you can "forget all your worries here". This is what Ireland is facilitating via Airbnb and data centres in this country

human rights and care about people’s economic well-being as well. When I introduced the first repeal Bill in this Dáil, which was initially obviously voted down, except by a tiny handful of Members, I was also fighting on the issue of the housing crisis … made possible by a society [and State not recognising us] Ireland was one of 46 countries that signed up to intersex equal rights recognition last October but it has not actually done anything to bring it about. I do not believe any of the excuses that the Minister

fundamental right for every child, as enshrined in our Constitution and in international conventions, yet this Government has systematically failed to uphold this right. I welcome affected parents from the Equality in Education campaign, among others, to the Visitors Gallery. They are most welcome. In truth … calling for the provision of appropriate school places, the Government rejected these calls. The Minister for education has repeatedly declined to provide this House with the exact number of children still awaiting a place for September, despite a clear commitment to do so. I hope the senior Minister

Sullivan introduced in 2017. There was talk last year that this Bill was going to be included in the Government's miscellaneous housing Bill. It never made the Bill, but it is an important and practical measure. I have begun the steps of restoring this Bill … Paper, which was supported by Fianna Fáil when it was in opposition. Under the current legislation governing local authorities, children have no official rights. The existing legislation is 35 years old. It reflects a different world, one where homelessness was something that only affected single, adult