Search the record

felt so bad about everything that happened, particularly in relation to his two friends and their families. What these Houses need to ask is whether he needed to end up in that situation, in that dark hole. It is ironic, given the legislation we are discussing, that … naive [young] man[.] The central issue is that any deception - I use that word in the sense of a deception for the right reasons - in executing a worthy Garda operation needs to end when the independent, impartial judicial process begins. Does the Minister get that

committed to ensuring that each child with a Special Educational Need (SEN) has an appropriate school place, in line with their constitutional right and Programme for Government commitments; further notes: — the continued significant State investment of €2.9 billion in supporting the provision of special education … number of issues that arose last week but also on many of the issues raised in the motion. I will outline for the House the work that is underway on these issues and the progress that is being made. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will touch

because successive governments have failed to prioritise animal welfare. I strongly believe that improving animal welfare should have cross-party support in the House. Dog breeding in this country has been likened to the fast fashion market, with any breed of puppy readily available at the click … with the pace at which dog breeders are breeding. Nor can they cope with ever-increasing surrender requests or dog abandonment rates. Right now in my city, the Cork Dog Action Welfare group has more than 100 dogs in foster homes and shelters. On the website

will help to speed up decision-making, enhance consistency and clarity for those engaging with the planning system and support the delivery of housing and critical infrastructure. Ultimately, our intent is to ensure that our planning system is equipped to meet the challenges of a growing Ireland … strengthening local government, supporting our planning system and investing in the people and services that make a real difference in communities right across this country. I look forward to working with all colleagues across local government and planning sections to deliver stronger and better services for our communities

Government has a very clear responsibility to ensure that any legislation is legally robust and able to withstand challenge. Deputy Ó Laoghaire rightly stated that at the heart of this are very real concerns about flagrant breaches of international law taking place in the Middle East … Government that can talk about those flagrant breaches, we have to make sure, soundly and completely, that legislation produced in this House is in line with international law. Without wishing to reiterate what was said in the debate last week or, indeed, many times in this Chamber

rightly so. Recently, residents in Ballivor went days without water and this forced school closures and disruption to local businesses. Five years on from when the project was announced, construction has not started on the long-promised new water reservoir in Ballivor. Water is tankered in daily. Houses

said she feels embarrassed. No young person should feel embarrassed to be in this situation. The Government should be embarrassed for failing them. Right now, this feels like a country with no vision for young people, no place for them and no future they can afford. What … they supposed to work harder and save more? They are already doing that but it is not working because the housing system is fundamentally broken. We have all been knocking on doors in Galway, so I am sure the Taoiseach has seen the same thing I have. Everywhere

Houses. We had many hours of productive debate on the provisions of the Bill. I thank every Deputy and Senator who took the time to speak on the Bill and to propose amendments. The purpose of this Bill is to introduce a more person-centred, human rights-based

This is about addressing the housing crisis in this country. We are bringing forward and implementing solutions. We are giving tenants security and we are giving certainty to tenants, landlords and investors so that we can drive supply. This is about giving hope and delivering homes for people … want people in their homes right across this country, and that is what we are doing

disappointing but, sadly, not surprising that there is so little mention of the defective concrete crisis in the new housing plan. It is a crisis that has impacted my native County Donegal and many countries throughout the whole country, and worse, it is referred in this … legacy issue. This is far from a legacy issue. It is alive and present and persistent. It is happening right now, and inaction will guarantee that this will continue into the future. It is a lived reality every single day for many of my constituents in County Donegal

help to address some of Ireland's most urgent structural problems. We hear talk about favouring property developers, etc. What Government in its right political mind would decide to favour a handful of property developers over the hundreds of thousands of renters out there or taxpayers … incentives for apartment developers are not about the developers; they are about creating more homes for people in the middle of a housing crisis. The tax break, the 9.5% VAT, is not about swelling the profits of small cafés and restaurants, etc. It is about protecting margins

need social homes. There is a huge demand for affordable homes so we absolutely need to accelerate that delivery. The Deputy is right in saying that when Cork County Council got the go ahead to deliver affordable homes, it was not long in putting schemes into place … also been strong with croí cónaithe, as well as with the first home scheme. There is a variety of opportunities there to provide housing solutions for people. I appreciate the Deputy asking this question. If there are any other specifics then the Department can come back

school places for children with special educational needs must be priority number one for the Minister. It can be done with the right focus and a determination to address the barriers to delivery. The Minister will have my full support and the support of my party … sure others in opposition, to achieve that but the time for broken promises is over. I commend the motion to the House and I look forward to the debate

need to do more of it. I commend the Irish Environmental Network on doing that, supported by my Department. I urge everybody, right across Ireland, to go to a national park or nature reserve or attend one of the fantastic events taking place to learn about and appreciate … involved the renovation of an old apple store on the grounds of the nature reserve. The renovation allowed for original features of the house to be retained, including its unique stonework and beautiful limestone slab floor. Alongside these conservation works, through funding approved by Government, my Department

that has serious implications. I join others in paying tribute to Colm Horkan, but we need to be incredibly mindful in this House that the Horkan family has taken a significant and unprecedented step. The family of a garda killed in action has called for a public inquiry … join the Minister and others in saying that Stephen Silver is the person responsible for garda Colm Horkan's death. He was rightly convicted, but his family is also entitled to know whether the tragedy could have been prevented and whether concerns raised in advance through protected disclosures

some of them and, obviously, I fundamentally disagree with others. I disagree with his description of the ethos on this side of the House. Ultimately, everyone in this Chamber wants what is best for the country and for the future of our children. We all want what … trying to secure their future. Deputy Tóibín will have different views, as will Deputy Cronin, but we are all coming here for the right reasons. We might have a different view of how those rules should be applied. Some say we should do less, while others

Minister will meet the General Solicitor to discuss the problems she has raised. I welcome the Government's decision, which is the right one, not to begin the planned phase 2 of the investigation at this time. As investigating the incidents surrounding one child incurred costs of more … guaranteed results. This does not mean that justice should end here. It is clear to me and every other Deputy in the House that more must be done. We need to find alternative ways of doing things, a way of investigating in a timely way that delivers results

budget 2027. Transport is at 1.4%. Housing is at 0.1% and justice is at 0.7%. We have specifically provided a carve-out for housing for obvious reasons and similarly for justice pay so we do not affect front-line areas. This is obviously in the context … context of an efficiency and expenditure levy. New priorities emerge in the context of expenditure and that is why we were right to provide that additional funding to the Department of education. That is within a new and agreed fiscal framework. In the context of budget

running over from Hodges Figgis from the launch of The Irish Unity Dividend by Ben Collins. Everything that should be done from sport right through should be done on the basis that we are one single island, eventually delivering a 32-county unitary state that delivers … table in the next round. We have already seen the stadium which is not very far from my house. It is flying on at the minute. It is not a major thing that is very close to my house but it is a major issue for Louth

represent its members for the purposes of collective bargaining shall be recognised by an employer. The problem is that, while it expresses the right sentiment, what is needed is something to give effect to it. Apart from declaring what ought to happen, legislation must set out what … employer refuses to recognise and negotiate in limited circumstances. I pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Nash, for steering that legislation through the Houses. It is open to us now to go further by extending that legislation to secure better and more effective trade union recognition and collective

welcome Mary, Miriam, Maurice and Mary to the House today, together with your family members and supporters. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet you this afternoon. I understand that days like today are particularly difficult for you and your families because hearing … abuse and mistreatment that you, as well as so many other survivors, experienced during childhood was horrific and wrong. It is right that this historic wrong has been acknowledged by both the State and the Government and that it continues to be acknowledged. It is also right that

written on. Over the past year we have seen lobbying from the Dublin Chamber of Commerce to ensure that no real rights are given to workers. The same thing is happening with the public consultation on the law that started last year. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions … important report yesterday that lays out in damning detail the scale of corporate power in this State. Across social media, health and housing, big business is setting the agenda and dominating every aspect of our lives. We can hear it in the car radio

thing to do from a climate change perspective. It is the right thing to do from an energy security perspective. It is the right thing to do for our citizens and businesses into the future, from the perspective of competitiveness. It guarantees us costs. It allows … political Chamber but if you strip away a lot of the politics, there is little between any of us in this House about where we need to go. It is the case that we are all aligned on renewables but to get renewables at scale and reach

prices, despite significant state intervention. In Germany, rent caps introduced in Berlin were struck down by courts, proving that simplistic solutions often backfire. Housing is a deeply complex global issue rooted in supply shortages, regulatory delays and demographic shifts, yet here in Ireland real progress is being made … home, which was made possible by the vacant property refurbishment grant. That is policy working. I know countless couples in Trim, Enfield and right across Meath West who could not have secured their first home without the help-to-buy scheme and the first home scheme. These programmes

deliver cleaner air and healthier communities and society, we must ensure the enforcement system is fit for purpose. The evidence shows that, right now, the capacity is uneven, in some cases less than optimal, and under real strain. The best example is in my constituency, where … particular lower income households, relied on solid fuels because they had a lack of affordable alternatives. This is why retrofitting for public housing is so important. If we strengthen enforcement without strengthening the supports, all we are doing is placing a further burden on those least able