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Equality is doing on this and the important work that the Minister, Deputy Foley, is doing to try to support the ongoing development and resourcing of core funding. Her Department has a programme in place - the building blocks extension grant scheme - under which she has announced … years and 10% in the seventh year. We also allow, subject to certain criteria, income of up to €15,000 being exempt from income

planning authorities, which often struggle with an awful lot of red tape and officialdom. That will, thankfully, be sorted out by these new exemptions, which will clear their decks to deal with what they should be dealing with, which is applications from people who are seeking to build … object to anything and are able to carry out their lives that way. However, some people use their political platform to stop development. How can people stand up in Dáil Éireann and say they want housing to be provided while at the same time, when somebody comes

defending the rights of Irish artists, authors, creators and performers against exploitation and misuse, and for highlighting the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) developments on rights holders; expresses alarm that: - the use of generative AI systems that rely massively on protected content not only reproduce work without … DSMC Directive has not delivered meaningful control for rights holders in practice; and - the extension of the text and data mining exemption under Article 4 of the DSMC Directive to AI training has in effect authorised the mass ingestion of protected content to build commercial systems that directly

permanent provision of social housing. The good news is that up to 23,000 more are in different stages of design and development. That is one aspect. The others are affordable and cost rental. Yesterday I was at a sod-turning for 800 new units, not cabins … These are facts. It is not enough; we want to get to 50,000 per annum. In terms of the exemptions, the Deputy said exemptions were a good idea if just for family members. I think that is what she said. If it is just for family members

acknowledge. For context, this is a six-fold increase over the past decade. Although this is a significant level of funding, the estimated development finance required to deliver 50,000 homes is a substantial €20 billion every year. The Housing Commission and the Department of Finance have … acquisition of houses situated in the State where a person acquires at least ten such houses during any 12-month period, with some exemptions and refund provisions applying. This rate was increased to 15% from October 2024. The proposal to extend 100% tax to apartment purchases would effectively

that the lights will stay on. Now we are in a position where the Government intends to spend €1 billion to facilitate the development of a liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal, as a so-called strategic gas reserve in County Clare, where I am based. That … harnessing that massive natural resource, the Government is rolling out the red carpet for commercial LNG, disapplying the planning Acts, carving out exemptions from normal conditions and, as we have seen in County Clare, failing to properly engage with local communities. That is not democratic participation

subject to indexation. The protocol on privileges and immunities is the second document included in today’s vote. The privileges, immunities, inviolabilities, facilities, exemptions and rights in the protocol are in line with those provided for other comparable international bodies and agreements. Today’s vote is a critical … scientists and engineers will have the opportunity to work on world-class experiments. The cutting-edge skills that Irish students and researchers will develop at CERN span engineering, quantum technologies, data analytics, advanced materials and much more. Irish companies will be eligible to compete

While accommodation for special classes can be provided within existing unused accommodation in many instances, modular accommodation can be installed under existing planning exemptions. In this case, a planning application was required. The planning application is to facilitate the provision of both special education and mainstream classrooms under … place at the start of a school year, the NCSE works closely with the schools and families to support the development of contingency arrangements for students enrolled in the new special classes. Teaching and special needs assistants have been allocated to schools that are opening new special

leaving this legislation exposed to challenge. I am talking about section 7, which disapplies section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act from designated projects and programmes, as the Minister outlined earlier. I looked very carefully at some of the countervailing measures and legislation … commitment on climate action is very much in doubt. We could see the State's biggest and most significant infrastructure projects being exempted from climate considerations altogether, despite what the Minister said in his remarks and his claims to the contrary with regard to other sections

Ireland House model and the co-location of Irish Embassies and State enterprise agencies to support Irish business globally; and — in addition, the development of a new action plan on trade diversification for consideration by Government by end-May 2025.". As everybody appreciates, the events of last … alike. Inflation is now going to be driven. Consumers will be hurt by these tariffs on all sides. Nobody is going to be exempt from this. It is also important to note that the tariffs do not affect the UK in the same manner, and they will

coming up from Wicklow into Meath, Kildare and west Dublin, what really strikes you as the things that have been developed in the past ten years or so? What has been the priority of the country? You will not see it in other countries; it is data … doing business, it is important that critical infrastructure is delivered efficiently. However, what rings more alarm bells for me is the section to exempt public bodies from climate laws. There has been no scrutiny of this so far. It really says something stark about the Government's approach

believe that any company running a disease awareness campaign should declare in its advertising that it is doing so because it is developing or marketing a product to treat that ailment. Similarly, all educational materials should bear the same declaration. I will not go too deep into … space in this country where, because of shortages of product, there is the sourcing of many unlicensed or exempt medicinal products from companies that may not actually be members of IPHA. There may be gaps in information, but I am saying this purely to put it into context

level, and our own list of proscribed postcodes will be updated accordingly. Practically speaking, the approach set out in the Bill essentially develops and updates Ireland's implementation of the existing obligations placed upon operators and customs authorities to distinguish between goods from the State of Israel … target individuals. I will provide clarity on this point. The Bill will prohibit the import of commercial goods from Israeli settlements. A standard exemption is provided for those goods of a non-commercial nature that form part of an individual's personal baggage and are intended

knowledge and practical competence necessary to professionally drive, in all safety, vehicles of the relevant driving licence category. In Ireland, training modules are developed by the RSA in line with the directive. The RSA reviews CPC modules and is responsible for selecting the content in each module … introduced a pilot programme for drivers with a valid ADR dangerous goods certificate. Qualified drivers can apply for an exemption from CPC module 2 provided their ADR certificate is valid on the expiry date of their current CPC card

than ever before will qualify. The Deputy will remember that in the most recent budget, we took decisions that mean the means test exemption, which had applied to people over the age of 70, will now apply to people from the age of 66. I want people … took the decision and have implemented it, and that makes a difference to people’s bills. Under the national development plan, only before the summer recess we allocated €3.5 billion to EirGrid because we have got to get better in terms of our energy supply in this

migration systems. Indeed, the Government has a responsibility to review citizenship policy and adapt its frameworks in light of changing migration patterns, demographic developments and evolving public policy objectives. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and I recently secured Government approval for the priority drafting of legislation … that citizens can participate. Importantly, the legislation would provide flexibility regarding the standard required, the method of assessment and the circumstances in which exemptions or waivers may be appropriate. Third, the scheme proposes the introduction of a civics, society and politics requirement. This reflects the principle that citizenship

additional review and approval processes to ensure that recruitment activity is aligned with service priorities and available funding. Those roles should be exempt from recruitment restrictions. Rather than simply announcing additional posts, I want the Government to tell us what adequate staffing actually looks like. I want … International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, IBCLC, qualification. However, the IBCLC is an internationally recognised specialist lactation qualification. Why should someone who has developed that specialist expertise necessarily have to be a nurse or a midwife before the HSE can employ them as a lactation consultant

important to recognise that the scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the use of adapted cars. It also provides an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant scheme for anyone who holds a primary medical certificate. In 2024, €150 million was spent … roll on four years, despite the fact that my Department has made a significant contribution to the national disability inclusion strategy to develop a proposal that would be fit for purpose and would mirror international best practice, we do not seem to be any further along

moving back into their family homes to build up a deposit, only to find themselves outbid. Couples queued for hours and hours outside developments, lining up before dawn to secure a chance to bid on a first home, only for the vultures to swoop in, not with … Tánaiste accept, in the face of the facts, that the Government's policy has failed? Does he accept that as long as these exemptions remain, first-time buyers will continue to be gazumped by vulture funds? Will he now act to keep the promise he made

Homes, Building Communities, my Department is undertaking a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes. Policy responses will be developed on foot of the findings of this review, which is currently under way. The work under way at the moment is with … being progressed, I am pleased to welcome the recent positive announcement by the Central Bank that it is amending the mortgage measures to exempt certain types of bridging loans from the loan-to-income limit that applies to lending for principal home purchases. This will assist in supporting

storage. Subsequently, in late 2023, the roof of a structure at the rear of the station, which was used as a storage area, developed a leak. Some initial repairs were carried out to address the issue, but the leak persisted. In response, the roof was replaced … Revenue Commissioners to seek a ruling on whether the use of response vehicles by NAS staff outside working hours can be considered exempt from BIK regulations and a reply is awaited from Revenue. As a matter of prudence, I also understand that in February 2025 the NAS informed

agree on the rules and have a rules-based system, enforcement is the most important part because in any situation, if you develop and put in place rules but then ignore or do not enforce them, you do not have rules at all. That will be exploited … service availability and not on who can profit the most and the fastest. We are calling on the Government to end planning exemptions for this type of accommodation, to access local services and to engage properly with communities. Ireland must support integration properly from the ground up through

will reduce processing times. Work is ongoing to introduce a single permit application portal but this is a medium-term action as IT developments are required. My Department is also engaging with the Road Safety Authority on driver CPC training. Professional drivers are required under … training, they do not need to resit module 2. Over 600 drivers have engaged with the RSA to avail of this exemption with approximately 150 exemptions granted and 50 applications being processed. Officials in the Department will continue to engage with the RSA to consider best practice examples

provides for the amendment of section 1 of the Street and House Collections Act 1962 to amend the definitions of "collection" and "exempt activity" to refer to the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 rather than the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. Section 11 provides for an amendment to section … across all courts. It will provide for more timely judgments and contribute to better clearance rates. It will provide opportunities for training and development for members of the Judiciary. It will also provide an updating of the Gambling Regulation Act, so that the Gambling Regulatory Authority

average rents for existing renters, 83% of whom are in rent pressure zones, rose by 4.6%. Some of this is because of the exemptions in the RPZs but I have no doubt that a large volume of it is because of non-compliance. Worse still, when daft.ie published … sector investment but there is a particular category of private sector investor who is only interested in high-price, high-yield, high-density developments in expensive parts of Dublin and, possibly although not guaranteed, in the docklands of Cork, where rents will be set at a level