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fines the teaching of exclusionism? Will religious observations be branded as hateful if they conflict with the views of the public? Will the right to express a moral belief, if it is found to be uncomfortable, not be accepted? Ireland already has hate speech laws in place. These … come before us? Is it to protect people from violence or to protect the Government from criticism? Who will define hate for this House? Will it be the courts, civil servants, an online administrative service or an algorithm? What will the threshold for criminality be if I disagree

going on for over a decade. Over ten years there has been a lack of housing, rising rents, crumbling homes and increased homelessness. House prices have risen by more than 130% in this time and rents have risen by more than 80%. We have seen record-breaking homelessness … sleep at night or call their home? It is an absolute disgrace. More than 4,500 children are living in emergency accommodation right now as we speak. Thousands of children across the country are growing up and spending their early and most formative years in hotel rooms

publication expected in the coming months. The next national disability strategy will operate as a framework for the co-ordination of disability policy right across government, ensuring a whole-of-government approach to the advancement of the UNCRPD and collaboration on cross-cutting issues. Advocacy groups have been … Department last week to discuss the next steps. In working across government, including with colleagues in the Departments of An Taoiseach and Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to develop our commitments on the development of the national disability strategy, the role of local authority decision-making has emerged

nursing crisis in Ireland with three quarters of new graduates considering emigrating due to burnout, poor working conditions and, of course, the housing crisis. Some 6,000 funded posts remain vacant, meaning that recently announced HSE staffing controls are extremely worrying to all nurses. As the INMO warned … arrived to help. A large proportion of our nursing force is now from other lands. It is a global phenomenon, as the Minister rightly said, and we are now heavily reliant on international staff to help steady our wobbly ship. While on the one hand we have

supporting our sporting ecosystem in order that more people can participate in, and benefit from, sport and fulfil their potential, from grassroots right up to high-performance. In this regard, Government has invested well over €1 billion in sports infrastructure and development across the country since 2018, when … result of this budget the funding is now in place and available to conclude that agreement. I commend the budget to the House. I have discussed the impact from a post office point of view, and dealing with the sport aspect, I think overall, it is a really

Éireann on 9th June, 2026. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this motion. This evening I am seeking the approval of the House to conclude an opt-in under Article 4 of Protocol 21 to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in relation … adopted by the EU institutions as a step in the process of the EU becoming a party to the convention in its own right. Detailed legal consideration was given to the implications of this initiative at the time, including a comprehensive analysis by the Court of Justice

ahead, I want to spend a moment on what the European Union has meant for Ireland because it is important, particularly in this House, to say it plainly. In over 53 years of EU membership, Ireland has been transformed. When we joined in 1973, we were an economy … access to a market of 450 million people. It gave Irish students the freedom to study across Europe. It gave Irish workers the right to live and work in 27 countries. It underpinned the Common Agricultural Policy, which supports our farming communities. The European Union protected the peace

atá sé i gceist aige a dhéanamh. This Bill is very simple. It is a response to the fact that people right across this State feel as if they are being fleeced in relation to the cost of home heating oil, and why would they not? The fact … fill. This is the eighth occasion on which I have brought forward either a financial resolution or legislation before this House demanding that the Government respond, demanding that it have ordinary workers' and families' backs and demanding that it get rid of carbon tax on home heating

cost of living is rising at an alarming rate right across the board. Middle- and low-income households cannot keep up, particularly households on below €75,000. Those on €50,000, €60,000 and €70,000 used to be counted as being well-off. They … digit figures on every hike. Meanwhile, wages and incomes have increased by 1% or 2% or not at all. In the case of housing, rents are skyrocketing due to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's decision to remove the rent pressure zones, however meek they were

That the Bill be now read a Second Time." As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I am pleased to introduce to the House today the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026. This Bill is the first legislative reform of the assessment of need process since it was established … individual arising from the restrictions they face in daily life. It brings the legislation more in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, focusing on the person's needs rather than their disability. Section 3 of the Bill makes amendments to section

make it more difficult for people to get the services and supports they need, rather than addressing the fundamental problem. It has the right to take people off the list because when people are waiting this long, many people are forced to go private. Where have we seen … they can be taken off if they do not reply to letters. People who are the most vulnerable and most stressed with housing situations - and often housing crisis situations overlap with children with these sorts of needs - might not reply to letters. They get taken off a list

suggests somehow that this has nothing to do with neutrality. We get some daft talking points in this place, but that is right up there. I encourage the civil servants to drop that point. It makes absolutely no sense. The fact is that the triple lock is central … this debate likes to cast itself as far-seeing and wise, and suggests that those of us on this side of the House do not see the bigger picture. As far as I am concerned, what the Government is doing is reckless, foolish, careless and short-sighted. Ultimately

want to speak to the Taoiseach about coastal erosion, which is an extremely pressing and urgent issue for coastal communities right across Ireland. It is estimated in recent reports that up to 20% of the coastline of Ireland is at risk. This is a particular problem … losing up to 8 m to 10 m from their coast each year. It is estimated that, in Wexford alone, over 1,400 houses are at risk, and in Ireland, it is estimated that almost 100,000 people's homes are in danger from coastal erosion. The severity

this, as attested to by the unilaterally agreed legacy Act. That legislation prioritised a political closure of the Troubles over individual and community rights to truth, justice and accountability, which are crucial elements for reconciliation in a post-conflict society. By stopping normal legal routes and offering conditional … recent meeting of the Good Friday Agreement committee that the decision by the British Conservative Government in 2020 to dismiss the Stormont House Agreement: ... caused fundamental harm, particularly to those bereaved. The state was in effect saying those who had died no longer mattered and their cases were

there has always been a policy differential in the threshold for goods and services. There is some validity to that. The Deputy is right that there are some European countries that might have a higher threshold than Ireland, but Ireland certainly has one of the higher thresholds … small businesses from that administrative burden. The Deputy did not ask directly, but I want to put this on the record of the House because it is useful for the Deputy’s work. If we were to increase the €42,500 to €85,000 for services

raise the issue of wind turbine regulations and guidelines. Where are they? I am raising this in the House for the past 14 years. We need to utilise wind energy. It is very important that we do that as part of the move towards green energy. However … promised them over the past 14 years. Communities are highlighting this throughout the country. In Laois, large turbines are planned to be erected right across the south of the county. These are massive turbines without up-to-date guidelines or regulations. We need to protect communities when putting

thank Deputy Guirke. I will ask the Minister for housing and the Minister of State with responsibility for planning to give consideration to the point he makes about the role of section 5 and the appropriate use of it in the context of what he has outlined … much discussion only on accommodation. We also have to discuss a rules-based system and making sure that if people have a right to be here, they are integrated, get on with their lives, get a job and make a good contribution to our country. If they

Department acknowledge that catfishing is wrong. I also recognise that the Minister of State said it is not illegal. I was in these Houses when we passed Coco's Law, but Coco's Law does not stop this from happening. The various legislative instruments to which the Minister … cause significant emotional distress, financial loss and, in some cases, reputational harm. These are all serious issues. The Minister of State is right to say this is an opportunity for us to reflect on this issue, but let us stop reflecting and actually do something. Let us pass

thank both Ministers of State for their contributions to the debate, which I appreciate. I thank Deputies from all sides of the House for their important and meaningful contributions. There are a couple of things I would like to say in wrapping up. First, it is that … Whatever way it manifests itself in the end, we collectively agree that young people at 16 and 17 in this State deserve the right to vote. With the greatest of respect, like the Ministers of State, only last year I knocked on thousands of doors. Not once

streamlined structure. The Bill provides a practical approach to achieving this, while ensuring continuity and legal certainty for all parties and preserving existing rights and obligations. The NTMA is well placed to take on this role. The residual activity it is taking on will be ring-fenced within … made a significant social and economic contribution. It achieved a €5.6 billion surplus. It supported the delivery of more than 45,500 houses, contributed to Dublin Docklands regeneration and a number of houses and lands were transferred to the Land Development Agency, which will contribute to the delivery

period of 40 years; provision of alternative accommodation costs, storage costs and costs for immediate repairs; a key role for the Housing Agency; the extension of the scheme to Clare and Limerick; the introduction of an appeals panel; and increased scheme caps and grant rates … Bill may result in certain applicants receiving additional funding where a designated local authority has created a charging order over their right to sell property on completion of remediation works. The amendment will allow for the creation of a second charge if required. There are further amendments

Aontú, called for a proper debate on the issue of immigration. We were the first party to do so in this House. We said very clearly that if there is not a debate that the issue will not go away. It will be pushed underground. It will … opinions. We know that if there are future changes to the EU migration pact and how it is run we still a constitutional right to opt-out. We also know that countries like Poland, for example, have been given exemptions in relation to that pact. The reason that

parent, I feel deeply that our State is utterly failing its children, particularly its most vulnerable children. It is failing to deliver their rights and to deliver services to them. The Ministers of State present know that it is the first duty of a republic to look after … need. They have been waiting months and years to get assessments and then further months and years for services. To give the House the figures, in CHO 9, which is an area that includes my constituency, 2,411 children are waiting for an initial contact. They have been

well made by Deputy Charles Ward, in particular. No one has lived this experience the way he has. No Member of this House can say they have lived and breathed this issue the way he has, having personally experienced it, so I completely appreciate the points and sentiments … concrete blocks in their homes. My Government colleagues and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that all such homeowners are provided with the right assistance to remediate their homes to allow them to move on with their lives. The publication of the new standard is welcome. The Deputies

much taxpayers' money did the Government spend on this advertisement? Will the Government apologise to grandparents? The Government needs to get its priorities right when it comes to spending. Spending in relation to sexual violence and gender-based violence is very important but it is clearly being mismanaged … care place for a 14-year-old girl. This girl has a learning disability. She travelled across a county, was brought to a house, was continuously fuelled with drugs and was repeatedly raped. Of the 26 special-care places, 11 of them remain closed as a result