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advisory forum took place in June. Numerous organisations representing Ireland’s enterprise sector, including SMEs, were joined by officials from a variety of State agencies and Government Departments. The second meeting, which was the forum’s first thematic meeting, took place in July and focused on energy costs … insurance costs in August, a meeting on regulation and planning in September, November’s meeting focused on water services, the meeting in January of this year focused on legal costs, and a meeting on tax reporting and compliance took place yesterday. The forum has met regularly over

provide for a modification of the existing requirement regarding the triple lock with regard to the dispatch of the Defence Forces for services outside the State as part of an international United Nations force. In effect, the requirement for the UN Security Council mandate will be removed. However … These principles have been refined to ensure appropriate legal effect as part of the drafting process. It is also proposed that the Bill would set out the general principles that will apply when a contingent is being despatched for service and there will be a requirement to seek

details of the move. An Post has noted it is consolidating its national network of local sorting offices, also known as delivery service units. An Post advises it needs larger and purpose-fitted premises to manage increased parcel volumes. An Post further advises it is hiring 300 additional … sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they

tease out issues, but that is what the committee process is for. It is regrettable that the Minister of State seeks to postpone the legislation. The Minister of State also mentioned we could be in danger of collecting too much data, yet she nodded, as I did, when … trade union organiser. We used to say repeatedly to Government that the State should be careful to spend its money where workers' rights are protected. We in the trade union movement recognised the State is not just a big spender, but can be a driver of employment policy

Last year, the International Court of Justice held that all states are under an obligation to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings and to prevent trade or investment relations with the occupied territories. There was no mention of an obligation just relating to goods. Instead … trade and investment relations. The Government has in the past few months discovered some legal, or what it says is a legal, distinction between goods and services but has never laid that out. The Tánaiste this morning, when asked about the Bill, said it is important that every

Ukraine, Gaza and other global conflicts like Sudan but what President Costa said today is only lip service when other EU member states refuse to stand up to the Israeli genocide because of their historic guilt or their geographic proximity. We are only talking the talk unless … occupied territories Bill passed during this term, and also for the Government to try to stretch it out to services. Let the legal eagles come in and show why it cannot be done, but let us push the boat rather than saying we are not even going

excuse for what we witnessed on our television screens. I cannot imagine the upset this programme generated for families across this State, with people wondering if their relative or friend was treated the very same way once visiting time was over. I acknowledge the whistleblowers who came forward … legal right of entry to residential facilities to ensure all appropriate measures are in place. It is an action I have long supported and one my party's spokesperson on health, Deputy Cullinane, has long advocated for. We simply cannot rely on private companies to deliver services

level that are falling by the wayside, I cannot see how we can justify spending time and energy on negotiations when other EU states can simply turn around and ask, "Why should we listen to you? You do not have immigration from Kazakhstan". I will outline some … language capabilities and simply does not meet the requirements we have signed up to under international law? What about the interpreting services and legal services? Where is the analysis and assessment of how the increasing speed of the process is not impacting on efficiency - that is one question

This included an enhanced package of health services and supports for those who wish to engage in education and training and access to advocacy supports through a new independent advocacy service. Work is well under way on putting these services and supports in place. I appreciate that there … further improvements to these services. These include strengthened access to health services for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools through the appointment of dedicated health liaison officers and better access to counselling and physiotherapy services. Work is already under way to put these services in place. The Government

fossil fuels through the creation of a State-owned Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal which will be reliant on imported gas and subject to geopolitical price shocks far beyond the State's control; — the enabling legislation for a State-owned LNG terminal, the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill … Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister of State at Housing, Local Government and Heritage almost a year and is still not published; — the Government has not fully met its legal obligations under the Climate Act as emissions limits do not account for the Land

technical recording devices in the territory of another state that is party to the convention. This involves a framework of co-operation on the use of technical recording devices, GPS, audio and software in the territory of another party state, including requests after the fact, such as where … have some concerns regarding the expansion of the use of technical recording devices in the territory of other states because it is clearly stretching the interpretation of mutual legal assistance which is generally understood as the sharing of evidence, serving of documents, etc., rather than letting the agents

State to really look at that. I know it is complex, and there are legal considerations, but the other side of it is that these people are very vulnerable as well in many cases. That should really be looked at to see how we can maintain that legal … ground and make sure we are doing everything right legally. We have to give everyone the opportunity to make sure because some people will fall through the cracks here. I understand the DSS has been getting between 80 and 100 phone calls per day in terms of queries

well be a requirement for State services. With many of the people who come into our constituency offices, we tell them that is the easiest way to do it. If what the Department is looking for is a State or national ID, then it should be clear about … interested in making money. There is a better knowledge of GDPR and data privacy. When the State has this information, we need to ensure that it has been obtained legally, is operated correctly and is protected with a sufficient level of security, which I do not think

effectively meaningless in practice. The legal obligations on service providers are determined by EU regulation and directive. It is not open to the director to alter them. If there is a case for non-compliance, there will be an administrative burden on service providers who are subject … European production order by an enforcing authority such as a director. It states: the conduct for which the order has been issued does not constitute an offence under the law of the enforcing State, unless it concerns an offence listed within the categories of offences

sanctions on Russia as a result of the illegal occupation and war in Ukraine and led us to boycott South African goods and services during the apartheid years. On the flip side, it is that same link that drove the British to build an empire all those centuries … ruled by them. Instead, we are trading away our own values. If we are to take on a more courageous stance as a State and Government, we will see what we have seen in the past with things such as the nuclear non-proliferation treaty

failed to provide for this right. On paper the State's policy is to keep people in their homes but in practice the State is funding people to go into nursing homes, 80% of which are in private hands. The overreliance on nursing home care does not serve … elder care continues. Contracting out public services is often thought to result in efficiencies but the argument does not stand up to scrutiny. This is because most of those supposed efficiencies have costs and they are largely borne by service users and workers. Related to this

Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, and Muireann Meehan Speed in my office for all their help in preparing it. When grid capacity is limited, as it is at the moment, the delivery of homes, public infrastructure and essential services should be prioritised. This is the simple principle … prioritisation framework Bill. The Government's laissez-faire approach to data centres and other large energy users must end. It is clear the State needs a more strategic approach to allocating scarce grid capacity, as was recommended by the European Commission in December of last year. The urgency

They prey on vulnerable people and they encourage them into irreversible decisions. The problem is not a lack of legal or regulatory powers. We have the Digital Services Act, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, and the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act. What is missing here … Government will take alongside Coimisiún na Meán, An Garda Síochána and the Internet service providers to block access to these sites? It is the Government's responsibility to ensure that every State body with a role is acting with urgency. Passing responsibility from one organisation to another

securing of a new mandate from the Government to continue funding at an enhanced level, while ensuring an adequate legal basis and compliance with state aid rules. An amount of €10 million per annum is currently being provided over a three-year fixed term from … benefiting from Government funding with the objective of securing the stability of the network. It should be noted that An Post provides important services to its customers and key government services to citizens, including through commercial contracts with the Department of Social Protection and the National Treasury Management

legal privilege, the officer cannot use, copy, communicate or act upon that record before the High Court's determination. Our amendments will be debated on Committee Stage tomorrow. I hope the Government will look closely at the issue and accept the amendments. This is common sense. Legal privilege … them from the Government. As the home to a very large number of digital service providers, Ireland can expect a larger number of requests relative to our size than other member states. How will the Government ensure that the new office can handle that large volume of work

That statement was merely stating the fact that the reports were not legally binding, but it is essential that we respond to the findings and work in accordance with the ECSR. That is something we are committed to. We have responded to many of the issues raised since … Defence Forces are compensated for additional or irregular hours through allowances and structured systems of compensatory rest. In addition, a pensionable military service allowance, which is designed to compensate for the special disadvantages associated with military life, such as the long and unsociable hours that many

legitimate concerns of communities across the country. The programme for Government also contains strong commitments on consultation with communities about local services and integration, and to improved communications on migration and integration. Yes we do accept that we need to improve this. There have been failings … important that we move to that process of, by and large, having State-owned facilities so we can provide the best value for money and services: services to the people in those centres and services to the communities that surround them and the best value for money

given to feed 2% of the Gazan population for half a week. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation director overseeing the delivery resigned in protest, stating aid could not be distributed according to basic humanitarian principles. Aid is blatantly militarised and used as a weapon of war. Israel … legal opinion, but there is nowhere to hide. The Oireachtas’s own experts back the legality of our Bill and many of our country’s top lawyers support the inclusion of services in the occupied territories Bill. In the flurry of interviews he has done on this issue

Given the state of relations between Ireland and Israel at this moment in time are at an all-time low and for very good reason, it is a rather perverse irony that Ireland is regarded as Israel's home country for the purpose of facilitating the sale … facilitating their sale in the EU. To be sold in the EU, bonds from non-EU countries must have their bond prospectus a legal document setting out details of the bond, approved by the central bank of a country that is in the EU. Before Brexit

never told us why. It has said it received legal advice. What is it? In the letter the Attorney General sent us last year, there was no mention of the need to make a distinction between goods and services. There was a 23-page letter going into great … Bill but there was not one reference to the need to make a distinction between goods and services. Let us remember the obligation the ICJ says member states have regarding the occupied territories: to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied territories