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have lost count of the number of times I have raised the need for funding for Waterford Airport in the House. In fact, I have raised this several times with the Tánaiste – almost a dozen at this point. I have also raised it several times with the Taoiseach … still not happened. A commitment was given in 2019 but there is still no funding six years later. There is genuine frustration right across the south east because three local authorities are funding this, namely those of Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford. Despite all the promises, all the information

fairness to the Deputy, he put me on notice that he is going to raise this issue on each and every occasion, quite rightly and understandably considering the seriousness of it. As I set out previously, and as I am obliged to set out every time this question … light of the ongoing litigation in respect of this matter currently being before our courts. I have set out this position in the House previously. There is a limit to what I can say in the circumstances to avoid intrusion into the independent role of our courts

what we can do constructively to build a better Ireland for all and on the priorities that are so clear. We focused on housing as a priority, for example by developing the Land Development Agency into a properly resourced State construction company that can deliver homes directly … care to every child in the State, so no parent has to delay a doctor's appointment due to cost. On children's rights, we put forward a clear and costed vision for a public childcare scheme. We are the party of work and of the trade union

Deputy. This is why we publish draft legislation and have pre-legislative scrutiny. I am very open to working across the House on this. So far my thinking on this is that in parallel with removing the UN mandate requirement, I have proposed that governing principles will … Union the Union’s action shall be guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter

neglect and underinvestment. Even now, when Uisce Éireann is looking for €2 billion to make sure there is water to deliver the housing we need, that money still has not been granted. Local authorities are another great one for backbenchers to get up and blame, while forgetting that … stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility. Tens of thousands of homes could be built in this State. They have planning permission right now but, instead, the land is being used for speculation and no building is happening. I will give an example from Cork. The Good Shepherd

this. The energy regulator recently highlighted the fact that the ESB Networks substation at Castlebaggot, which was initially intended to support new housing, was handed over to data centres. Even the Government's own officials have issued stark warnings about a business-as-usual approach … energy capacity. All of the renewable energy increase that we will get will be taken by data centres. That is not right. While increased investment is essential, it must deliver for ordinary workers and families. We hope our amendments will address those concerns ensuring that

Connecting for Life, will be developed this year and launched. These important milestones speak to the work of this country and of this House to make mental health services in Ireland modern, person-centred, and accessible. It is my hope that 2025 will see us all work together … where we go next in mental health services and sets a high bar for how we, as a society, respect the human rights and lived experience of those living with a mental health disorder. One of the most significant pieces of work in mental health last year

make reference to the Bill that Sinn Féin published yesterday. As with any Bill, from wherever in the House it comes, be that Opposition or Government, I will look at it and do so in a positive way. The network charges are set by CRU. From … overall issue of affordability, which I know we will get to during the course of the morning, whereby we see elevated prices right the way across the developed world, including here in Ireland. That is where the work of the national energy affordability task force, which will conclude

illness benefit, with the PRSI paid. This issue has come across most public representatives' desks. We meet families who are doing the right thing and making sure their contributions are up to date. Often, the families have been doubly hit. A partner may have passed away, the person … find we are unable to get anything for them. That is very challenging. A number of cases have been raised in the House, in particular, over the past 12 months. The Deputy raised one case very eloquently last October or November when a commitment was given to look

boycotted the G20 in South Africa on these spurious grounds, further isolating itself from traditional allies. The Taoiseach will go to the White House in couple of months; of that there is no doubt. However, considering what is happening on the streets of Minneapolis, considering the large numbers … under threat from ICE - will the Taoiseach use his meeting with the US President as an opportunity to raise the huge human rights concerns we have as a civilised nation, a nation that welcomes immigrants and welcomes asylum seekers, or at least should do, although the Government

something that I have dealt with in my constituency with one of my constituents whose property is a semi-detached house and the house next door does not meet the damage threshold. I do not even know how the Minister will realistically get builders to do this work … spread from one to another. It seems with this amendment that the Minister is inching, if I can be generous, in the right direction but it goes nowhere near far enough. Even the idea around the "certain circumstances", in particular, concerns me because we are still going

been cleared this year alone. Deforestation is not only destroying the Earth's natural resources of oxygen but also trampling on the human rights of the indigenous people of that area, with some paying with their lives. The farmers in my county of Wexford are bitterly opposed … this deal. I welcome this Sinn Féin motion and I hope it will receive full support from all the TDs in the House

forgetting about the problems here. Looking after our people here first is his fundamental duty under Bunreacht na hÉireann. Dundrum House hotel in Tipperary has been made into an IPAS centre despite the local people there protesting about this for more than 12 months. We were called … from Spain with declared capital of €120. We now we find it has all fallen into a heap of brus. A local group rightly took a judicial review, and now the council has had to cave in and say it erred in granting a section 5 exemption. What

demand. We host approximately 120 data centres. Today, they consume 21% of all energy we produce. Forty centres are in planning and development right now. No other country reports a higher share of domestic energy consumption by data centres than Ireland. We understand the importance of the digitalisation … supporting data centres consume much more energy than the typical data centre. How will the Government strike this balance? Will it prioritise housing over data centres when it comes to connections or will it step up LNG-fuelled electricity production to make up the difference and, as such

cannot go on a march and the propagate this nonsense as well. The pact would set up detention centres; speedy deportation; no right to an in-person appeal; limitations on legal representation; a process where asylum seekers would be sent to third countries that are deemed safe … will not bring in any money either. We have all said that this is virtue signalling and it ignores the context of the housing crisis. It was reported on "Morning Ireland" that, in Belgium, the Flemish Government tried this in 2014. It pushed asylum seekers onto the streets

there because it recognises that to have an orderly situation in a town, a village or a city, everything has its right place and should be located in a way that makes sense. A very difficult situation was created by the fact that when communities heard there … very invidious position. In any kind of development, whether for a recycling centre, a bring site, a funeral home or a housing development, at least public representatives can have engagement with the community and tell them there is an opportunity for them to make their submissions, seek legal

country right now and the cost-of-living crisis. I attended a conference late last year, hosted by the European Council on Social Rights, on the cost-of-living crisis. At that conference, I and many others heard that the bottom 20% of households are the most vulnerable … highest in Europe. Core to this question of the cost of living is what the components are. They are energy, food, childcare and housing - the list seems endless. What is not often reported are the extreme levels of costs in Ireland relative to our European peers. We have

important opportunity for Ireland to shape the agenda, particularly at a time of change and increasing global challenges. The Deputy is right to reference Brexit. The most recent report from the central bank in the UK illustrates the very damaging impact Brexit has had on the British economy … school, but we will get over that. In any event, they are most welcome and we will meet them later. The Deputy raised housing. It was interesting, yesterday, when the President of the European Council was here. Uninvited, he raised the issue of housing as a Europe-wide

fully support this motion, which rightly calls out the Government's failure to tackle the rip-off culture that has existed in the insurance industry for many years. I have stood in this Chamber previously to highlight the burden that sky-rocketing insurance premiums place on ordinary people … increased so drastically. The answer referred to market trends and risk profiles, but what about fairness and accountability? Let me remind the House of a case I raised here in the Dáil. A man with full, comprehensive health insurance - it is not just car insurance we should

radical decisions. We need to zone land in all our towns and villages. We need to zone lands for affordable, social and private housing. We also need to zone land for modular homes. We need to give our people a choice. We should make low-cost sites available … wish the Minister, Deputy Browne, well and will support him in any way I can. I know his heart is in the right place. We will get to the end of this crisis but it will take doors being knocked down, windows being opened

also very anxious to see this. The Deputy is right; the Leap card is great. That is fine but, if you go to London or other parts of Britain, you can tap on or off with a debit card or credit card, which works fantastically well. When … involve account-based ticketing. I have asked for a timeline and I have engaged with the NTA. To inform the Deputy and the House, while I do not have an exact timeframe, we are aiming for 2027. In advance of questions this morning, I again met officials last

school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact will be felt in communities right across the country, including in the Deputy's constituency. The key drivers of capital investment in the school sector are going to include demographic growth … special education needs provision will also be one of the key drivers. So, too, will the alignment of school place provision with new housing developments, such as Oscar Traynor, and climate action objectives, including deep energy retrofit. The programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment

that causes to people waiting long hours in our emergency departments. The overcrowding on St. Brigid's weekend, however, which the Minister was right to highlight, was directly linked to low weekend discharges and subsequent high numbers on trolleys. This has been an issue for quite some time … hospitals to give weekend cover. Historically in the public health service, weekends are the worst times to be admitted to a hospital. The House needs to engage with that. There has been enormous investment in health in the past five years by any standard, both in recruitment

change the title of the Bill and make other consequential amendments required to take account of the changes above. I thank the House for the opportunity to discuss the motion to introduce amendments to the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Committee Stage which will ensure that … colleague, Deputy Catherine Ardagh, before I took it on as a Government Bill and sought to provide for a broad statutory right to be forgotten, as it is known, for cancer survivors for certain financial products. That objective has strong support across Government and Opposition benches

alternatives are not there. We need to make retrofitting work for everyone not just the well-off. We need targeted supports for rural houses and solid-fuel homes, and we have been calling for that for years. Phasing it out without providing alternatives is madness. Measures … just like announcing all the new SNA posts and then not filling them. I am glad the Bill does not interfere with turbary rights. We also need an all-island strategy. The Border of this island is once again exposed as unnecessary and harmful. We need to think