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behalf of this State. He deserved its protection and his family deserved justice when he was murdered. As a Member of this House, I want to associate myself with the Taoiseach's State apology and offer my own sincere apology to the Stack family. They deserved better from … never gave up seeking justice for a man they loved. That brings me to something I believe deeply. Anyone can do what is right when it is easy, when there is no personal cost and no consequences. When doing what is right is difficult, when the consequences

consensus on the vote and Sinn Féin was the only party to oppose the reduction in excise duty. Every other party in the House supported it. A total of 467,204 people will get fuel allowance and there is an extension of four weeks. That is an investment … people as quickly as possible. That €152 extra will make a difference and will bring in fuel allowance season right to the week ending 1 May. There was a €5 increase this year as well. For the first time, just under 50,000 families in receipt

with more social and affordable homes built right across our country. I want to do that by managing the economy in a way that ensures they have a future here into the long term, something the Deputy just takes for granted every time he gets up and down … national development plan, with nearly €50 billion, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer funds, across all the enabling infrastructure and subsidy for housing support. This is a central priority that we made in the new national development plan so people can build a future in this country. This

have had numerous opportunities in this House to welcome in general terms the legacy framework that was agreed between the British and Irish Governments and published in early September. There is an urgent need to enact legislation to give effect to the provisions outlined in the framework … issue dealt with? Many families have waited for justice for decades and decades. We have to move on and get progress on the rights, the concerns and the grief that engulfs so many families of victims for many decades now. At the end of this month, we will

people on outpatient waiting lists. So far this year, 103,545 people spent time on trolleys awaiting beds. Many of us in this House have had family members waiting on trolleys this year. There are 6,858 vacant posts in the public health service at this time … people's fear that if they get sick, they will not get the help they deserve and that should be their right through the public system. Sláintecare is moving at a glacial pace, with a reduction in funding for its implementation from last year to this year

than €0.5 billion in recognition of the issues raised by Deputy Collins today and raised often by Deputies on this side of the House. Regarding his particular point on age, I assure him that assessment is being carried out by the appropriate body, which is the Road Safety … education are aware this issue has been raised. It has been going on for some time. The Road Safety Authority is the right body to make a final conclusion and we will be informed by its recommendation on the matter

terms of our response to the climate crisis. I completely accept that there are people in homes who may have no other option right now than to remain on oil and gas heating but carve-outs in the carbon tax system that would protect the most financially vulnerable … fair share. Notwithstanding that, we will be supporting this otherwise excellent motion and again I thank Sinn Féin for bringing it before the House. For the past number of years under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, we have been in what feels like a permanent cost

also colleagues here in the Oireachtas, on the tragic death of Derek just before Christmas. He was on his way home from this House. The Minister referred in his introduction to scramblers and quad bikes on our streets, parks and open spaces. I welcome the instruction that … themselves on scramblers and quad bikes on our streets. They are goading the gardaí. They are so brazen now that they driving right beside them. They goad them and knock on the windows of their cars. They are challenging the gardaí to chase them. The problem is that

strong view, and the strong view of the Minister, that section 8 should be continued in operation for a further 12 months. The House will be aware that the majority and minority reports of the independent review group were published in June 2023. The majority recommended the repeal … State and our citizens. The majority also devised a suite of proposals in relation to how the court might operate to uphold the rights of accused persons and to support transparency and maintain public confidence. I and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are firmly

leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh as Béarla. As I do not speak sufficient Irish, I will continue my statement in English. I assure the House and those who spoke in Irish that it is something I am working on with my old Irish teacher from school … that way to re-engage with learning the language. However, I will speak to the main focus of the motion, which is the right to be educated in Irish. For too many, that is simply not an option, whether it is due to too few Gaelscoileanna

crisis in a co-ordinated way between EU member states is preferable, given the interconnectedness of EU energy markets. Governments across Europe are rightly attentive to developments in energy markets and their impact on households, businesses and the wider economy. As Minister of Finance, and in the context … reflect on those discussions and report back at a meeting of ECOFIN next Thursday and Friday in Luxembourg. I will update the House after that

that offer was that it would take the home but could not guarantee where the child would be placed. They offered a house, and that was the response they got. That does not spell "every effort" to me. The Before We Die campaign has been incredible in amplifying … listening mode, which the Government is clearly in, to the action that is required. This State, sadly, has still not embraced the rights-based model for disability that is espoused in the UNCRPD. At best, we have moved towards a medical model of disability, but in many ways

thank the Deputy. He is right. Not only is an early access programme a commitment in the programme for Government but my officials are already working on designing it and it will be implemented by the HSE. I also acknowledge the role of the NCPE and the independence … protecting the independence and integrity of scientists and listening to them and ploughing on with Government policy that is well endorsed by this House

shows that the Deputy is in touch with all the school communities, which is hugely important. All Deputies from all sides of the House are engaging with school communities because they are a hugely important piece. They are educating our young people and are meeting many challenges head … schools but I will endeavour to get them. I want to reassure the Deputy that we are aware of the challenges faced right across the country with regard to the schools estate, particularly in County Kerry. The Deputy will be aware that over €7.55 billion has been included

penalty for an assault cannot be death. Gardaí followed George in their car, adding to the distress involved. When they got to his house, the armed unit arrived very quickly. I do not know why the armed unit would be need to arrest a young … were certainly not brought into play that day. We are talking now about giving gardaí biometric analysis tools, body cameras, tasers and more rights to use pepper spray, which is in related legislation that will accompany this Bill. What about the actions of gardaí on that particular

have the best interests of the fisheries at heart. As I come from a coastal community, an island community, I can tell the House that further cuts to quotas will cause catastrophic damage and we should not be immune to hearing this. Fishing communities are barely surviving … months and decisions will determine the future of that place. Killybegs has a history of fishing. It has raised families on fishing, but right now as we speak, fish factories are not operating and boats are tied up. I come from an island, Arranmore, where fishing has been

student fees was introduced in 2022. The reason the Government did that was to alleviate the cost of living, which was the right thing to do. To go on that premise and bring it to its logical conclusion, the cost of living today has now increased … budget. Now, we have a Minister saying that student fees could reach €3,000, an increase of €1,000. We then have the housing Minister effectively giving landlords the go-ahead to raise student rents once they sign a new release, which the majority do, because

Ireland's best interests to opt in, this is best done under Article 4 of Protocol 21 when we can examine in these Houses the final contents of the regulation and are in a position as an Oireachtas to satisfy ourselves that this is the case. The majority … Irish Government’s responsibility to ensure that our migration system here in Ireland works better, faster and more efficiently while being human-rights compliant. I wish to address the major concerns of sovereignty with respect to how the Government is approaching opt-ins to regulations under Protocol

favour of the principle of recognising non-binary and intersex persons or it is not. It is a well-established principle in this House that even if there are difficulties with the technical aspects of a particular Bill, if the Government is in favour of the principle … debate today in our national Parliament with the sensitivity and compassion that it demands. We in the Labour Party fundamentally believe in their right to live a life with dignity and to be protected from discrimination and stigma. They have a right to the proper medical assistance

Government refuses to listen over and over again. In the middle of all this, as we are talking about blocks in houses and costs and all the rest, there are human beings and families who are living in these situations. The Government continues with the misery, pain … Government many years ago. For six, seven or eight years, we have been telling Government that the people of Donegal, Clare, Mayo and right across the west coast and beyond deserve the same rights as those who had it on the east coast, who got 100% redress

announced the plan to put this in place. Now, in 2026, we are already seeing delivery on that. The Deputy is actually right about the living city initiative. There was a rigidity around the living city initiative that, quite frankly, was making it too hard for people … though, through the urban regeneration fund already. I welcome the support of the Deputy’s party, I think, and most parties in this House in terms of other ways we can look at Dublin City Council having potentially ring-fenced funding whether that is a tourism levy

Deputy's broad point is right. Without being flippant, when it comes to capital planning we have to start somewhere. It was important to get the first tranche out there and moving because a lot of other schools are wondering what it means for them. The Minister … will be looking at what other schools not on the list have an ability to move forward. The Deputy has been in this House long enough to know that when it comes to capital, there is often a churn and opportunities to add more schools. I will speak

allowed to drive a Bus Éireann school bus. That needs to be reviewed. We have been talking about the issue in this House for long enough. We have talked about engaging with the RSA. One way or another, the issue needs to be put to bed. If there … having these debates. My final point is probably my most contentious. I do not mean it to be. I mean it in the right way. When the cost of a ticket was initially reduced to €50, it was done during the cost-of-living crisis. I understood

respect, I do not need lectures on work and on jobs. We are the party of work. Labour is the party of workers' rights. We have a proud record on job creation. We absolutely agree with the Taoiseach that, of course, job creation and work is crucial … they cannot afford to meet basic household costs because of rising prices, rising costs, and the cost of childcare and the cost of housing, which are too high. Even though they are working, they simply cannot meet all of the costs they have to meet. This phenomenon

applicants resident in Ireland, however, are required to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. For the interest of the House, these applications are post passport, first-time adult online and first-time child online. The witnessing of these application forms is a vital element … witnessing of this form provides evidence guardians have given consent for a passport to be issued to the child. To protect the rights of parents or guardians and children, it is important that forms are correctly completed. As I mentioned previously, child online renewal applications can be witnessed