I welcome this debate on workers' rights. I said in the House 12 months ago that if we are serious about workers' rights, we also need to be serious about protecting industries, infrastructure and investment to create and secure skilled and well-paid jobs for Irish workers. In recent weeks I have heard constant attacks on the private wires Bill, which will boost renewable infrastructure in this country. Too often the debate is driven by fear instead of facts. The reality is that the Irish energy transition is not a…

All right. I will go again on that. Go raibh maith agat.

Inniu táim chun caint faoi scoil a mbím ag caint fúithi i gcónaí sa Teach seo, Stapolin Educate Together National School in my constituency of Dublin Bay North. I have raised it a number of times. It is a fantastic school with dedicated staff who are watching this at the moment. I had the pleasure of visiting it, as did the Minister of State earlier in the year. He saw how hard-working the staff members are and the exemplary example of the education they are providing for their students. The issue is that they need…

I visited the students in the school again last week . They need this to be given to them. One of the students, Esmai, also asked for a pink castle, if the Minister of State could do this for her. He said the NCSE is reviewing it, but from speaking and listening to the principal, the NCSE is saying that the Department will not give the modular building, so there is miscommunication there. All five TDs in Dublin Bay North have brought this up. It is needed. All of the local TDs are pushing for it, as are local counc…

It is a new school but it was not built big enough and there are more houses going into that area, which I represent. They need modular additions and I would appreciate if the Department could clarify whether it has assessed the situation. I was speaking to one of the parents who is waiting for a school place. It is the case of James Field, who is currently without an appropriate special school place since September, despite the endless determination from his family. His mother, who was a councillor with me in the …

This issue has been raised and it is represented in a large part of my constituency. I speak of the Before We Die campaign. Its representatives were in the committee yesterday and I met the parents involved. I welcome the statement from the Minister of State in response to other Deputies who raised this matter today that it is being reviewed. I hope it will be examined. It is a very simple and profound issue. I understand, having spoken to the Minister of State, that she is going to work on it. This is about dignit…

I welcome the working day services, especially the service for north Dublin. It is much needed but the area needs more investment. We need more respite centres and we need to give parents and children with disabilities support. On the Before We Die campaign, the parents are in absolute fear. We must focus on solutions. I welcome the Minister of State's comment to other Deputies on giving consideration to cross-departmental plans for disability housing and health to specifically address these cases. Many parents hav…

I welcome the fact that the Minister of State has visited Remember Us. It is an exemplary example of what can be done. The increase in the budget for disability services was welcomed but fast-tracking personal assistance hours in these critical cases needs to be examined. Right now, these families feel like they are in the system. We need to move by making it planned for with centred supports. I welcome that the Minister of State has met parents at her request and at their request. I also acknowledge those who have…

The new school building for Gael Coláiste Reachrann in my constituency was moved to tender. Parents have been waiting 25 years for a permanent school building. We do not want any more broken promises in the sense that the school was told the project would move to construction in the second quarter of 2026 as previously indicated. Will the Tánaiste outline any risks to this timeline and provide a detailed update on the status go háirithe i mBaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh, áit a bhfuil daoine ag iarraidh Gaeilge a fhoghla…

Go raibh maith agat.

Happy Earth Day, with thanks to Deputy O'Gorman. I want to begin with solar, including plug-in solar. People always say that this Oireachtas has one of the highest numbers of Gaeilgeoirí, which it does. It also has one of the highest numbers of beekeepers, including me, Deputy Paul Lawless and Senator PJ Murphy. Bees are one of the most fascinating creatures in Ireland. They feature in our Brehon laws. There used to be the tradition of telling the bees, where you would tell your bees about the passing of a loved on…

I too welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. At its core, I believe the Bill is about something we can all agree on. It is protecting public health. From speaking to my constituents and knowing someone who has vaped, nicotine is addictive. It is very addictive and I do not think anyone should be able to walk into a shop when they are paying their bills and see a giant green package that says "double apple", "triple mango" or "Red Bull". It is just attracting children. That packaging was deliberately …

Last weekend, I listened to constituents in apartment dwellings who are struggling with the rising cost of energy, particularly single parents. A singular plug-in solar system would have a payback period, depending on grant size, of between 12 and 24 months. In conjunction, if we used 500 W and 800 W, it would really help people who do not have access to rooftops to reduce their energy bills. Is there any update from the Department of the Taoiseach? I welcome the work of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien on this…

I welcome the improvements for disabilities that were highlighted but I would like to raise some issues I would love to be addressed as well. We would love some more attention in Dublin Bay North for Stapolin Educate Together National School. I have raised this multiple times. It has great staff. I visited again recently and it has a fantastic campaign on behalf of the children I represent in Dublin Bay North. The school is looking for a modular building so it can have a special class sanctioned. Speaking to the SN…

It has not had the special class sanctioned because it has no room in the school, so it needs a modular building. I have spoken to the SNAs across my constituency as well and they-----

Stapolin Educate Together National School in Baldoyle. I have spoken to those SNAs and some of them are involved in the Save our SNAs campaign, which has developed an alternative circular. Also, last week we had the residential placement for people with intellectual disabilities in north Dublin from the Before We Die campaign. I am sorry for raising two matters with the Taoiseach.

Aontaím le go leor rudaí agus Teachtaí a labhair sa Teach seo inniu. Is gá go dtabharfaidh muid, mar Rialtas, an deis do gach uile páiste sa tír seo. Every single child deserves the chance to thrive. I welcome and thank the Minister for visiting schools across Dublin Bay North, including St. Michael's House Special National School, Baldoyle. St. Michael's House Special School Foxfield in Raheny would also love the Minister to visit. They are brilliant and hard-working staff. The Minister also visited Stapolin Educa…

She knows there is a lot more to do. I will continue to work with her as she does so.

Go háirithe sna laethanta atá inniu ann, tá na rudaí atá ag tarlú timpeall an domhain thar a bheith suimiúil agus tá sé soiléir gur gá dúinn athrú an-mhór a dhéanamh ar ár gcuid fuinnimh. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the risk to global security, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, how are we positioning ourselves to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels? I have been pushing for, and I mentioned it yesterday, plug-in solar. Is there any update from the Department on allowing plug-in solar? …

Aontaím go hiomlán leis an Aire. It is definitely unprecedented but the price shock is not limited to the oil markets. It is also spreading rapidly through global gas markets in Europe and Asia. That just proves the importance. Roughly one fifth of the global LNG trade normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar remains one of the cornerstone suppliers to the world's markets, which means any disruption tightens gas balances. Energy shocks also ripple into agriculture, as we have seen, beyond higher diesel p…