I thank the Minister of State for his response and indeed his commitment to help to resolve this matter, which has been ongoing for some time. I recognise and acknowledge that. I recognise that it is complex and that much is involved. The ecological consultant is carrying out a high-level environmental study. I am wondering about the tender. I know the Minister of State said he is bringing forward the Bill, which is great. Regarding this particular question, has the legal tender been issued? Where is that at the mo…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill, which is, at the very least, a step in the right direction in terms of redressing the power imbalance that has operated for decades in this State when it comes to consumer and financial institutions, be they banks, vulture funds or any other financial entity. In that sense, we can achieve the stated objectives of this Bill around strengthening protections within the framework of legislation that underpins the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman so it can continu…

John Bruton was a man of faith who lived his Christian values in his personal and private life but he was also a committed and dedicated politician of principle. Today, we honour John Bruton's memory and legacy. I want to pay my deepest respects. I extend my condolences and offer solidarity to his wife Finola, to our Dáil colleague Richard, and to all of his family, his friends and the Fine Gael Party. We pray for their comfort and strength. John Bruton will be remembered as a formidable servant of this nation and …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue and I acknowledge the work of Deputy Kenny in bringing it forward. While I certainly accept that Deputy Kenny is motivated by what he believes is the best approach to this issue, I cannot support the aim of this Bill, which is to make it legally permissible for a person to possess up to a stated amount of cannabis resin for adult personal use. I accept that we should have a lenient approach to persons in the throes of addiction but effectively removing all legal sanc…

There has been much frustration, speculation and concern about the future of respite beds at Birr Community Nursing Unit in County Offaly. Respite beds have been moved from the unit to other units. There is a great deal of uncertainty over whether the move is permanent or temporary. I would like some clarity on that. We need urgent assurances from the HSE that this is just a temporary move. We also need assurances that the numbers of respite beds at Birr Community Nursing Unit will be increased because there is a h…

During Leaders' Questions last July, and several times since, I have raised the backlog of 1,000 disabled applicants who are seeking a primary medical certificate. As the Taoiseach is aware, the primary medical certificate scheme provides relief from vehicle registration tax and VAT and is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or passenger. To qualify for the relief the applicant must hold a primary medical certificate, which is issued by the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. However…

I thank the Taoiseach for his comments and commitment to pursue the issue further. We are talking about 1,000 applicants here and even if that number were to increase slightly, it would not put the State under undue pressure. This is something that we can do and is achievable. It is something we must do to ensure that this State has credibility in supporting and upholding the rights of people with disability. I also ask the Taoiseach to take this on board. It is my understanding that the Minister could bring forwar…

I represent people on the Tipperary-Offaly border who work in the town of Roscrea. They are decent people who pay their taxes. The way they were treated and demonised in the national media was shameful. Not one bad person was up there that day. Everything was handled wrong. It was done to create the image that the people and the community were wrong and I condemn that. What was done to those people was very wrong. Those communities are concerned. Communities are entitled to ask questions. The mishandling of that in…

As we know, the changes to the UK import controls come against the backdrop of the publication by the UK Government last April of its draft border target operating model which will be applicable to imports from all countries into Great Britain, including from the EU. I am struck by its aim to balance the need for effective border controls with the need to support businesses and import processes that are as simple as possible. On these points, I could not agree more. Things should be kept simple, the process needs t…

Like so many others, I begin by acknowledging the exceptional dedication and courage of the Women of Honour and their campaign to have justice applied to this issue. We are all aware, thanks to the Women of Honour, that serious failures in the complaints system have occurred in the Defence Forces and these serious failures have caused anguish and pain that is ongoing, unfortunately, for so many. Indeed, the draft terms of reference, if they are accepted by the House, make clear that the tribunal will commence its i…

Farmers in the State are under huge pressure with input costs and paying bills. There is a great deal of frustration about the delays in the ACRES payment. I acknowledge there is a huge volume of applications to be processed but I want to support the IFA’s proposal that certainty be given and an 85% advance payment be made to farmers by 18 December. Is that possible? Could it be made possible by redeploying staff from other Departments to help to get the payments out? It is not fair or acceptable if 27,800 farmers …

The Independent Group in its Bill signals its recognition that the Government must acknowledge the significant role of small and medium-sized enterprises and Ireland's agri-economy. However, I cannot support the objectives of the Bill because of the wide-ranging ways in which it seeks to double down on the folly of a so-called zero-carbon future by endorsing the development of a fossil fuel non-proliferation theory. This would place us in a regulatory straitjacket that would further threaten energy security and lea…

While we can all support some of the principal objectives of the Bill as regards compliance around online safety, I cannot support the legislation at this time. It is a legislative pillow designed to suffocate free speech until it stops moving. There is a profound democratic deficit at the heart of this Bill that is deeply alarming. Indeed, I am genuinely concerned that we are embedding a new regulatory regime that will simply replace one series of evils with another. In fact, there is now an overwhelming sense to …

Before I begin, I wish to declare that I am a property owner. Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an mBille tábhachtach seo. When I looked back to Deputy Ó Broin's contribution on First Stage of the Bill a few weeks ago, I was struck by the reference to data that showed that, in 2011, the total number of children classified as homeless was 641. Shockingly, that figure now stands at 3,000. As the Deputy pointed out, there has been a horrifying 429% increase in the number of children presenting as homeless, w…

While I welcome the fact that Clara fire station has now been placed on the Department's construction project list, I have proceeded with this Topical Issue matter to obtain as much clarity as possible in respect of funding for the fire station. All Deputies can give many examples of capital projects and local construction projects throughout the State that have been signed off and approved by various Departments, only for those infrastructure projects to endure long delays before work commences. I think in particu…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. As he rightly stated, Offaly County Council had input into the project and getting it brought forward, which was fantastic to see. I welcome that wholeheartedly. The fire crew in Clara will be very happy with the news that the project is now on the programme. The Minister of State referred to the fact that priority is given to value-for-money projects. That makes sense but my concern is that if costs rise when the yearly reassessment is being carried out, are those co…

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an mBille seo, an Bille um Pleanáil agus Forbairt 2023. This Bill is a mammoth piece of legislation that would require a researcher to review with any kind of thoroughness. I accept the basic objectives of the Bill include the facilitation of reforms around improved consistency and alignment throughout all tiers of planning. That is certainly to be welcomed. The second objective is significant restructuring and resourcing of An Bord Pleanála, which will be renamed an coimisiún pleanála. The…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth's figures confirm a 37 per cent increase in non-Ukrainian International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) residents, reaching 26,092 by the week ending 26th November, 2023; — over 26,092 IPAS residents are now being accommodated at over 200 centres throughout Ireland; — the number of IPAS residents surged by 150 per cent since 27th March, 2022, from 10,447 to the 26th November, 2023; — the 2022 sp…

By now it should be absolutely clear to all but the most wilfully blind that there is no longer a mere disconnect between the Government and our people on the issues of immigration, migration, and asylum. There is in fact a chasm between public and private opinion and the policy of the Government. Opinion poll after opinion poll confirms this. Indeed, I tried to warn the Government of this in June 2022 during Leaders' Questions with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien. At that time, I urged the Government of our n…

They do not. They were not elected to represent them. We are elected here, each and every one of us. Things cannot continue in the same vein. This certainly also applies to our disastrous deportation policy, which is honoured more in the breach than the observance. I have always sought to ground my statements in fact. That is why I have asked the Oireachtas Library and Research Service to compile an analysis of the deportation procedures in place in other EU member states. I am awaiting that document, but one thing…