I again thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his contribution. I appreciate the sincerity with which he has raised this issue. We are committed to responding positively to it. My understanding is that Cork City Council's allocation for second-hand acquisitions in 2025 is €20 million. At the end of April, it had drawn down €6.9 million or 34% of its allocation. The Cork County Council allocation for second-hand acquisitions in 2025 is €15 million and at the end of April it had drawn down €500,000 or 3% of its allocation. The…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. As the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, stated at the beginning of the debate, the assignment of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ has broad support across the House. It is one of the key recommendations of the expert advisory committee on governance and culture in RTÉ chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan. The programme for Government is clear that legislation is required to ensure the corporate governance model in RTÉ is open, transparent and…

I thank the Senators for their contributions and for taking the time to consider the motion to reduce the amount of the monthly contribution under the ARP scheme to people hosting beneficiaries of temporary protection. As provided by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, the draft order laid before both Houses cannot be made law until a resolution approving the order has been passed by each House. Therefore, approval of the motion in Seanad Éireann today is essential to ensure that the monthly contribu…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 9(2)) (Amount of Financial Contribution) Order 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 14th May, 2025. I thank the Members of Dáil Éireann for meeting to discuss this motion concerning the order the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, proposes to make to reduce the monthly financial contribution for hosts of temporary protection beneficiaries from Ukraine unde…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for taking the time to consider the motion to reduce the amount of the monthly contribution under the ARP scheme for people hosting beneficiaries of temporary protection. As provided by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, the draft order laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas cannot be made law until a resolution approving that order has been passed by each House. Therefore, approval of the motion in Dáil Éireann is essential to ensure the monthly c…

I thank the Deputy. I wish to start by also expressing my sympathy and condolences to Garda Flatley's family, colleagues and the community. It is a very sad occasion in which we are taking these questions here today, and they put a lot of things in context. The Government has brought significant focus to addressing a range of complex systemic pressures within our international protection system. Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU pact on migration and asylum in mid-2026. As Minister of State…

It important to note that the IPAS has grown rapidly and by more than 400%. It is important to note there is extensive oversight of all aspects of accommodation, the commissioning process and all the processes that have been improved incrementally over the past three years. Regarding appraisal of providers, my Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted, including checks on the providers via the Companies Registration Office, CRO, to ensure compliance with CRO requirements, as well as che…

It is important to say that standard procedures have been developed and documented for all aspects of the process. There is full transparency from the Department in terms of providers receiving payments. Details of payments over €20,000 are published quarterly online on gov.ie .

There is full detail and transparency within the process.

Migrant workers make an enormous contribution to the Irish economy and society. It is a central priority for me, as Minister for State with responsibility for migration, that our immigrations laws are fair and efficient. An important part of this is having clear legal pathways for workers and their families. My Department’s policy document for Non-EEA family reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is still under review. The policy document sets out the conditions for a sponsor to apply for a family member to…

It is under review and I want to see that concluded as soon as possible and be able to come back on this. I take on board what the Deputy said but it is important that we ensure with family reunifications that financial thresholds in income are met for permit holders to be eligible to apply for their family to join and that it can be done in a proper and clear way. I take his points on board and when the review concludes I will come back to him.

I am acutely aware that for families involved in situations like this it is very important to them and it is very important that they have information. I again refer to what I outlined in reply to the Deputy earlier, namely that it is clearly an important part that someone has sufficient income to sustain a family reunification. A review is ongoing looking at all the processes involved. I will come back to the Deputy with the information as soon as I can.

I thank the Deputy for the question. As he is aware, the Department's policy document for non-EEA family reunification was last amended in 2016. It is under review. The policy document sets out the conditions for a family member to be reunited. In general terms, a sponsor must demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member. The review is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification. Officials from my Department have consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders …

The review is ongoing. Without prejudging anything, I believe it will conclude soon. I am anxious, like the Deputy, to be able to come forward with that information from the review. I take on board the points he has made, but it is important to emphasise again the central point that, in terms of successful family reunification and a range of complex issues involved in it, there must be a provision for people to be able to support family members who are joining them here.

It is important to acknowledge the incredible contribution of so many migrant workers in our country in many of the jobs on which we rely in health service areas, a wide range of public services and in the private sector. People come here, work and make an incredible contribution, which we acknowledge. However, we also acknowledge, without prejudging the outcome of the review, the importance of making sure we have a sustainable system for family reunification. Part of that sustainable system is the importance of so…

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the topic to which it relates on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I also very much welcome the opportunity to do so because the Senator and I live in the same constituency. I know exactly the condition of the roads mentioned and very much agree with the points made her. Road opening licences are issued by local authorities to licenceholders and, in a very limited number of cases, are issued by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Th…

Again, I reassure the Senator that the appropriate standards and timeframes for opening up are in place. I fully take on board the Senator’s comments and will also pass on to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, her remarks on the experience so many people have when they are looking at what they believe to be incomplete reinstatements after roadworks.

I thank the Senator. I am replying to him on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for international road transport, logistics, rail and ports, Deputy Canney. The Senator has done a lot of work on this issue, which he has raised on a number of occasions. As I have no doubt he is aware, the final report of the all-island strategic rail review, which was undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, was published last year. The revi…

I have no doubt the Senator will do that as he has made the case very well today. I will report that back to the Minister. We have made good progress on several projects across the rail network in recent years, including in the west. These include upgrades at Ceannt Station in Galway city, which are under way and scheduled to be completed next year. In addition, a new platform and passing loop at Oranmore station was granted planning permission last February and construction is expected to commence by the end of th…

The Minister would like to thank the Senator for raising this important matter. As she mentioned in her contribution, the responsibility for firearms policy and legislation rests with the Department of Justice. As issues arise or changes in EU legislation occur, the Minister and departmental officials engage with individual firearms representative organisations and other stakeholders as appropriate. The Department of Justice also works closely with the firearms policy unit of An Garda Síochána, which is responsible…