The Minister has outlined very clearly our intention in relation to this matter. We have always been very clear that the ARP would be a temporary provision. It was introduced in 2022 as a response to a crisis, always with the view that it would be phased out. That remains the case. The planned closure date for the scheme is March of next year. As the Minister indicated, we have engaged in a number of processes with a view to looking at the longer term situation for Ukrainian people who are in our country, who have …

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076 of 1 June 2023 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violenc…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for facilitating the motion this evening, and the Deputies for their input. I wish to take the opportunity to express my appreciation at the unwavering commitment shown by this House to the fight against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I take on board all the comments made by Deputies throughout the debate. The Government is taking unprecedented action across Departments and agencies and with the support of civil society to tackle the scourge of …

I am here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. I know the Senator has engaged directly with him on this issue. He is very aware of her concerns in this area. Unfortunately he cannot be here today. The Government is committed to the principle that wherever they live in Ireland, people should feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for this Government. The Government wants every part of the country to be a safe space for peop…

I thank the Senator very much. I totally agree with her. The key point she made was that not all young people are involved in antisocial behaviour. It is a minority of people who are involved in it. It is very much a matter of making sure that the resources are there from An Garda Síochána, the support services and the various stakeholders in the community to ensure that when this group, which is a small group, is committing the type of antisocial behaviour that can destroy a community a response is in place. The S…

I thank the Senators for raising these important matters. I welcome this opportunity to discuss how to protect households and businesses that suffer a loss of electricity supply due to storms or other adverse weather events. This motion calls for electricity suppliers to credit households and businesses with a refund of part of the standing charge amount of their electricity bills during the periods of electricity disruption. The context for this is the widespread concern about the cost of electricity to households…

-----on a daily basis who cannot understand why people are so opposed to Ireland having a successful tech sector. Part of that is having data centres.

I am sorry, I did not interrupt the Senator so please, a little courtesy. As early as budget 2026, the Government has been putting in place measures to help households faced with increasing energy costs. The measures in the budget included an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity saving households up to €100 per year. It is part of the Government recognising that we want to put permanent solutions in place, not gimmicks. The Opposition loves a bit of gimmickry but we want permanent s…

I am pleased to introduce this Bill following its recent passage through Dáil Éireann. It marks a significant step forward in ensuring Ireland's counterterrorism framework is robust and fit for purpose in the face of modern terrorism threats. The Bill will amend the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, which I will refer to as the 2005 Act and is a cornerstone of Ireland's counterterrorism laws. It will allow for a broader category of prosecutable offences in respect of terrorist activity. These include …

On behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I thank the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on the HSE primary healthcare centre for Cahersiveen. The programme for Government commits to opening more primary care centres. Providing a home first approach to healthcare will empower people to receive integrated healthcare in their communities in line with the Sláintecare objectives. The primary care centre programme consists of a network of circa 300 projects being delivered through the o…

From the many conversations the Senators has had with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on this, I know this is an issue about which he is very passionate in supporting on behalf of the people in his area. Of course, I will relay his views and comments to the Minister. She will engage with him further in that regard.

I thank the Senator very much. On behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke, I am delighted to take this matter and to have the opportunity to reply to the Senator. Foreign direct investment, FDI, continues to be one of the key components of the Irish economy. The Minister is determined that Ireland remains a leading location for FDI. The IDA's mandate is well-known and can be summarised as attracting and retaining mobile foreign direct investment to Ireland in support of wel…

I thank the Senator for the strong, passionate and well-argued argument he made in favour of this. I will take the opportunity to convey his views directly to the Minister, Deputy Burke, to make sure he is aware of the Senator's contribution this morning and give him the opportunity, which I have no doubt he will take, to engage further with the Senator on this. I thank the Senator.

I thank the Senator. It is important to remember that the programme for Government contains three commitments in relation to criminal legal aid, namely, to reform the operation of the criminal legal aid scheme; restore the fees, and enact the criminal justice (legal aid) Bill. It is the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan’s intention to fulfil all three commitments. The Minister fully recognises the crucial role played by the legal profession in the effective administration of criminal justice. Equally, the criminal legal…

I will convey the Senator's remarks on this to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. As mentioned, the reform of the criminal legal aid fee structure in the District Court is aimed primarily at improving efficiencies, speeding up case resolution and reducing unnecessary adjournments, while ensuring that those accused of crimes, including those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, are provided with the legal representation to which they are constitutionally entitled. The proposed reform is intended to make the system wo…

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to talk about the work that I and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, are doing in managing international protection processing and accommodation. At all times, Ireland has endeavoured to provide accommodation and other basic supports to people seeking international protection, as is required under EU and Irish law. The International Protection Accommodation Services, normally known as IPAS, is currently accommodating over 33,000 residents in 305 international protection …

I thank the Senator. I will refer again to the closing remarks I made in my initial reply to her. Since 2024, IPAS has not published the details of specific locations, the resident profile and the occupancy of individual accommodation centres. It is for a very good reason. It is to preserve the privacy, safety and well-being of residents and staff. That is accepted good practice. I am sure the Senator can see there is a need to protect and preserve that privacy and well-being for residents and staff. That is very i…

Leo Varadkar does not speak for Fine Gael.

I thank Deputies from across the House for their contributions to this debate. Obviously, as we have heard, the strength of feeling on this issue is evident. Having sat through this debate, a range of views have been expressed. The Government welcomes the engagement. There are serious issues that require serious and sustained action. It is important to address some of the points raised during the debate. First, I will speak to the contribution we had on bees. As Deputy Heneghan will know, I am the Minister of State…

I thank the Senator very much. I will commence by referring to the line he used to conclude his contribution. Citizenship should be a moment of great pride. It should be a great moment in life for the people who go through the process. I have had the privilege and the honour of being a Minister of State at these processes for the past year and a half. It is an absolutely great moment. Therefore, it is incredibly regrettable that thousands of people were affected because of the circumstances taking place in our coun…