I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I cannot but say I am disappointed. I have been raising this matter through the council since 2022. I got the same reply in 2023 as I got in 2022 and the reply today, in February 2026, seems to be the same as well. I do not know if the Minister of State can offer any guarantee on capital funding. Are we looking at the 2027 budget or the 2028 budget? This is an issue that comes up every now and again. I do not want to leave this Chamber and issue a press release saying th…

It is very important that the MEPs are here with us today. We often see or feel that there is a disconnect between our representatives in Europe and our representatives and people here. How do the MEPs feel we can bridge the gap not so much with our politicians but with our people because our connection and our place in Europe have never been more important than now? We are seeing a massive fragmentation of the Union and of parties within the Union but also of politics at a global level. When we have a fragmented a…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, for being here with us this morning. I am seeking an urgent update from the Minister for education on the ongoing National Council for Special Education, NCSE, review of the special needs assistant, SNA, scheme. I refer in particular to the very real and immediate consequences the review is having on schools, children and teachers across the country. In recent weeks, schools across my constituency of Cork North-West have been informed of significant reductions in S…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter. I appreciate this is not within his portfolio. I note the content of the response. I do not feel that it particularly provides many answers. The 45% increase in SNA allocation since the 2020-21 school year is well and good, but what will that figure be when we are back for the 2026-27 school year, when all of these reductions are taken into account? The importance of the role of the SNA cannot be overstated. As I said earlier, they are providing a s…

I welcome yesterday's announcement of a landmark free trade agreement between the European Union and the Republic of India, which is one of the most significant trade milestones in decades. It paves the way for dramatically expanded economic co-operation between the EU and India. This is a combined market of more than 2 billion consumers and nearly 25% of global GDP. This is a major win for the European Union, for Ireland and for businesses and workers across our economies. The deal delivers real opportunities for …

I thank the Minister for being here with us today to discuss the nitrates derogation, a vital issue for Irish agriculture, rural communities and our shared responsibility to protect water quality. I congratulate him on the job of work done by him and his officials in securing a further three years' derogation. This was no small feat as we are the only remaining member state to have retained a derogation. It was also a show of confidence from the EU Commission in Irish agriculture. I was delighted, as part of a cros…

I wish to be associated with the messages of sympathy to the Fianna Fáil Party and the family of Brian Crowley on his recent passing. As a fellow county man, he gave a fantastic life of service to Fianna Fáil here in this House and as a Member of the European Parliament. I want to raise serious concerns about current restrictions on controlled burning in upland areas, particularly in the Comeragh Mountains, County Waterford, and the consequences these restrictions are having on animal health, farm viability and lan…

I thank the Minister of State for being with us this morning to discuss this matter, which relates to the potential impact on Ireland of the EU proposal to restrict lead ammunition. The European Commission has proposed a restriction on lead. The matter is before the EU REACH committee, on which Ireland is represented by officials from the Health and Safety Authority and the Department of enterprise. It is important to note that in December, the Dáil rejected a Bill which sought to ban all forms of fox hunting. Amon…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, it seems to have failed to answer the questions that I raised about the potential impact that this vote passing would have here, but also as to whether there is an Irish position. I take the Minister of State's point that this proposal regarding lead ammunition is interdepartmental and affects many different Departments. Maybe it is just not within the Minister of State's authority but lies more with the NPWS. Perhaps the Minister of State could clarify that poi…

I wish to speak about the Mercosur deal which, as the House will be aware, was signed last Saturday. I commend our Government on making the right decision two weeks ago when Ireland voted no on the deal. It is a bad deal for our farmers as we are very much aware but what is more important, and has not been raised enough, is the bad deal it is for health. We saw the investigation prior to Christmas by the Irish Farmers' Journal and the Irish Farmers Association that involved people going undercover in Brazil to look…

I thank the Minister of State for being with us here today. It is much appreciated. The issue I am raising relates to the Irish Water connection fee, particularly where it concerns community groups and voluntary organisations. I am seeking that the connection fee they currently have to pay would be reviewed and waived. The situation at the moment, which I appreciate is not necessarily a common, everyday situation, is that if a community organisation seeks a connection to Irish Water, it is charged a commercial rate…

I thank the Minister of State very much for the reply. I appreciate this matter does not fall under his Department, so I thank him again. I note the contents of the reply, and I know the background to Uisce Éireann and Irish Water and all of that. I understand it and the importance of water as a resource and the need for it to be financed. The reply, however, is incredibly disappointing because, to me, it does not seem to be that there is any wriggle room there at all in terms of reviewing this matter, and that is …

I thank the Minister of State for being with us this morning and for taking my Commencement matter. I am asking the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clearly set out the current requirements for local authorities to provide work placement opportunities for individuals with disabilities, to detail funding that has been allocated to support this and to confirm whether all local authorities have complied with the targets set out in the comprehensive strategy for people with disabilities 2015-2024.…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter and I appreciate it does not fall under his remit. I find the reply to be quite disappointing. I know the statistics that all of the local authorities met the 3% target in 2023 in terms of employing people with disabilities and eight met the target of 6%. As of 2024, the target is meant to be 6% across the board. The figures are disappointing in terms of what we are doing to resolve this. My understanding from what the Minister of State has said is that there is …

I would like to be associated with the comments of my colleague on the visit of President Zelenskyy earlier this afternoon. It was an honour and privilege to be there. Many of his words stuck with me, but in particular that Europe cannot turn its back on its values. The values behind the European Union are generally unity and solidarity. It is important that we are unified with our Ukrainian friends and our Ukrainian brothers and sisters because they are fighting a war for us on the eastern front of the European Un…

I thank the Minister of State for being with us today. I raise this Commencement matter to ask why inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, which includes Crohn's and colitis, which are the two most common forms of IBD, remains excluded from the long-term illness scheme, despite being a lifelong, incurable, medically managed condition that affects more than 40,000 people in Ireland. According to Crohn's and Colitis Ireland's 2025 report, Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Crohn's and Colitis, the financial and personal toll of…

I welcome the group from Dromahane National School today. I am delighted to have them here. I thank Minister of State for his reply. I acknowledge and completely accept this is not within his Department's remit, so I again thank him for taking this Commencement matter today. He referred to section 59(3) of the Health Act, regarding long-term illness, but what that provision actually states - again, while the Act has been amended, it still refers to the health board - is that the "health board may make arrangements …

I welcome the Minister and thank him for being with us today. It is vital that we were discussing the proposed approval of these three European Commission proposals to which our Protocol 21 opt-in applies. As the Minister already noted, these proposals are a vital part of the MFF budgetary package on which negotiations are ongoing and will be for the foreseeable future. These motions will form part of Ireland's engagement with key EU justice and security programmes for the period 2028 to 2034. They relate to four d…

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and thank the Minister of State for being with us today. I am calling on the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on the delivery of a new multistorey secondary school in Coachford College, Coachford, County Cork. Being from the area and having gone to school there, I know first-hand how important Coachford College is to Coachford and the wider rural catchment and hinterland it services, stretching from Aghabullogue to Donaghmore, Rylane, Inniscarra and beyond. It…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. It is great to see pupils from a school local to her here today to hear that these projects do eventually happen. It is good to know that some progress is being made. However, it is incredibly disappointing that the speed at which it is moving is glacial. As I said, planning was granted two years ago, for November. The funding was awarded five years ago. There was talk about this school for many years prior to that. The delivery of it is incredibly important. The school …