I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to discuss efforts to divert young people from criminal offences and criminal activities. This is an issue of fundamental importance. It is very clear from the contributions both today and yesterday that this issue moves and impassions many Deputies across the House. All of us will agree that we must continue to provide opportunities for young people to contribute to society in a productive and meaningful way. This will benefit both the well-being of our young people as well…

I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for local government who would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is a shame he was not here because were he here he could hear the passion with which the Deputy has spoken on behalf of his constituents. I thank him for bringing this important issue to the floor of the Dáil. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of the public water supply, together with operational issues locally are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has stat…

I appreciate the Deputy’s frustration about the lack of information from a State body or a body working on the ground. Ultimately, however, there is good news. The upgrade of the existing water treatment plant is a very welcome development for the residents and businesses represented by the Deputy. Uisce Éireann has committed to holding an elected representative briefing to mark this commencement. The Minister has been informed that an invitation will be issued shortly to all those in the Macroom municipal district…

I can hear the Deputy's frustration loud and clear about the fact this issue has gone on for a long time. It has been raised by him, by Deputy McAuliffe and by others in this Chamber on multiple occasions. I am here to take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education. Quite a lengthy response has been provided, but I will skip to the bit that is going to be of most interest to the Deputy. He spoke about confusion over the site. What I have today is confirmation that an agreement is in place with Dublin City…

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. The Government absolutely values the Irish language. We have had a record level of investment in school buildings this year again. This will increase the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact will be felt in communities right across the country, including in the Deputy's constituency. The key drivers of capital investment in the school sector are going to include demographic gro…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has asked me to take it on his behalf. The Minister has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in respect of the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII under the Roads Acts and in line with the NDP, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in this case Laois County Council. TII ultimately deliver…

The Deputy will be pleased to hear Laois did figure in funding this year. An allocation of €1.147 million has been provided to Laois County Council for national roads so far this year. That comprises €701,300 for capital protection and renewal and €445,949 for current protection and renewal. Approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funding has been provided to TII for national roads so far this year, and almost €1.2 million of this has been allocated for Laois County Council, which I am sure Deputy Stanley i…

I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important matter. My very first job after I graduated was working for Fáilte Ireland so I have been following these statistics with great interest. I am taking this matter on behalf of the relevant Minister. The latest CSO figures for overseas visitor numbers were published last Friday, as Deputy Lawlor said. These figures were specifically for February 2025 and showed that 304,300 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in that month, and these visitors spent €196 millio…

I thank the Deputy for that kind invitation. I attended the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford last year and it was fantastic. As the Ceann Comhairle will be aware, it was fantastic to see the town buzzing and to see so much activity and spin-off trading. I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important issue. Since the Covid pandemic, tourism has shown its resilience time and again and it has played a significant part in our economic recovery. Last year was a strong one from a tourism perspective. More than 6.5 million over…

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for equality, disability and youth, Norma Foley, who cannot be with us this morning. Ireland currently provides accommodation to approximately 33,000 people applying for international protection and has also welcomed more than 114,000 people from Ukraine since 2022. Our accommodation systems have had to expand at a rapid pace over the past two years in response to this sharp increase in need among both those groups. The 114,0…

I thank Senator Boyhan for his question. If the House will indulge me, I would like to put on the record of Seanad Éireann my thanks to Senator Boyhan for his recent collaboration with officials of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on legislation going through the Houses. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this very important topic with Members of the House today. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I want to clarify the Minister for T…

With respect, I disagree. I do not believe that this is an attack on Tipperary or that the situation is in no man’s land. We have two Ministers engaging in this important priority area for Government. The relevant Minister for accommodation is the Minister, Norma Foley, who is the Minister for equality, disability, integration and youth, and I will pass the Deputy’s feedback on to her. Since the Deputy’s initial remarks were specific with regard to tourism, wanting to protect tourism and getting many of those beds …

Senator Boyhan has made a really good point. To reiterate, the creation of the transport security force is a priority for the Government. As the Senator has said, it is important to note the introduction of the force is going to require the development of legislation which, as all of us in this House know, may take significant time. Nonetheless, the Government's commitment to delivering a safe and secure public transport network and the outgoing interim work on public transport safety will continue, as will the con…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the really important issue of early learning and childcare. It was great to be able to watch the debate and see so many Senators contribute to what is a really important topic for so many families. It is clear from the discussions that we all recognise the importance of early learning and childcare for children and their families as well as for society and the wider economy. In her opening statement, the Minister, Deputy Foley, described the constituent parts of Together for Bet…

I move: (1)  THAT the rate of value-added tax chargeable on the supply of electricity provided for by section 46(1)(caa) of, and paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 3 to, the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 (No. 31 of 2010) and the supply of gas provided for by section 46(1)(caa) of, and paragraph 17(3) of Schedule 3 to, that Act, being 9 per cent until 30 April 2025, be extended until 31 October 2025 and that section 46(1)(caa) of that Act be amended accordingly. (2)  THAT this Resolution shall have effect on and f…

Is this the amendment?

No.

I rise to my feet today, not in support of a particular individual, but in support of the sanctity of an office that upholds the most important thing any sovereign nation has: its democracy. We in this Chamber elected in a fair and free vote Deputy Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle of the Thirty-fourth Dáil and as the first ever female Ceann Comhairle in the history of the State.

Last week, we in this Chamber took a vote and if that vote were to be taken again, the outcome would be the same. Respecting outcomes of votes is the very basis for a functioning democracy. The Ceann Comhairle has only sat in that Chair for 23 Dáil sitting days and in that time, we have had two days of chaos, obstruction, ugliness and disrespect, and the exact opposite of a fair wind. That cannot and should not become the norm because dignity and respect in the workplace have to extend to this Chamber.

Dramatics do not help our country and do not help our people. Opposition politics cannot just be about headlines. They also have to be about the country and the nation's interest. It has never been more important to buckle down and get working on behalf of the people of Ireland to protect our stability, our jobs in the face of potential tariffs, the taxes that support our most vulnerable - our older people and children and those in need of healthcare and disability services - and our country's future. Despite the O…