I would like to thank the hundreds and thousands of Irish people who have marched through the streets of the Thirty-two Counties of Ireland in support of the Palestinian people. The occupied territories legislation would ban all trade, including services, with Israeli illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and in east Jerusalem. It would send a clear message to the apartheid and genocidal regime that there are real consequences for its murderous slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and …

Sadly, the Government could have progressed the occupied territories Bill in the last seven years. Now it suddenly decides that we now have to look at it again and we have to reword it. I call it out for what it is.

Untruth, mistruth, whatever way we want to word it. We all know exactly what we are talking about here. The comments overnight by the American President have shocked the entire world - the horror of a world leader openly talking about ethnic cleansing a whole population for his developer friends in the US and Israel should be a line in the sand for the other world leaders, including those in this Government. The EU acted decisively when Ukraine was attacked and occupied by Putin and Russia. It is now time to use th…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. He makes a very astute comment about the Department of Education and forward planning, because that is at the heart of this. Today more than 100 parents and students took time to come to the Dáil to voice their anger and frustration at the relocation of Ériu Community College. For many of them it was the very first time they have ever been here or been at a protest. That shows how angry they are. Every so often I have submitted a parliamentary question to the Department on the subject o…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I noted with interest the line in the reply that states "Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level". I find that absolutely puzzling, because I have outlined that there are major developments in planning. Kellystown has already started and the planning application for Barnhill has already gone in. The vast majority of the Hansfield SDZ has just been completed, so it is now built out. There are 3,000 units in that…

I echo both my colleagues in respect of this issue about which we met with principals last week. I have said this before but previously I worked in school completion in the Coolock area and was based in Darndale. I spent 16 years in that area working with young people in school completion, encouraging, promoting and supporting them to stay in school longer. When you are working with young people for the length of time you are working with them, you see there are huge needs in different areas and schools. Each schoo…

It is very important that we look at what is working. What the principals have told us in the north inner city is that a model has been put in place there to deal with the horrendous situation of the feud in which so many people have been murdered and traumatised. A model has been put in place there so we do not need to reinvent the wheel or undertake trials and studies. The evidence is there. Even the OECD admits that gaps remain in the outcomes for children in areas of high deprivation. We know that on the ground…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “Report on employer pay-related social insurance rebate 3. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on establishing an employer pay-related social insurance rebate scheme to provide support for businesses impacted by the rising minimum wage. The relief relates to full-time employees earning €650 a week or less. The supports should be on a tapered basis ensuring t…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “Report on introducing a pay-related carers benefit payment 4. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on introducing a pay-related carers benefit payment for those people who have to give up work to care for someone. This would ensure that a carer does not see their income fall off a cliff edge and that they see their income protected and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas …

I appreciate that work has been done on it. As the 10% we are talking about still need that support, I will be pressing that amendment.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “Report on introducing the proposed changes to carers allowance means test thresholds from 1 January 2025 4. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on introducing the changes to the income disregards from 1 January 2025 as opposed to July 2025.”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: “Report on extending parent’s leave and benefit 8. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on extending the full duration of parent’s leave and benefit by 4 weeks and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection within 1 month of the passing of this Act.”.:

I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: “Report on introducing a parental bereavement leave and benefit scheme 8. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on introducing a parental bereavement leave and benefit scheme to those parents who experience a stillbirth, set at the weekly rate in line with current maternity and paternity rates for a period of 2 weeks.”.

I prefer "Help the Hallowe'en party" rather than "Trick or treat". It is an old Dublin phrase. Unfortunately, this budget has failed to make the correct and necessary adjustments needed to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable in our society, including carers, children and people with disabilities. I have spoken to many people regarding the budget as, I am sure, has the Minister. There is a general sense that there was a clear attempt by the Government to buy the election. One-off measures are fine for…

In the past few months, I received a message that the Blakestown CDNT in Dublin 15 had informed a parent that her child would not receive services for 72 months. I was so stunned at the date that I asked her if it was in writing, which she confirmed. She dropped the letter up to me. I know the Minister has that letter. Before the CDNT service, we used to have early intervention teams and school age teams. It seems that the change in name has done nothing to provide either early intervention or school supports for a…

In my area Tyrrelstown FC has been trying to resolve this issue for a number of weeks. Up to 50 girls are affected by this debacle. They have been offered the opportunity to play in the north Louth league. However, with a cost-of-living crisis how will teams travel up to Louth from Tyrrelstown every week? I heard today there is a possibility of the issue being resolved in January with a league being opened up. Does the Minister of State have any information on that? This goes to a fundamental issue, namely, that th…

As part of his answer, the Minister of State said more than half the clubs affected now have a resolution, which means the other half does not. It is a disappointing answer. I find it strange that the adults around the table are not looking at solutions to ensure that children can play the sport they want to play. Those adults volunteer their time; it is not a criticism because I have been involved in sport and know the time it takes. The volunteerism is phenomenal. We are renowned for volunteerism. However, when y…

What about the money for the bankers?

This budget is a missed opportunity to deal with some of the lost years of austerity that have caused massive damage in our communities. I have no doubt that everyone who meets community organisations hears them time and again say that we have still not recovered from those years. We hear excuses about why things cannot be done all the time; there is no money or resources and then in the so-called "good times" we hear that it cannot be done now for this reason or that reason - fill in the blanks with whatever excus…

I wish to ask the Minister of State about the number of scramblers seized since 2021 and if he will give a breakdown of the seizures.