Before I begin, I too offer my sympathies to the Doyle family. The loss of a child is always devastating. I welcome the Bill. Safety on our tracks and level crossings is always paramount. I will focus my contribution on two points, which concern the safety on our trains and platforms. The first is about overcrowding. We are fortunate in County Louth as we have seen an increase in services between Dublin and Belfast. We will see the introduction of new carriages that will transport more than 400 people per service. …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic. Listening to some of the debate, there seems to be a muddying of the waters as to what we are proposing in relation to citizenship and then the discussion in regards to migration. Ireland has always been a welcoming nation. However, over the last couple of years, we have realised that we need to have a firm and fair system to deal with the challenges coming down the line. Through the work of the Government and its Ministers, reforms have been implemented and we are …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill as it goes to the very heart of our democracy. It concerns freedom of expression, the right of citizens to speak out on matters of public interest and the ability of journalists, campaigners, whistleblowers and community activists to hold those with deep pockets to account without fear of being dragged into costly and intimidating legal proceedings. We all recognise that every person has the right to their good name and reputation. Indeed, it is enshrined in our Const…

I want to raise concerns regarding the future of the WALK PEER programme and the potential loss of vital transition supports when current funding comes to an end in December 2026. The programme supports young people with intellectual disabilities and autism as they move from school into further education, training and employment, helping them to achieve greater independence and better life opportunities. The programme operates in ten partner schools across the country, including St. Ita’s in Drogheda, St. Brigid’s …

I thank the Minister of State. In that reply, there seems to be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and some hope that funding will be found. We have young people who are halfway through a programme that could suddenly come to an end in December. At the very least, they must be allowed to participate until June in order to finish that course. The Minister of State mentioned that special schools would come under the wing of the NCSE but what about those post-primary schools that have provided this programme and …

There is still a significant amount of women of older generations who are not eligible for State contributory pensions despite having made PSRI contributions through employment during their working lives but who do not have a sufficient contribution record to qualify for a pension when they come of pensionable age. Is the Minister considering any further measures to recognise these periods spent outside of the workforce due to family responsibilities or a caring role?

I acknowledge the measures that have been introduced over recent years, including the homemakers scheme, home caring periods and long-term carer's contributions. They are positive developments and help to ensure that caring work receives greater recognition within the pension scheme. However, some women from older generations are not benefiting fully from these reforms because they had already reached the pension age before many of these measures were introduced or because they do not have the minimum level of paid…

I thank the Minister for offering to look at this in more detail, including specific cases. These women, for decades, did everything that society asked them to do. They worked, stayed at home and took care of their children and other family members. It is really important because it is that cohort of older women, who in many cases could be our own mothers, who do not have their own financial independence. It is maybe means-tested or linked to their spouses' entitlements. That is really unfair and when we talk about…

They did not quite get through to the final. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon's Mayo beat them.

It was a wonderful achievement.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Garda Síochána Bill, which represents an important step in ensuring that our policing laws are fit for purpose in a modern Ireland. The Bill seeks to provide a clear framework for Garda stop-and-search powers, the execution of search warrants, the handling of electronic evidence and the rights of persons in custody. As a TD for County Louth, I hear every day from constituents who want to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. They want to know that An Garda Síoc…

I thank the Minister for the updates. It is important to note that there is going to be more extensive engagement with students. I recently met a group of students from County Louth. We had a lively, truthful and open conversation, particularly with the boys who are attending all-boys schools. They were honest about the fact that they are very much in the dark about what consent means and how they are supposed to behave. Peer pressure also plays a large role in this. They need guidance, and they were very much call…

I, too, welcome the scoping exercise in relation to the allegations of sexual abuse made against Michael Shine. Like the Tánaiste, I was struck by the words of the victims and survivors in noting that finally, they had been heard. I was also struck by their saying that finally, they had been believed. Imagine, after 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years, coming out with words like "I now finally have been believed". That is quite incredible. I thank Dignity4Patients and praise the courage of the victims and survivors. They h…

I thank the Minister for that information and join her in congratulating the Lourdes hospital for getting on top of the issue of waiting lists and for the good work all the staff are doing, led by the new general manager. It goes to show that when there is good management, will and the ability to reduce waiting lists, we can make progress. As the Minister pointed out, they are doing nearly 20% more elective surgeries than last year but the level of staffing is the same. While this is a great success story, I wonder…

Our Lady of Lourdes serves about 360,000 people in its catchment area at the moment and I believe that is growing rapidly. Going back to the idea that it is effectively a model 4 hospital while being classed as model 3, there is a case for looking at and expanding the services in Our Lady of Lourdes and making it a model 4 hospital. Looking at a map of where model 4 hospitals are in the country, we have them in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and Kilkenny for some services. There is a gap in the north ea…

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.

Will the Minister provide an update on the national tourism strategy, particularly with regard to the timelines and funding that will be required to enhance our food tourism sector?

It is great that 34% of tourism funding is directed towards food and drink, but that also highlights the scope we have to develop it even further. As a result, I welcome this strategy. However, a strategy is only as good as its implementation. As the Minister saw last Monday when he came to launch the Louth tourism strategy, we in County Louth have so much to offer. People can have oysters in Carlingford. They can go to The Glyde Inn in Annagassan and have all the fish delicacies we have to offer in County Louth. T…

The Minister is exactly right. We have food and drink of the highest quality produced at a local level by great producers in County Louth. The core element to producing this food and drink is our farmers. Our farmers are struggling at the moment, particularly those in the tillage sector. I call on the Minister to co-ordinate and co-operate with the Minister for agriculture to ensure that from beginning to end, the chain is able to sustain a long-term food tourism strategy in County Louth and across the country. Wit…

Like everybody else in this House, I would have had loved to have plenty of time to speak to my amendment, which is No. 20. Out of respect to Deputy Gannon, who I presume is going to want to speak on this, I am going to be quite brief and to try to contain myself to two minutes. Amendment No. 20 very much reflects Deputy Kelly's amendment, which was also reflective of my thoughts on counselling notes right from the very outset. It also reflects the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It essentially is looking for a halfway …