It is interesting we are having these statements on the day the Schengen Agreement turns 30. The Schengen area is 30 years in existence today. It started with seven countries and now comprises 25, plus four non-EU countries. It is a union that has made us somewhat complacent about crossing borders because, as part of its operation in the European Union, it makes it very easy for citizens to travel around the European Union. Unfortunately, Ireland is not part of the Schengen area for understandable reasons, given th…

I welcome this Bill. The statute law revision project is hugely valuable which has been going on for more than 20 years. When I worked as legal adviser to Enda Kenny TD, as he was then, when he was leader of Fine Gael in opposition, the first of these Bills, the Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004, which became the Act of 2005, was being dealt with and I had more time to peruse the 18th century and older legislation that were being deleted or expunged by that legislation. It is a hugely important project. To …

This is a matter I raised with the Minister on 4 March by way of a question for written reply. It relates to the mandated requirement for two parents to give consent for certain processes or assessments, even passport applications, in circumstances where one of the parents is either absent or estranged from the family. It can be very difficult for both parents to sign those forms. This disproportionately affects women. Can this be reviewed?

The Minister hit the nail on the head with what he said at the end. Much of the answer relates to the situation set down in law where there is an agreement between parents but that is not the circumstance I am envisaging. For example, if a child needs a medical or educational assessment or the renewal of a passport and one parent is simply not present, it is not a matter that the parents do not agree - one could almost assume that if a parent were present, there would not be a difficulty - it is the notion that a p…

I appreciate that commitment. I will engage with the Minister. I do not know if this is something that is applied in a way that is intransigent by different State agencies. I do not know the answer to that. I also do not know if it is the case, for example, that a parent, now in the situation where a child needs a particular assessment goes to the District Court, can make that application in circumstances where he or she could not serve notice on the other parent of the application being made because there is no co…

Tairgim: Go gceadófar go dtabharfar isteach Bille dá ngairtear Acht chun an Bunreacht a leasú. I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Constitution. Tá mé ag iarraidh cead an Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Mionn Oifige Breithiúnach), 2025 a thabhairt isteach. I seek leave to introduce the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judicial Oath of Office) Bill 2025. This is a short Bill and it addresses the judicial oath of office which is contained in Ar…

Tairgim: “Go dtógfar an Bille in am Comhaltaí Príobháideacha.” I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

We live in an increasingly interconnected world. That is true as much of trade as it is of defence. Listening to some of the contributions today, one would think that for many in opposition this is a cause for regret. In fact, it is something that has benefited Ireland immensely. In the context of trade, for example, being part of the European Union has afforded us an opportunity to really come of age as a country. Since we joined the European Union we have had an opportunity genuinely to bloom as a country, to bec…

I am very glad to be able to make a contribution to the statements on International Women's Day. It is important to recognise the extent to which women contribute, despite the fact that it is more and more difficult for them to contribute, at whatever level it might be. What is also important about these statements is that it is not an opportunity to score political points. I am disappointed that Deputy Réada Cronin chose this opportunity, instead of talking about the actual issues, to start to make political attac…

Instead of selectively and smugly choosing statistics to show how wonderful they are, look at actually-----

I was going to say that laws that are brought in to encourage female participation in politics and gender quotas have definitely achieved results, but they have not addressed the issues that discourage women from getting involved in politics. In that regard, I would much rather see us pursue positive, progressive policies that make it easier for people from every walk of life to get involved in politics and to make it less difficult for them to contribute at that level. In that regard, we definitely have a great de…

Aontaím leis na cainteoirí a dúirt go bhfuil tábhacht a bhaineann leis an teanga náisiúnta agus ár dteanga dhúchais. Ní aontaím leis na ráitis a dúirt go dtiocfaidh bás ar an teanga i gceann 100 bliain nó mar sin. Ní aontaím leis in aon chor, ach is féidir linn a fheiceáil go bhfuil feabhas ag teacht i gcónaí ar an nGaeilge agus an méid daoine a labhraíonn í gach lá, cé nach bhfuil an líon céanna cainteoirí dúchas ann. Tá a fhios agam, agus táim ag labhairt anois mar dhuine arb as Dún Laoghaire dó, ceantar i mBaile…

I congratulate the Minister and wish him the very best in what is a tough role. I welcome the statements that have been made in the Chamber about support for, investment in and resources for An Garda Síochána. However, I was dismayed to hear on the news today that the bulk of new gardaí are going to Dublin city centre. We in Dún Laoghaire need gardaí as well. One of the complaints I hear from people locally is that they do not see gardaí on the beat or the Garda presence in the community that is necessary. Kill O'T…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Oideachais as ucht an t-am seo a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an ábhar seo, atá thar a bheith tábhachtach domsa. Mar is eol dúinn go léir, ní gnáthrud é go mbeadh seans ag cúlbhinseoir Rialtais labhairt ar Ghnó Príobháideach de chuid an Fhreasúra. Gabhaim buíochas freisin le Sinn Féin as a chuid ama a thabhairt chun an cheist seo a phlé. Aithním go háirithe an Teachta Ó Snodaigh ní hamháin as an méid a dúirt sé anocht, ach as an obair atá déanta aige le blianta anois ar son na Gaeilge, ch…

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na hAirí. Go n-éirí an bheirt acu leis na poist atá acu. Baineann an cheist atá agam le sábháilteacht phaisinéirí ar iompar poiblí. What plans or measures are in place to protect passengers' safety on public transport?

I do not have to ask my constituents about this because I get the bus myself. The lack of a ministerial car means I have to get the E2. I was about to say the 46A but it is the E2 now. I appreciate what the Minister said. I presume it is not planned to have a transport security force person on every bus, DART or Luas. Are there other measures that could be put in place? I think of DART stations. In many DART stations, there is only one entrance. In Dún Laoghaire, you have to enter at the south end of the platform d…

I agree with what the Minister said. There is an ancillary issue. Obviously, my question contemplates personal safety in the context of the antisocial behaviour and criminality the Minister referred to, but a lady in Glasthule raised an issue with me today regarding the difference in the style of driving between different bus drivers depending on whether they were trained by Bus Átha Cliath or Go-Ahead. I do not know if the Minister has any information about the training regimes that are in operation but if the ane…

Is í mo cheist chun an Aire inniu ná faoin tábhacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeloideachas, na Gaelcholáistí agus Gaelscoileanna a chur chun cinn. I am wondering about the Minister's views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaeloideachas, Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. I ask her to make a statement on the matter.

I appreciate both the Minister's commitment and the commitment in the programme for Government to Gaeloideachas. There is a huge need. The Minister referred to providing more Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand for it. I assure her there is demand for it, and I will come back to that in a second. There are, as far as I know, only 79 Gaelcholáistí in the country and 291 Gaelscoileanna. We only have two Gaelscoileanna and two Gaelcholáistí in my constituency of Dún Laoghaire, namely Coláiste Íosagá…

That is exactly the issue that has led me to ask this question, namely the criteria and how the Department assesses whether there is a demand. In my constituency, as I said there are two Gaelcholáistí colocated, Coláiste Íosagáin and Coláiste Eoin, but there is an enormous demand because although there are only two Gaelscoileanna in the adjacent areas - it must be remembered that in Dublin constituencies there are more condensed geographic areas - there is a demand for secondary education trí mheán na Gaeilge. In C…