I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me once again to bring this issue before the House, and I thank the Minister of State for coming in to answer the question. I accept that he is not the line Minister responsible but he has been helpful in the past in dealing with this matter. I bring it to the attention of the House once again to ensure that access to Castletown House, a protected historic mansion and a huge tourist and local amenity, can be preserved for present and future gene…

I appreciate the Minister of State's, dedication to the cause and appreciate it is in our mutual interest that the matter be resolved satisfactorily. Towns in his constituency, such as Kilcloon and Dunboyne, as well as Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth and the surrounding areas, where there are large populations, have a huge requirement for outdoor events and a huge dedication to the concept of Castletown House being used for present and future generations in the pursuit of an amenity, for historical and tourism reasons…

With your help, a Cheann Comhairle.

Hear hear.

As we come into the middle of the winter, a most severe time for colds and flus, a special effort might be made to ensure that people, particularly the vulnerable, who may have been through Covid or have had flu experiences, will avail of opportunities to get their shots for Covid and flu as soon as possible.

I warmly welcome this Bill and thank the Minister for her determination in bringing it this far. The Ceann Comhairle can take a lot of credit for allowing the discussion that brought about this situation to take place. Legislators cannot legislate, even for the courts, unless they can discuss the legislation in the Legislature. I therefore thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing that debate to take place in the House to highlight the needs. It is hoped the Bill will be a landmark Bill that addresses issues of unfair…

Will the Minister indicate the extent, if any, to which intervention on behalf of children is restricted where those children are the subject matter of litigation in the family law courts? Has the in camera rule restricted the ability of Tusla to intercede on their behalf?

All my comments are brief. While the work the Minister is doing in the Department with respect to youth and youth federations, such as Foróige etc, is acknowledged, is it accepted that the needs and demand are increasing in this regard? There are more challenges facing youth. Is the Minister satisfied he has sufficient resources to meet those challenges in the future?

This question seeks to ascertain and encourage investment in jobs in the services and manufacturing sectors throughout the regions in order to continue to achieve balanced growth throughout the country.

I thank the Minister for his exceptionally comprehensive reply and confirming the Government policy and his continued support for the thrust of what he said. To what degree is cognisance taken of the threats to jobs in the various regions, including the region in which we stand at the moment? To what degree is his Department cognisant of changes in the marketplace and how they might affect different areas? What action is being taken - I know the Minister is active in this regard - to identify those areas, with a vi…

I thank the Minister for his further reply. To what extent does his Department continue to monitor protectionism and the impact it might have on jobs and investment in this country? I refer to protectionism not just throughout Europe but globally. To what extent can the Minister influence Europe towards rediscovery of the principles of Europe, which seem to have become faded in recent times?

I thank the Minister.

Hear, hear.

I welcome the introduction of the Bill to the House. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I well know, we have had exchanges over the past couple of years on this issue. I congratulate her on allowing it to be discussed in the House. I welcome in particular the role of the Ceann Comhairle in this. He and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle are to be commended for allowing a legitimate debate to take place in the House, notwithstanding the separation of powers to which reference was made by the previous speaker, but recognising t…

I thank the Minister.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle, and I also thank for him allowing me to raise it on these many occasions, given the number of other important issues that have been decided on. I welcome the Minister of State to the House to reply to the question. First, I will speak to the significance of Castletown House historically in respect of the administration of power, as a seat of Parliament and its relevance to this House, being the residence of the speaker of the Irish Parliament once upon a time, and the fact that it has c…

And the Ceann Comhairle.

Good.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is not the reply I was expecting. That is not a criticism of the Minister of State but a recognition that there are obstacles along the way somewhere. Regardless of those obstacles, I am convinced that the question has to be established and answered as to whether or not the State has the right to go to and from its own property without anybody’s wayleave or say so. If the State has to get permission from somebody else in order to get to its own property, its own house…

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the next weekly division time on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.