I acknowledge the wisdom of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in the work they have done and in putting forward the views of the Irish people, as they correctly saw them, at international fora. That is of great importance at a time of war. It is equally important for all of us in this House to be even-handed in the way we treat such issues. While something may seem like an atrocity to some people, it may not seem like an atrocity to somebody else. I particularly point out that, following the attack by Hamas two weeks ago …

Given the appalling vista that now opens up in the Middle East and the continuous conflict between all sides, I ask the Tánaiste if it might now be an opportunity - a tragic opportunity but one nonetheless - for Ireland to make a particular case to the international community, through the United Nations, the EU and wherever, to set up a permanent structure in situ in the Middle East to which all sides could go with their grievances as they occur because the lack of such a structure now leaves nothing except the har…

I welcome the budget and I thank both the Ministers who presented it and all the other Ministers who made their contributions to it throughout the year. I will not spend too much time talking about the refrains that come from the Opposition at times like this when there is a call for more, and whatever it was, and when would you like it? Now. Of course, it inevitably comes to that. Then there is the question of the missed opportunities. We hear this every year about the missed opportunities - should have done more;…

That concludes our debate. We thank all those who have contributed as well as those who have attended in the Public Gallery.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Gino Kenny - To discuss the medical cannabis access programme and its potential expansion to other conditions. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss secondary school places in Greystones, County Wicklow. Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss deteriorating public bus services in County Meath. Deputy Chris Andrews - To discuss the recommendations of the re…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue again and the Minister of State for coming in to answer questions in the House. I raise the matter on this occasion to ensure the focus remains on the vital issues surrounding access to Castletown House, Celbridge, in my constituency, and the future of the house, which is a stately mansion of historic significance. It is significant architecturally and in terms of local amenities and tourism. It has an historical link with this House because the Speake…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. While discussions continue to take place, they have not been successful to date. It is opportune at this stage for the State to seek a temporary injunction to gain the access the Minister of State referred to in his reply from the M4 to the estate, including the estate house and the 227 acres the State already owns. It is not an unreasonable request. It does not in any way impact on the adjoining landowner who will continue to have full access to the road, as is his righ…

The Select Committee on Health has completed its consideration of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 and has made amendments thereto.

This question relates to the very welcome reforms that the Minister is proposing to take regarding family law reform. There is a need for an urgency greater than we have anticipated up to now. I ask the Minister to accelerate the programme to meet the needs of the situation.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I recognise that the end of the year is a particular landmark. The question I am trying to pursue is the extent, if any, to which the Minister of State can intervene to speed up the process. This would bring on board certain aspects of the proposals to ensure that the issues referred to by many in this House are addressed. I refer to the fact that children are forcibly removed from their parents, mostly women who are mothers, but from some men. This creates a situation w…

I am asking this question on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Dillon. It relates to the extent to which the Minister proposes to ensure the strengthening of community policing in County Mayo.

Given the impact of Covid, which is fully understood, is it possible to indicate how deployments will be prioritised? For instance, are crime levels and security fears likely to benefit from an early response in terms of strengthening policing?

Might it be possible to increase the number of people entering Templemore and bring them onto the streets faster than we have been able to do heretofore?

This question relates to the extent to which the existing commuter rail services can be improved by way of adding extra carriages in order to ensure that greater and effective methods are used to bring more passengers to their destinations in a quick and efficient way.

I thank the Minister for his reply. Might particular consideration be given to convenience for the commuter? That is a major consideration. I am referring to the length of time in which a number of passengers can be taken from point A to point B. I also ask the Minister to consider the extent to which passengers boarding trains in the furthest region of the commute in the morning find that there is standing room only after only three or four stations. This can be dealt with in the short term by way of extra carriag…

I thank the Minister for his reply. I also ask that there be a better level of co-ordination and co-operation between the road and rail services in order to ensure that commuters are transported from point A to point B in the most efficient and effective manner. I ask the Minister to be conscious of the need to ensure that passengers arrive on time. It should not be necessary for people to get up at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. in order to get to a destination when their journey should only take one quarter of the time. In tha…

This question relates to the discussions that have taken place between the public and private authorities in relation to the utilisation and cross-utilisation of the various services in order to bring about an improvement and convenience to the users.

I have a supplementary question. What is the Minister's opinion on the extent of the progress at this stage? Is it adequate to meet the obvious requirements? I ask him to comment on the utilisation of those areas that are in private ownership which could be utilised in co-operation with the public need to avail of every possible opportunity to improve the facilities at the station.

I ask the Minister to comment on the extent to which discussions are taking place, or have taken place, between the public and private sector actors, with a view to creating shorter journey times for commuters. The quicker a traveller gets from point A to point B at a station will hugely determine at what time that traveller gets to his or her workplace, as the case may be.

I want to bring to the attention of An Tánaiste the importance of the issue of Castletown House, Celbridge, County Kildare, where the Office of Public Works, OPW, which is the owner of Castletown House and 230 acres or so of land, has been denied access by virtue of the actions of an adjoining landowner who is now the owner of the right of way. Neither the public nor the OPW will have a right of access unless immediate action is taken at whatever level possible, either through Kildare County Council separately or w…