This is ludicrous.

If there could be a bit of latitude, half a minute would not go astray.

A Cheann Comhairle, I will just make a comment with regard to the loss to the Exchequer resulting from illicit tobacco products coming into our State-----

-----because of the excessive prices of legal products here.

The Ceann Comhairle will recall me speaking in this House on many occasions-----

-----with regard to illicit fuel products coming from paramilitary organisations-----

-----and others involved in the illicit trade. Unfortunately, as Deputy Carthy said, we now have illicit tobacco products that are inferior in quality coming into the country. I am totally opposed to smoking. I have never smoked in my life, and I am totally opposed to tobacco products-----

-----but I think we are making a huge mistake-----

-----increasing the price incrementally all the time-----

-----because that is leading to an increase in the amount of illicit product coming into this State.

The Minister will be aware that adult education classes have been extremely important for a huge number of learners on an annual basis. They have enabled people to develop skills and obtain qualifications that literally changed their lives. In Cavan-Monaghan, thanks to the good work of the education and training boards, ETBs, over many years, we have had active and dynamic programmes. Unfortunately, a number of the planned autumn programmes in adult education in Cavan and Monaghan have been deferred. ETBs were enco…

I compliment the Minister on the initiatives she has taken to try to improve online safety. Practically every casual conversation today ends up discussing social media and the damage it is doing, particularly to children. When engaging with teachers, they express serious concerns about the prevalence and proliferation of the use of social media and its harmful effects. We also need to address the issue of online anonymity. I understand that, when the Minister established Coimisiún na Meán, she asked it to research …

I thank the Minister for her reply. I hope that she, along with other members of the Government, will give a strong and clear message to the various companies today that they have serious obligations to address as strongly as possible cyberbullying and to eliminate hate and harmful content on their social media platforms. My understanding is that Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for drafting an online safety code. This code will be crucial for reducing user exposure to harmful online content. The consultation and r…

I understand from people who are much more familiar with and have much greater knowledge of social media than me that, as part of the online safety code, a ban on recommender system algorithms should be considered. These systems collect and analyse sensitive data of social media users. This data is then used to determine what content those users see. Recommender system algorithms are spreading misinformation and disinformation and, in some cases, inciting hatred and violence, as the Minister mentioned. Due to these…

In recent budgets, the Government quite rightly introduced a number of measures to help families deal with the increased costs of living. At this time of year there are huge financial pressures on many families who have a student or students attending further and higher education. The Government introduced once-off student contribution supports and a rental tax credit. I sincerely hope such measures will be part of budget 2025 as such support is required by many students and their families. The Taoiseach may recall…

This Saturday, 13 July, will mark the fourth anniversary of the disappearance in Portugal of Jean Tighe. Jean is a member of a very highly regarded family who have been friends of mine over many years. Very understandably, Jean's loving family are distraught and have been at their wits' end over her disappearance. Those concerns are shared by their many friends in the community in Cavan and neighbouring areas. To put it mildly, the investigation into Jean's disappearance has been totally inadequate. It is simply ju…

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The last time we discussed Northern Ireland here, I referred to the his attendance and participation at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly plenary meeting in Wicklow. One of the issues that I raised, which I said was a message from British members, was that they wanted more senior members of the British Government to participate in the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the British-Irish Council. The Taoiseach mentioned in some of his weekend interviews that he…

I very much welcome the strong message that the shared island initiative will continue to identify more investment opportunities on a cross-Border and all-Ireland basis, and quite rightly. The Ulster Canal project would not have proceeded without funding from the shared island initiative. We have so much potential in the whole area of waterways development, allied to the Shannon-Erne Waterway. About two years ago, the then Tánaiste launched a number of feasibility studies that are currently under way by local autho…

Very useful work has been carried out under the minor flood mitigation works scheme, which deals particularly with localised flooding. It is small-scale funding provided at national level and has made a difference to householders and local communities. However, the criteria are restrictive and I hope the Minister would be in a position to have the criteria and conditions pertaining to the scheme loosened or improved. It could make a huge difference to many householders, particularly in rural communities where there…

I thank the Minister of State for his answer and I sincerely hope the review can be completed shortly. Obviously, when the Department is disbursing public money, there has to be a cost-benefit ratio but one thing that concerns me is that in assessing the merit of flood relief schemes, not enough consideration is given to sparsely populated areas and to roads and arterial routes that may have relatively low levels of traffic. We may have a local road but that is the motorway for the local community. I know criteria …