The horrific and brutal stabbings that took place in Dublin last week merit our absolute and total condemnation. To brutally attack children and a crèche worker in such a manner offends every instinct we have as civilised people. It was a grotesque act of savage violence. I want to commend the heroic actions of Wicklow man, Warren Donohoe, who was visiting Dublin with his family for his daughter Abigail’s birthday when he tackled the alleged assailant and removed the knife from him. I also want to acknowledge the b…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important matter this evening. First, I would like to express my surprise over how the issues involving the changes to the triple lock were announced last week. The Tánaiste, in a lengthy speech to a virtually empty Dáil, confirmed one of the most significant and far-reaching changes to Irish foreign policy in almost 30 years. That could have been organised more substantively. To give the Tánaiste the benefit of the doubt, I believe he genuinely thinks his proposal is in I…

Has the Minister of State engaged with Waterways Ireland or the ESB with respect to mitigation measures to address flooding issues on the River Shannon? What input has his Department had into advancing the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020?

I thank the Minister of State for his response. He will be aware that there are ongoing issues in the Shannon Callows. He mentioned that no work can take place because of the habitats directive. What is the response? Are the MEPs from Government parties trying to raise this issue in Brussels to try to get it resolved? We cannot have a situation where farmers and landowners see the same thing happen year in, year out, not only in winter, but also in summer. I would like to know what progress has been made. What is h…

With respect, shortly is not good enough. When will the proposal be brought to the Government? People need certainty. The Save Our Shannon Organisation has consistently highlighted this matter on behalf of farmers and landowners. There is a lot of frustration. Shortly does not cut it. We need a timeframe. It is not good enough. I need to give certainty to my constituents. The situation needs urgent action. What are Government party MEPs doing about raising the matter in Brussels to try to get past the habitats dire…

I understand that, but I am asking about his input. There are MEPs from the Government parties and we need a co-ordinated effort.

Sorry.

I specifically asked about the Minister of State's party.

That is not good enough

I asked a specific question.

I know all about the project.

Earlier this year, the Department received a report from a Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, working group containing a proposal about the creation of a national relocation scheme in which teachers could identify locations where they would like to teach and swap with colleagues in those locations. In response to a parliamentary question I submitted to her some time ago, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, outlined that there was a meeting between Department officials and TUI representatives and that the proposa…

It is Government policy to promote and protect Irish exports and imports. The haulage sector needs a properly functioning, and more importantly, very reliable Revenue customs system. Unfortunately, in the past number of months, Revenue's online automated export system and automated import system, AES and AIS as they are known, have routinely dropped creating very long delays and additional and unacceptable costs for hauliers at ports, meaning they cannot have their goods cleared and approved. Hauliers have highligh…

The housing crisis and escalating rates of homelessness have been a constant feature of this Government's term of office from the beginning. We have had endless debates here and heard the pleas of families for affordable and social housing along with the alarm bells sounded by the Simon Community and many other homelessness organisations for years. We have also seen scheme after scheme being announced, only in some cases for those schemes to be found to be little more than a charade. In July 2022, the Minister laun…

I ask the Minister if dribble bar slurry tanks will be included in grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter

I thank the Minister for his response. I recently met with representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association, who discussed the issue of the dribble bar and the fact that grant aid needs to be increased. They were saying the use of the dribble bar actually does help reduce emissions, and there is substantial research to support that. While the increase in the grant aid for the trailing shoe has been welcomed by some farmers whom that suits, there are other farmers with small and medium-sized holdings who may not ha…

My concern is the can could be kicked down the road on this. I hope that is not the case. I ask the Minister to give absolute certainty to farmers that this research will definitely be concluded by the opening of the next TAMS. Will the Minister give certainty regarding that? It is important because we have to make sure also that we have practical measures in place. It is my understanding that the trailing shoe costs in excess of €50,000. Not every farming family with high input costs will have that type of money, …

I am sure the Tánaiste will agree with me that those who have, unfortunately, received a cancer diagnosis do not have the luxury of time while multi-annual budgets are introduced or efficiencies are found in health spending. This is true at the medical end of the spectrum also and it is true with respect to the excellent community support organisations that often accompany cancer patients and their families through what is often one of the most stressful and difficult times in a person's life. That is why today I h…

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I acknowledge he has said he would be open to asking the Minister for a review. That is absolutely crucial here. There is so much frustration about the inequity of the funding. Two other groups in the same CHO were able to qualify for section 39 funding, which is welcome, yet Dóchas was not. Its staff do incredible work, without doubt, and they are badly needed in the county and beyond. They do fantastic work and need support. I understand only a small sum, in the grand scale …

To an increasing number of people, this Government is making the issues of road safety and the criminalisation of road users, especially drivers, almost identical but they are not. We know from the National Household Travel Survey that almost seven in ten, or 69%, of all road trips are made by car. In that context, the number of safety issues that can be attributed to the careless actions of drivers is extremely low. If anything, more of the safety issues that arise can be attributed to poor road conditions, low vi…