I join Deputy McCormack in extending my thoughts and prayers to the lady who was injured in the attack. I wish her a speedy recovery. Deputy McCormack's point in relation to Garda resources in Edenderry and Offaly is massively important. I understand that at the end of October, there were 399 gardaí assigned to the Laois-Offaly Garda division, a 45% increase on ten years ago. They are also supported by 51 Garda staff who provide really important support to gardaí and free them up to focus on front-line policing dut…

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. I thank the Senator for raising this in such a constructive and coherent manner, and for explaining the challenges and the request for change. People affected by illegal birth registrations have raised a number of concerns with Department officials about aspects of Part 9 of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022. The Senator will be aware that Part 9 amended the Civil Registration Act 2004 to allow an tÁrd-Chl…

I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this issue today. The climate action plan includes targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating, BER, of B2, cost optimal, and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by the end of this decade. The national retrofit plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving those targets. The programme for Government 2025 contains a number of commitments in relation to retrofitting. They …

I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality is committed to taking steps to ameliorate the long-lasting trauma experienced by many people who were subject to illegal birth registrations, including amending and improving the legislation to address affected people's concerns. As I said, work on the matter is well advanced, with the public consultation process due to commence early in the new year. There is an open door at the Department in relation to…

I will relay the urgency of the need to increase the capacity to the Minister and the Department as a result of this debate. As I indicated in my previous contribution, we have seen a significant increase in the number of applicants. The number has gone from 3,000 homes in 2021 to 13,500 in 2024. There has been a massive increase in the number of applicants, which is obviously putting on pressure by way of demand. It is important that the capacity to deal with that and to deliver on this scheme matches the demand l…

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I thank the Senator for raising the matter and for explaining the need for the project so succinctly. She is raising the importance of, and necessity, for a second bridge for Newbridge linking the Great Connell Road and the Athgarvan Road over the River Liffey. The Senator will also be aware, as outlined in the 2025 regional and local roads programme, that the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing road network. As we all know, th…

I thank the Deputy. I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, to outline to the Dáil the current position of the joint school project for St. John Bosco Junior Boys School, St. John Bosco Senior Boys School and Mary, Help of Christians Girls National School in Dublin 7. The joint school building project the Deputy outlined the background of will deliver two new 16-classroom primary schools, with additional classrooms for children with special education…

I will certainly relay to the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, the fact that the Senator raised this, and the urgent need for progress regarding the south orbital route in particular and the development of the bridge. I will also seek a further update from the Department in respect of the progress report on the business case and as much information it can provide in relation to the next steps on this. The Senator has clearly outlined the significant traffic challenges as a result of the congestion at present…

I certainly will bring that back to the Department and to the Minister and the Deputy’s emphasis on the urgency of moving this project on. I know that whenever three schools are brought together for one project like this, it is a big commitment on behalf of all three schools. It is not easy to keep everybody on the one page and it is important the project keeps moving. I will reflect back to the Department and the Minister the full content of what the Deputy has been saying. As I said in my previous response, the D…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Black as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thabhairt chun cinn. This Government places really strong value on culture and the arts sector. As outlined in the programme for Government, we recognise that the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. As the Seanadóir is aware, the Complex is a multidisciplinary arts and creative venue in Dublin's north inner city governed by a not-for-profit company limited by g…

I thank Senator Black for highlighting the Complex's current situation. As outlined, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport provides grants as a contribution towards maintaining and enhancing existing arts and culture facilities but does not provide funding for the purchase of buildings. The Minister strengthened funding for arts capital in the recent budget, with €6 million allocated for a new funding programme for arts and culture centres that is planned to be launched next year. We are acutely aware…

On behalf of the Minister for agriculture and the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, I thank Deputy Whitmore for bringing forward this Bill and for her many contributions in relation to it. The Department has committed to making a difference around dog control, breeding and welfare. The Minister also wishes to emphasise that this timed amendment, as put forward, is focused on providing sufficient time to allow for existing processes that have been in train for some time to come to fruition. This is also about ensu…

I thank the Members of the House for bringing this through the House today. I am bringing these motions before the Houses of the Oireachtas on behalf of the Minister for Finance, requesting resolutions to approve the following regulations in draft: the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) (Revocation) Scheme 2025 and the Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Revocation) Scheme 2025. The Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act, 2008 was enacted on 2 October and this provided the Minister for F…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the three spokespeople for their contributions to the discussion. I will summarise the key points that have emerged and place them in a clear and factual context. It is clear that Ireland's banking landscape has undergone profound change in recent years. The regulatory framework of the banking sector has changed significantly over the past decade, driven both by domestic and European legislation. This has included a material strengthening of banking regulation, which can be attri…

I thank all Members of the House who have contributed with substantive points throughout the debate and discussion this afternoon on a significant and important topic in the times we live in. As the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, said in his opening statement, the online safety of our children and young people is a top priority for the Government and all of us. We all want our children to enjoy themselves online, be able to connect with people and find out about the world they live in, so it is essential we make sure …

I welcome this Bill. It will deliver some much-needed changes to the original legislation. It is unfortunate it has taken a year to get to this point. That is longer than it should have taken. I worked hard at Cabinet on securing the decision in October 2024 that whenever the new rates came in, they would be applied retrospectively. It has taken 12 months for that to come to the Dáil in this legislation. One of the frustrations of the implementation and development of the defective block legislation and schemes in …

It is a good job you are not in government.

It has been two and a half years since Sinn Féin promised its own legislation. It is a good job that Deputy O'Reilly is not in government.

What have you done, Deputy O'Reilly?

What-----