Last week, the Minister, Deputy Foley, announced an increase in core funding for family resource centres. That is an important and welcome initiative. Ten new community centres will come under the funding stream of family resource centres and their core funding will increase. That, too, is welcome and important. We all know how important community centres and family resource centres are across the country. One centre that was not successful in securing this funding and designation as a family resource centre was Ri…

Will it take long?

All right. Yes.

Before I call Senator Maria Byrne, I welcome St. Eunan's College, Letterkenny, guests of Deputy Mac Lochlainn. They are very welcome. I understand they will not have homework for the rest of the week, so that is a positive. I also welcome the two guests of Deputy Sherlock. They will have to do their homework though. They are very welcome.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the delegation and wish them well in their new group. Two days ago, on bank holiday Monday just gone, there was a sulky race of up to six sulkies on Dollymount Strand. A young horse carrying a foal was part of the race. On its way back towards Ballyfermot on the N4, the horse collapsed from exhaustion. The poor horse was given the name "Anne" by the amazing staff and volunteers in My Lovely Horse Rescue. The poor horse had severe and deep wounds and was seen skidding along the ground for 30 m to 40 m. Ann…

Before we get under way, I welcome those in the scout group to the Gallery. They are very welcome. They do not have to tie any knots for the rest of the week as encouragement for having come in.

The outcome of the December EU Fisheries Council represents nothing short of a catastrophe for Ireland's fishing industry and for the coastal communities that depend on it. This deal is a betrayal of fishermen, processors, families and entire ports whose livelihoods are now hanging by a thread. According to the Seafood Ireland Alliance, Ireland will have 57,000 tonnes less of a quota to fish in 2026. This will deliver a direct hit of €94 million to the industry. When wider economic impacts are considered, the damag…

For more than 60 years, the Cuban people have been the victims of an unjust and malicious economic blockade by the United States, which intends to punish Cuba for not bowing down to the US Government. This blockade has been thoroughly condemned by the UN General Assembly, which essentially votes every year to mandate the United States to end its blockade. It is just another example of the dismantling of international law and institutions. More than three decades after the first resolution of the United Nations Gene…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. The programme to develop family resource centres is very welcome, as is the increase in core funding for the various resource centres across the country. They do immense work. In 2025, Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre applied to be designated a family resource centre, and submitted a very strong application. It was unsuccessful at the time, but was told that its application will remain under active consideration should further funding be secured. Ringsend and Iris…

I thank the Minister of State. We all agree that the family resource centre model is fantastic. For the Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre, it would secure the centre's footprint in the community. It would allow and enable the centre to develop and expand services to meet the needs of a community that is developing and will develop over the next ten years. The Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre is an important hub. It has a youth group as well, namely, the RICCYS youth centre. It has multiple schemes and …

I second the amendment. Katie Taylor is one of Ireland's greatest ever athletes and she is a huge source of inspiration for people, especially young women across the country. Katie Taylor is an Irish sporting icon. She has often said that fighting at Croke Park and ending her career in front of her home fans is one of her ultimate dreams, so it is hugely disappointing that the Government will not back and invest in making her dream a reality. It is the least she deserves. This is despite the fact that the Governmen…

Katie Taylor is an icon for sport and for women. The Government should, at the very least, make a serious effort to deliver a big fight in Croke Park that the Irish people want.

We are disappointed that the amendments have been ruled out of order. Sinn Féin will be tabling further amendments on later Stages of this Bill. Sinn Féin supports strong action to improve air quality. Cleaner air saves lives. It reduces respiratory illnesses, protects children’s health and improves quality of life for communities across the State. There is no disagreement about the need to tackle air pollution. The question is how we do it and who bears the cost of that transition. If we get the balance wrong and …

I thank the Minister of State. I referenced rural communities, but I would like to highlight another aspect of the Bill that he might clarify. Residents living in flat complexes like Pearse House or Markiewicz House cannot retrofit or insulate their flats. The local authority has to do it for them, but that is just not going to happen in the next 20 years. They are living in conditions where the windows are rattling, the doors are thin and sometimes cannot be closed and when they swell up they cannot be opened. Hon…

The Department and the local authority are probably engaging with each other. However, they are not engaging with the residents who live in these flat complexes. Within minutes of here, we could walk to St. Andrew's Court, Leo Fitzgerald House, Macken Street, Macken Villas, Conway Court, Pearse House, Markiewicz House, Glovers Court, York Street or Mercer Street Upper. That encompasses thousands of residents and thousands of families living in conditions where there is no airtightness. The local authority does not …

I agree with the Cathaoirleach's moving tribute to and for Brian Crowley. Brian was only 61. I knew him pretty well and I always found him really committed, energetic and passionate about his constituents, his community and people in general. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family on his passing. Renters in this country are being abused every day by our broken housing system. Rents are sky high and the quality of properties is often in the gutter. On average, a one-bedroom apartment goes for more than €2,000 …

I join in the Christmas wishes. I thank all the staff in the Seanad for their support and patience with me and everyone. I thank the Deputy Leader, Senator O'Loughlin, and the Leader, Senator Kyne, for their patience. A lot of patience is required. I thank everyone. I also thank the ushers, who are always very supportive and kind. While we are getting a break, it is important to remember homeless families here, in the West Bank and Gaza in Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan. I encourage people to make a small donation at…

I welcome this debate this morning as the Oireachtas rises for the Christmas break. I understand there is a constitutional requirement for this Bill as it legislates for the financial resolutions, which include all the Estimates agreed by the Dáil this year, and Sinn Féin will be supporting it. This Bill is important to ensure the funding of the State’s public administration in 2026 and the various services funded by each Department and each agency within these Departments. It also enables the continuation of the S…