Seanad Éireann has passed the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 without amendment.

The Government has made several welcome efforts to cushion families from the increase in energy prices caused by Russia's war on Ukraine and Putin's attempt to use gas and oil as strategic weapons against the West. In April, the Minister committed to introducing a scheme to offer solar panels to people with high energy usage due to a medical need or to elderly people at risk of energy poverty. As he is aware, I raised this issue with him last month by way of a parliamentary question. It was confirmed at that stage …

I welcome this legislation, which updates the substitute consent regime provided in the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Bill's purpose is essentially to streamline the substitute consent procedure in the planning system. Streamlining of the substitute consent regime is required to increase the efficiency and utility of the process in order to safeguard confidence in the Irish planning system by eliminating a surplus step in the substitute consent process. It will also ensure that the system is fully in compl…

I thank the Tánaiste for introducing this legislation, which provides legal protection for workers in respect of tips and gratuities. It will mean any tips received cannot be counted towards an employee's basic pay; they must be counted as additional and separate. The treatment of tips and gratuities has been a long-standing issue that is regularly raised by employees and trade unions. Historically, all good employers left it to workers to make their own arrangements around tips. However, with the advent of card pa…

We join the Deputy in wishing him a happy birthday.

The programme for Government commits to supporting homeowners living with housing defects. I have been approached by residents of Carrickmines Green, an estate in Carrickmines owned by the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. Construction at Carrickmines commenced in 2005, with many residents moving in shortly afterwards. However, the developer went under in mid-2009 and the residents were left living in a so-called ghost estate for many years until the receiver McStay Luby and NAMA began to complete the project…

I would like to raise the issue of the lifetime loans being offered by some financial institutions. I recently raised the issue with the Minister for Finance by way of parliamentary question. I am asking for clarification on the number of lifetime loans being issued in this State. The Minister advised that the Central Bank regulates the product but it does not publish the data. I find this extraordinary. Perhaps the number of lifetime loans is so small that it is not a matter of concern but we do not know as the fi…

I concur with Deputy Durkan on his remarks about hatred in particular. Unfortunately, we have seen too much of that, particularly in the recent past. I welcome the opportunity to discuss and debate the Government’s progress on supporting the LGBTQI+ community in Ireland. This debate is particularly timely during Pride month. I look forward along with other Members of this House to joining members of the LGBTQI+ community again at the annual Pride march this Saturday. This has been a challenging year for members of …

As we gather here today, every 48 seconds someone dies of starvation in the horn of Africa. On Tuesday last Deputies were invited to a very stark briefing organised by Dóchas. We were addressed by the Dóchas CEO, Ms Jane-Ann McKenna, and four of the aid agencies operating in the horn of Africa, that is, Goal, Trócaire, Concern and Oxfam and were told that 181 million people in the horn of Africa face starvation due to food shortages, climate change and political unrest in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The number of …

I welcome the opportunity to discuss and examine the supports available for people with special educational needs. As a society, it is critical we deliver an education system that is of high quality for all our children, where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach his or her full potential, and where every child with additional needs receives appropriate educational support based on his or her needs. Over the past 20 years, the system we are speaking about today w…

I ask the House to note that the amendments to the motion regarding energy security are displaying incorrectly on the Dáil website. The Regional Group's amendment to the Government amendment is displaying in two places as an amendment to the Government amendment and also as amendment No. 2 to the motion. It should be only displaying as an amendment to the Government amendment. The People Before Profit-Solidarity amendment, which should be displaying as amendment No. 2 to the motion, is displaying as amendment No. 3…

Deputy Ó Broin is sharing time with Deputy Gould.

I thank Deputy McAuliffe for sharing time. I thank the members of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, particularly the Chair, Deputy Matthews, for and commend them on their work. The 39 recommendations are interesting, to say the least. They cover quite a wide range of issues relating to urban regeneration, specifically dereliction and vacant properties. As my colleague, Deputy McAuliffe, rightly stated, we are all aware of derelict sites that have been plaguing areas across the country f…

I also welcome today's discussion about the Passport Office. At the outset, I acknowledge the work undertaken by the staff at the Passport Office. Like every organisation, during the pandemic it adapted its practices. It kept an emergency service going throughout the pandemic. Some of the Passport Office staff supported colleagues in the Department of Social Protection. I am sure all Deputies in the House are grateful for their efforts. With a relaxing of those Covid restrictions, more people need to get passports …

I have been contacted by many constituents who are very concerned about the situation at Dublin Airport. There have been regular reports of delays for passengers going through security screening, which have sometimes resulted in them missing their flights. Over the weekend, there were worrying reports about the airport failing the European Aviation Safety Agency audit and last night, we saw reports on social media of a brawl in the departure lounge. I know staff on the ground are doing their best in difficult circu…

I join my colleague in welcoming this discussion on the vital role of journalists in conflicts across the world. At the outset I pay tribute to the many very brave journalists and photojournalists who report and inform us from the many dangerous conflict zones around the globe. They carry out an indispensable and invaluable role. It is important that we stand in solidarity with journalists and continue to support their fundamental work. We must never take for granted the crucial role played by journalists, media wo…

I welcome the opportunity to examine the Government’s strategic plan for the renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The plan sets out an ambitious timeline for a full organisational restructuring of the NPWS that I believe is much needed and long overdue. It provides a substantial €55 million additional investment in the organisation that will allow for the recruitment of 60 key new staff to critically important roles. The strategic action plan aims to deliver an NPWS that is more resilient, better res…

It is worth asking.

I welcome the opportunity to examine the Government's progress on delivering a just transition as Ireland implements a low carbon future. At the heart of the policy is recognition that families and communities must be supported and protected against the negative impacts of the transition away from fossil fuels. Key to supporting these initiatives is funding and we have seen €84.5 million secured from the EU's just transition fund for investment in longer-term transition over the coming decade. The fund will be comp…

I welcome the opportunity to examine the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021. I thank the Minister and her officials for bringing the legislation before the House. I will be supporting this Bill which will bring Garda compensation claims within the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, process. The Bill is aimed at decreasing the length of time it takes for disposing of a Garda compensation claim from initial application to award by providing for clear time limits for each stage of the process. The new proc…