Mar fhreagra ar an leasú sin, mar gheall go bhfuil na baill sin páirteach agus tofa go dtí an údarás nó an chomhairle áitiúil, beidh taithí acu maidir leis na cúrsaí áitiúla le haghaidh Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tuigim go mór gur rud maith é go mbeidh deis acu agus níl barántas ann go dtoghfar iad mar gheall gur comhairleoirí iad. B'fhéidir gur míbhuntáiste é agus ag éisteacht leis an Teachta Gallagher, ní dhéantar daoine cosúil leis a thuilleadh - bhí sé ina Aire, ina chomhairleoir contae agus ina Theachta ag an am cé…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in respect of funding for men’s sheds. I acknowledge the fantastic work they do in County Tipperary and throughout the island. The emergence of men’s sheds has been a highly positive development for communities - not just men - across Ireland. The sheds provide an invaluable service, helping to tackle social isolation and providing a space for people to come together, socialise and build friendships. They also many provide many valuable services and crafts in the community…

I will not give any specific commitment until I engage on the proposal. Nationally, the local enhancement programme has a €7 million budget for 2025. Applications for that closed on 7 March and will be dealt with quickly. I look forward to meeting representatives of the Irish Men's Sheds Association and to engaging with them. I know I speak for the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, as well in sharing our commitment to supporting them. I express my absolute appreciation of the work they do, not only in my role as Mi…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCoiste Gnó as an deis seo cúrsaí Gaeilge a phlé. Mar Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus mar Aire na Gaeltachta, fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt inniu anseo i nDáil Éireann. Mar atá ráite agam in áiteanna eile, is onóir mhór dom é a bheith anseo mar Aire na Gaeltachta agus Gaeilge. Mar a dúirt mé i ngach díospóireacht a bhí againn sa Dáil le haghaidh 18 bliain anois, níl an Ghaeilge do Sheachtain na Gaeilge amháin. Tá sí ann gach lá. Ba cheart, mé féin san áireamh, go mbainfear i bhfad …

The Deputy is looking for a quorum.

Ag croílár obair mo Roinne, tá cur i bhfeidhm Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 agus an bogadh i dtreo seirbhís phoiblí dhátheangach. Céim shuntasach chun cinn sa mhéid seo a bhí i bhfoilsiú an chéad phlean náisiúnta um sheirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge i mí Dheireadh Fómhair anuraidh. Tá sé i gceist go bhfeidhmeoidh an plean náisiúnta seo, atá bunaithe ar chúig mhórthéama straitéiseacha, mar threochlár do chomhlachtaí poiblí maidir le líon agus caighdeán na seirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge a chuirtear ar fáil a mhéadú ag…

Tá a lán Gaeilge ann freisin.

Tá leagan Gaeilge ann ach níor úsáid an Teachta é.

I thank the House for facilitating my presence here and I thank Senator Collins for raising this issue. As she will be aware, the contributory State pension is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through contributions paid by workers and employers. To qualify for this payment, a person must have 520 contributions, which is the equivalent of ten years of paid contributions. The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life. The State pension contributory system give…

I have taken the Senator's position on information on board. We have an extensive presence at farming events, including the National Ploughing Championships, to provide that information on a one-to-one basis. As with all our office members, my office is more than happy to assist with any specific queries that the Senator may have.

I thank Senator Scahill for raising this issue. There is no doubt that Storm Éowyn brought huge disconnect and upset to many families across our region. It is important that we learn the lessons, particularly regarding connectivity. I and the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, have met the telecommunications companies and asked them to present us with resilience plans. This will also address the concerns the Senator has raised around the seniors alert scheme. As the Senator said, the seniors alert scheme provides …

I join the Acting Chairperson in welcoming the guests from CBS Charleville. I again thank Senator Scahill. I will bring the pre-2021 models to the attention of my officials. The most important thing is that we are looking at all the lessons we have had to learn from Storm Éowyn, particularly in light of the long period the people were without power and the impact that had on, for example, personal alarms. We continue to engage with telecoms companies regarding ongoing problems with broadband connectivity. That is s…

Níl.

Tá.

Níl.

I thank the Senator for his good wishes and return them to him on his election to this House. The Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024, SI 491 of 2024, which provided for the banning of XL bully-type dogs, came into force in two stages, beginning on 1 October 2024 last, with a full ownership ban coming into force on 1 February this year. The ban was brought in over two stages to give XL bully-type dog owners who wished to keep their dog time to obtain a certificate of exemption. There was a four-month period…

I acknowledge that the Senator has a long track record of working in this space. As he will be aware, we have set out that we are going to provide for an enhanced approach to dog control issues. As I said, all legislation and policy relating to the control of dogs, dog welfare and dog breeding establishments will rest with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We are currently in discussions with the Department to transfer those functions. However, I will continue to take the area of dog control serio…

The dog owner is as well. The responsibility for a dog is on the owner. We cannot forget that.

I thank the Senator for her good wishes and also for bringing this issue to my attention. I know that she raised it previously with the former Minister, Heather Humphreys. For the benefit of other Senators, the background to this is that the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 principally amends and extends the Civil Registration Act 2004. The Act was signed into law on 4 December 2014. The Act contains 36 sections that are, in the main, all subject to commencement orders. Seanadóirí will be aware that the sect…

I will continue to keep the Senator updated on the issue. However, I reassure her that the number of birth registrations that do not contain a father's name is still very low. It is our view as a Government that, where possible, all children should have the right to know the details of both their parents. In that context, I remind the Senator that a new section will allow for circumstances whereby the mother can provide a statutory declaration to the registrar if she is unable to provide the name of the father. Thi…