Obviously, a significant part of this, and something that could, depending on the sector that people are in, have as much an impact on Irish workers and Irish jobs as the American tariffs, will be the potential for retaliatory action by the European Union. I understand that the process led by the Commission invited member states to submit their observations and lists, for want of a better word, in terms of the key industries and sectors that they would be concerned about and outlining their view of how best to proc…

We are obviously not in a position to control precisely what Donald Trump will do, but there are things, coming off the back of this, that we can do on a simple, practical level. It is known to us which companies are exporting to the United States. That is information we have. It seems to me that it is possible that the State contacts all those companies off the back of this and identifies from discussions with them precisely what is needed in terms of supports. It seems obvious that there will be a need for mitiga…

Ba mhaith liom cuidiú leis an rún agus tréaslaím leis na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta as an rún seo a chur os ár gcomhair. Tá Sinn Féin go hiomlán i bhfabhar an rúin agus i gcoinne leasú an Rialtais. Tá Sinn Féin den tuairim go bhfuil an Rialtas ag cur na neodrachta atá mar chuid lárnach dár bpolasaí eachtracha i mbaol agus go ndéanann sé laghdú ar an gcosaint atá air sin. Sinn Féin is totally opposed to the end of the triple lock neutrality protection. That is what is at issue here, not reform, change or anything like …

This European Council meeting took place at a highly uncertain and volatile time right across the world, but in particular in the Middle East and in both Gaza and the West Bank in Palestine. As Deputy McDonald outlined, the conclusions that came from the European Council meeting are very disappointing, as is the review of the EU-Israel agreements, both commercial and otherwise. The Tánaiste touted the success of getting a meeting on this but the outcome of it is effectively much as it was. Despite the depravity and…

So do you.

We hear time and again from the Government that housing is the most important social, political and strategic issue. We heard it thrown back at us again today about a monopoly on compassion, which is one of those talking points we hear all the time. That is not contested. We appreciate that there are people on every side of this House that have compassion but the sobering, depressing, frustrating reality is that the housing crisis is getting worse. What is worse than even that is the Government is locked into and c…

Across Cork, there are dozens of children with special educational needs who do not have a place for September. In the past three weeks alone, I have been contacted by eight parents of children who need a place in a special school for September who do not have one. The pressure this is putting on them, the anxiety they are carrying, the uncertainty they are facing and the worry they have for their children is absolutely enormous. They are doing everything they can. One mother I spoke to had her child's name down on…

On a brief point of order, the Minister said to me-----

If I have not made the point of order, how does the Ceann Comhairle know if it was a point of order?

The Minister adverted to something in relation to me that was not correct.

I made specific reference to a specific school, unlike what the Minister said.

Eadrainn go léir, is dóigh liom go bhfuil na canúintí go léir clúdaithe againn faoin am seo. Tréaslaím go mór leis an rún ar chuir an Teachta Ó Snodaigh os ár gcomhair. Tá go leor oibre déanta aige. Tugaim aitheantas dEoghan ina oifig freisin atá tar éis as an-chuid oibre a dhéanamh ar na polasaithe go léir atá tar éis teacht as an oifig sin. Tá na fadhbanna atá ann ó thaobh an Ghaeloideachais suntasach. Is ábhar mór frustrachais é, mar nuair a bhíonn daoine i gcoitinne ag caint go ginearálta faoin nGaeilge, faoin …

We have heard a lot about defence spending in recent weeks but the truth on the ground is that the Defence Forces are in a precarious position because of Government underfunding. We currently have fewer than 8,000 members of the Permanent Defence Force. This is well below establishment, not to mind the 11,000 recommended under stage 2 in the report of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. Morale is very low. Does the Tánaiste regret the neglect of the Defence Forces by the Government and how does he i…

In recent weeks, we have heard lots of big speeches, announcements, lofty promises and big commitments. I welcome that the Defence Forces are finally getting some attention. I live in a city that has a large number of Defence Forces personnel who work in Collins Barracks and Haulbowline. They tell me they have heard all of this before. They have heard big talk and small follow-through. The Tánaiste says it is important that we are seen to be increasing the capacity of the Defence Forces. It should not be about bein…

The Tánaiste spoke about an objective analysis. Any objective analysis would find that the previous Minister for Defence, who is now the Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Micheál Martin, kept giving unspent money in defence back to the Exchequer. It was €30 million last year and €70 million in 2023 and 2022. Any objective analysis would find that more than 900 people recruited to the Defence Forces since 2020 left within five years. We have had the embarrassing situation where ships have been put to sea w…

The Tánaiste will be aware of a recent settlement for Mr. Gary Coll of €2 million, without liability, after he lodged proceedings regarding exposure to dangerous chemicals while working in the Air Corps. I do not wish to discuss any case before the courts. Many people who are affected do not want to have to go to court. However, as a matter of policy, the Department of Defence has a responsibility to ensure that issues regarding former Defence Forces personnel are addressed, particularly if their health has been co…

It is for this reason that I communicated with the Tánaiste last night. It is important that ongoing monitoring is happening but my primary concern relates to the issues that have arisen over the past 20 or 30 years. For many years personnel in the Air Corps, particularly those in the repair shop, were exposed to very dangerous chemicals. Despite this, there were no meaningful precautions in terms of health and safety until very recent years. In the meantime, hundreds of personnel were exposed. According to ACCAS i…

I appreciate the fact the Tánaiste will reflect on it. He mentioned the tribunal. I would make the point, and the Tánaiste's comments reflect that he may be aware of this, the tribunal only deals with the handling of complaints rather than the substance of complaints.

Therefore, that will not be anywhere near adequate. What ACCAS has demanded is to ensure medical care is provided as well as an assessment to identify what were the implications for health outcomes. There is also a need for a statutory investigation of some form, given the role of the State Claims Agency in failing to alert the HSA of ongoing failings when known. It should go without saying these are personnel who were part of the Defence Forces. They gave their careers and long parts of their lives to serve the St…

The Tánaiste and I had an engagement a while ago that was primarily about the Permanent Defence Force. I want to bring to the Tánaiste's attention the issue of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF. It is a seriously depleted organisation that has much greater potential. It has a huge ability to support the Permanent Defence Force in its own right. As of 15 October, the current strength of the RDF is 1,720. We are a long way from the target of 4,500 that has been set for 2028. How are we going to achieve that target?