I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — the needs of children should be met by the State through the provision of well-resourced public health and education services, particularly for those with additional needs, and that early intervention is vital, but in far too many cases children are being failed by an under resourced, and over capacity system for assessment of needs and provision of essential supports and therapies once a diagnosis of autism or disability is secured; — the 2020 Ombudsman for Children's …

One of the few legacies of Covid that would perhaps be regarded as positive was the improvement in our outdoor hospitality arrangements and services. We have seen it in towns and villages, including in the likes of Swords and Malahide in my area, in recent years and they have bedded down and become fixtures. This has improved streetscapes and, particularly during the summer months, it has been quite good. We are rolling over this legislation and I understand from the Minister of State's opening statement that the g…

It is welcome we are having this debate today. We had three Ministers speak at the start of this debate, which is something we have been calling for in some fashion for a long time. That is a co-ordinated coherent response from Government. We have not heard it enough. On the opening contributions from the Ministers, many of us would agree with what was said and would agree with the sentiments that were voiced. This is what we want to see. We need more regular debates on this issue in the Dáil, in particular. It is …

I thank Deputy Cullinane and Sinn Féin for tabling the motion. I echo the disappointment that was expressed. It is understandable that a Minister might be unavailable, perhaps unavoidably so, but there are also two junior Ministers at the Department of Health. It would be terrible to think there is a degree of lethargy from the Government in dealing with waiting lists across multiple areas of health but it is difficult to come to any other conclusion in light of the absence of any of the Ministers to respond to the…

I raise the proposed reforms in the roles and responsibilities report for the National Ambulance Service. As the Tánaiste will be aware, this time next week, SIPTU members and the National Ambulance Service are due to ballot for industrial action because the pay claim in relation to the proposed reforms is not being progressed. This report began with management in the HSE and the National Ambulance Service in line with the workers. There are a whole host of reforms across the National Ambulance Service, including i…

It is becoming more difficult every week to come into this Chamber, after a weekend of clinics, meetings and house calls, to juxtapose the experiences that we are having with people at the sharp end of the housing crisis and in the rental sector with what we are experiencing on this campus. We are discussing housing in three main theatres at the moment. We have Leaders' Questions every week, where the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste will throw back two main tropes at the Opposition. One is that there are no solutions and…

Ireland is never shy to market itself to an international audience on its heritage. Ireland's Ancient East campaign by Fáilte Ireland, for example, is deemed a tremendous success in attracting people to that region of the country. We have a magnificent archaeological and built heritage that we should be proud of and that deserves celebration. We should be keen to share it with visitors to Ireland. Perhaps more importantly, however, is the central role heritage plays in allowing us to connect with who we are and tho…

Who are you voting for? Sit down.

It is millionaires corner there.

It is refreshing to stand up and respond to a debate. With some of our Private Members' business, we not only have to respond to slings and arrows thrown by Government but sometimes to slings and arrows thrown by others in opposition, but we did not have to do that today. What we have seen over the past two hours is an expression of the depth of experience and challenge we as public representatives on all sides see in our communities in primary and secondary education in particular. I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin, our e…

Last week's IPCC was described by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, as a code red for humanity and a death knell for coal and fossil fuels. The report showed we are now on course to pass the 1.5°C marker in a matter of years, if not decades. If the 1.5°C target is to be met, carbon dioxide emissions will need to be cut by two thirds in the next 12 years. We were bemused to see headlines, after the publication of the report, stating the situation is grim but that there are solutions …

I will pick up on the Minister's comments on recruitment and retention and the efforts he said that the Department and the HSE are making. We are hearing from the unions that one of the key reasons we are struggling in this country not only to recruit but to retain staff is housing and the cost of it. I am aware that this is outside the Minister's remit but this is a fundamental reason and I know that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has done some research among its own members on this. Graduate nurses in…

On the same theme, obviously the eviction ban has not been extended. The Minister mentioned in his response to Deputy Ó Broin's question that a number of units were coming on stream. What is the Minister doing now to restrict no-fault evictions? What is he doing to increase the number of tenant in situ purchases? Is he satisfied with the data sharing arrangements between the RTB and the local authorities?

I have two follow-up questions. It was April 2022 when the Minister asked the local authorities to start the tenant in situ scheme. Why have the numbers been so low? Why are the local authorities not listening to the Minister? Why are they not acting on his instructions? Is it down to the scheme itself being too cumbersome, too bureaucratic, or is it down to resistance at a local authority level? I ask the Minister to tell me why they have not been listening to him. Second, there is no social or public housing unit…

We also know of applications for the tenant in situ scheme that have just been refused. They are not in conveyancing. To all intents and purposes, the application should fit the model. There may be a tenant who is on HAP who is going to be made homeless and in my experience, the application has hit the wall in a relatively quick period of time. That is not in conveyancing; it has just stopped. That is a person who will have to present to the homeless desk. What figures are the Minister is expecting when we reach t…

I am asking about the need for sustainable aviation fuel policy. As it currently stands, bar a sail boat or a row boat, there is no carbon-free way of leaving the island, with aviation accounting for between 2.5% and 3.5% of global carbon emissions and emissions in the commercial maritime sector accounting for similar percentages. Taking as fact that we will have to have an aviation sector forever, how can we decarbonise and what policy should we have on sustainable aviation fuel?

We will be developing a SAF policy. Mandating is one thing. The industry will be asking for incentives for developing it. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, had mentioned the importance of Shannon Airport as a potential hub for developing new technologies. However, currently airlines such as Aer Lingus have a target of 10% SAF fuel by 2030. Ryanair has a target of 12.5% by 2030 but, as the Deputy says and as we know, we are currently at negligible levels of use and production. There is no production of SAF fuels in Ireland…

That is exciting, but everyone knows that hydrogen-based power is a long way into the future with regard to the aviation sector and sustainable aviation fuel is the next step. There are four pillars for sustainable aviation. There is carbon reduction, waste reduction, energy efficiency and noise reduction. Sustainable aviation fuel plays a role in all four of them. The Minister knows the issues we are dealing with in terms of excessive aircraft noise currently taking place out of Dublin airport. I am not saying - n…

I thank Deputy Cullinane and Sinn Féin for bringing this motion and this issue for discussion before the Dáil again in their Private Members' time. Before I get into the motion itself, I would like to pick up on what the Minister said about the many things that are being delivered, including a national "modern network of primary care centres". When will we get a primary care centre in Swords in Fingal? It is the largest town in Ireland without one. It serves a growing population of more than 60,000. We are no close…

You had your opportunity.