This is a very important debate and I think we all agree on the necessity to have this debate. The actions of the Government must be added to and they are supported right around the country - in our communities, in our political parties, in our schools and everywhere else. The impact of this appalling, evil war in the Ukraine is felt in every house and home in Ireland. On every television, on every Facebook page, on every TikTok channel, the reality that war is evil and the human tragedies are unfolding hourly on t…

Following the appalling murder of Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda in January 2020, the Government responded immediately with additional 30 gardaí for Drogheda. Under Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan, enormous progress has been made in bringing people to justice. At the same time, a report was commissioned to improve community well-being through action and investment in areas of poverty and particularly where drug abuse is prevalent in our town. I ask the Minister to give an update on the 73 recommendations cont…

The proactive focus and innovative listening approach of the Minister and the Department of Justice are very welcome in Drogheda. She has made personal visits to meet community activists and officials from different State bodies and local government. There is credibility in the Government's response, which is working. Michael Keogh, the chairman of the implementation board, Martin O'Brien of the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board and Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan are doing fantastic work. An issue h…

I appreciate that it is not the Minister's decision. As I understand it, the Garda Commissioner has committed to that review and, as the Minister said, we will get a report from him on it. I want to raise two other two issues. First, in regard to schools, I welcome the support of the Department of Justice in progressing the issue. There was a recommendation and a belief that three schools – St. Brigid's, St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's national schools - would be moved from DEIS band 2 to DEIS band 1, but that is un…

What is the status of the excellent and very timely report of the Commission on the Defence Forces? This is a very important issue now given the invasion of Ukraine, the concerns worldwide about militarism and the lack of capacity in our own country to defend our shores.

The Minister outlined clearly the priorities, namely, the security of our State, our capacity to defend ourselves against external threat and, particularly important right now, the security of Europe. I welcome the Minister's commitment to come back to the House before the summer recess with a level of ambition which we will all, it is hoped, agree and support fully and will, I presume, include a commitment to increasing our defence spend significantly. We cannot allow Russian warships to enter Irish-controlled wat…

I welcome the Minister's comments. I must say to Deputy Brady over there that you raised funds in New York. I do not know if you raised them in Moscow. The reality is I would very much welcome American-----

I did not interrupt Deputy Brady.

Your party does. Your party raised a lot of money from the United States-----

-----and I am quite sure that some of the companies in the defence business contribute to your accounts as well.

Not your accounts. Your party; your Sinn Féin account.

We cannot be neutral-----

I want to make it very clear-----

Obviously I am not talking about his personal account. I am talking about his political party fundraising.

I just want to make the point that we cannot be neutral about the threats to our State. We cannot say "No" to our defence and to be part of the defence of Europe.

Hear, hear.

What was the outcome of the meeting between the principal of Tullydonnell National School, Ms Anne Marie Ford, and the Department of Education regarding the urgent need for additional SNAs? The Minister of State met the principal and me outside Leinster House, so I would be delighted if a good outcome were to be announced now.

While I welcome the Minister of State's comments, I did not hear an absolute commitment to look after the needs of this particular school at this time. Rather, she is saying that the situation will continue to be reviewed. The parents, students, the local parish priest and the whole community are concerned about this. When will the Minister of State make a decision on it? Would there be any point in a further meeting if there are issues to be clarified between both parties?

I can give the Minister of State a guarantee that she will hear about this matter again, and so will I. She will continue to hear about it. In fairness to the Government, it has allocated a significant number of additional assistants, but this is a school that has to be heard. The delivery must be transparent and is needed. I appreciate that the decision is not the Minister of State's, but we do not want to be protesting again shortly with an even larger crowd.

Petrol dealers are directly challenging the authority of this Government by not passing on the full discount to consumers, in many cases. The Government needs to show them its teeth. Instead of soft words and telephone calls, we need to ensure there are dawn raids by gardaí and that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, enters these companies. They are directly challenging the Government's authority by pocketing this money. People in this country need to flood the CCPC with complaints because it…