I welcome the Bill and I will outline just two concerns I have. There is a range of laws that can come into play when an employer closes down. European Union law governs some of these laws. The legislation in this area is usually concerned with ensuring minimum rights, underwritten by the Exchequer, while allowing the parties to agree more substantial or enhanced terms. Of course, there can be no agreement for enhanced terms if the employer is insolvent and so cannot fund any additional payments. Some comments made…

CBS Secondary School in New Ross currently has an enrolment of 413 students. It is a coeducational DEIS school and remains the only secondary school in County Wexford without a sports hall. This is a significant disparity which leaves the students and teachers at the school at a significant disadvantage. It is my understanding that the Department of education has already approved, in principle, the construction of a full-sized sports hall internally to comprise of 594 sq. m with an overall scale of 1,048 sq. m if y…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. However, it is quite disappointing to discover that in this day and age, considering issues of mental health, well-being and the importance of physical activity, a PE hall does not appear to be on the agenda for this school. This is the only secondary school in County Wexford that does not have a PE hall or a gymnasium. The school is expected to operate with below-substandard facilities, yet the response is that it is not a priority. We hear talk day in, day out that …

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the provisions relating to the constitution of joint labour committees, so as to provide for cases where organisations of employers or of workers fail or refuse to engage in consultation with the Labour Court prior to the appointment of representative (employers) members or representative (workers) members, as the case may be; and to provide for connected matters. With regard to the purpose of the Bill, a system for guaranteed statutory mini…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

I listened with interest last week as the Taoiseach scolded local authorities for their inaction or delays in returning void houses to use. However, as someone who served on Wexford County Council for 20 years, one of the things that caused the greatest headaches were large-scale derelict buildings that created dangerous places for young people and children, in particular, to venture into. I think of the old Wexford General Hospital lying dangerously derelict for 33 years. I think of Hookless Village resort in Hook…

Is there anything we can do to resolve these issues?

It is too slow.

The appalling waiting lists for children in Ireland awaiting an assessment of need that we have heard listed out today are nothing short of a national disgrace. It is an indictment of the values of society that we allow vulnerable children to languish in limbo, with their futures hanging in the balance, while bureaucratic inefficiencies and systematic failures continue to plague our health and education systems. This situation is not just a logistical nightmare; it is a moral failing that demands our immediate atte…

Ba cheart dom a rá ar dtús go bhfuil mé ag ullmhú mo Bhille féin maidir le haitheanas na gceardchumann, rud atá ina ábhar imní do Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre le fada an lá. Is fíor a rá go bhfuil leibhéal ardtábhachta ag baint leis an mBille seo sa Teach seo agus go deimhin sa tír seo. I have been preparing my own Bill on trade union recognition, which is a long-standing Labour Party concern. However, none of us has a monopoly on wisdom when it comes to law reform, and I am happy to make my contribution by way of amendm…

I raise an issue affecting 11,000 customers in the Wexford area who are served by the Kilmallock Bridge water treatment plant. Based in Ballymurn, the plant supplies Castlebridge, Curracloe, Ballymurn, Crossabeg, Glenbrien, Screen and Oilgate. Last October, the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I attended the unveiling of two new treated water storage reservoirs and associated works. At that time, the programme manager for Uisce Éireann promised continuous provision of water. Since last October, there have been at least…

It is indeed.

As the Minister knows, higher education holds immense significance for the future of this island. The power of higher education as an economic enabler, particularly in our regions, is a vital component to our economies locally and nationally. As we navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing global economy, it is essential that we recognise the pivotal role higher education plays in driving innovation, developing entrepreneurship and, ultimately, enhancing economic resilience across Ireland. Higher education in…

People feel the lack of school places means that places are being just thrown at them. These are not my words; these are the words of the manager of the Collective Sensory Group, Shona King, who works closely with families and children in this area. Children need appropriate places but that is certainly not always the case. Often, we see children in autism classes when, in fact, this is a wholly inappropriate setting for them. A child can have autism and an intellectual disability and, in many instances, these chil…

The Labour Party has no difficulty with this motion and will not be opposing it. It is noted that, in July 2022, Slovakia notified the Commission of recent changes to its domestic insolvency laws that introduced a new preventative restructuring procedure and a new type of insolvency practitioner. That notification was followed by notifications from Estonia, Spain, Malta and Italy in September 2022, from Belgium in July 2023 and from Luxembourg in January 2024. All of these related to recent changes to these states'…

I raise the issue of housing adaptation grants and the funding being made available across the country. From speaking to former colleagues on Wexford County Council and some of the officials there and colleagues from around the country across the Chamber, there seems to be a serious difficulty in terms of funding for the adaptation grants. While applications are being accepted, unless people are classed as medical priority 1, there does not appear to be any hope of receiving sanction for grants in the near future. …

I concur with the Ceann Comhairle's words and congratulate Ballymitty national school on its great success and welcome them to the Public Gallery. When we talk about Irish Water-Uisce Éireann, the words "chaos" and "chaotic" often spring to mind. Despite the billions of euro in resources we have had in this country for quite some time, during the past number of years in particular, time and again we see failures of systems. I am disappointed the Minister, Deputy Browne, had to leave the Chamber but last September h…

In January of this year BNY announced it was to close its Wexford facility with 95% of its 310 Wexford-based employees to transfer elsewhere or be made redundant. Significantly, BNY operations in Dublin and Cork are not impacted by these cuts. The first question to be answered is: why Wexford? Clearly the cost of both property and operating is higher in Dublin. What discussions did the IDA have with BNY in advance of this decision? The Minister, Deputy Burke, promised in the immediate aftermath of the announcement …

Abolishing the mandatory retirement age in Ireland presents numerous benefits that can positively impact individuals, organisations and society as a whole. The discussion we have today on this Bill must explore the various aspects of the issue, including the economic, social and psychological implications, as well as the challenges and considerations that come with one of the more significant policy changes since the introduction of the old age pension on New Year's Day in 1909. The abolition of the mandatory retir…

In light of the recent statistics released by the Central Statistics Office, which indicate a very concerning 30% decrease in foreign visitors to Ireland year on year, it is clear the Government simply must acknowledge the gravity of this situation and must commit to addressing the underlying causes and implications of this decline. A total of 304,000 foreign visitors completed a trip to Ireland in February. This was down from 433,000 in the same month last year. As we know, tourism is one of the largest indigenous…