What I do not want to do is conflate antisocial behaviour and particular types of behaviour with what we saw on Thursday night, which was-----

-----absolute vandalism and criminality.

We need to make sure that those who engage in particular types of behaviour are stopped and prevented at the earliest stage and supported and directed in a new path. That is, again, not to conflate this in any way with what happened on Thursday night because no situation encourages or forces somebody to go out and loot, riot and vandalise property and other public supports. We have invested in our youth justice services. We have doubled the amount of funding that has gone into our diversion programmes. We are inves…

My Department and An Garda Síochána have worked with the Department of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to ensure we have strong laws to prosecute those who are misusing scramblers but also to confiscate where it is necessary. Much of that legislation has been enacted and commenced. It is being used by gardaí already. We saw only recently in Limerick a significant number of seizures of scramblers. Obviously, that is very welcome in the communities that are being terrorised. I am not sure of the exact timeline for the rem…

I have no doubt this is a problem. I will be very honest; I am in that very situation in that I have a different surname from that of my children. It is not a problem that has arisen for me. At the same time, I do not doubt that it has been a problem for others. I am very happy to raise this concern directly with the Minister with responsibility for our passports to address any problem that might present.

I know this is an issue the Deputy has raised throughout his distinguished career, if I may say. He has very much advocated on behalf of the elderly people in our community. I will, of course, raise his question directly with the Minister to make sure he has the right timeline and response.

I thank the Deputy. I think more people are coming home than are leaving.

More people are choosing to come back to this country to work, start families and set down roots. We can choose whichever facts we want but there are more people coming home. To answer the Deputy's point, we built more houses last year, are building more this year and will continue to build more next year to respond to the demands and needs that are there and to ensure young people have an opportunity in this country not only to have their own homes but also to buy their own homes.

I thank the Deputy. Of course we want to ensure our young athletes, be they involved in boxing or any other sport, are allowed to reach their full potential and are allowed to take part in any competition, wherever it might be. Apart from what the Deputy has said, I am not aware of this particular strategy. I will, of course, raise his concerns and those of John Donoghue directly with the Minister for sport.

I thank the Deputy for his question. We will continue to do what is right and will continue to call for a ceasefire. That is the most important response-----

-----that Palestinians, innocent civilians, children, men and women need from us at the moment. They need to ensure this fighting stops and the best way we can ensure that is by using our voice around the table and not isolating ourselves by partaking of other actions that would only isolate us.

We need to stay around the table, use our voice and make it count.

I will ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to respond immediately. It is really important that our children have school places and I acknowledge that. I will get a response as quickly as possible.

The thoughts of everyone in this House remain with the victims of the appalling attack that took place outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire last week. Our thoughts are particularly with the young child and her carer, who intervened so bravely. Both remain in critical condition in hospital. We all wish for their full recovery, as we have been doing all weekend. We have all gone home to our own children and hugged them a little tighter since Thursday. The after-school rush is a moment of joy when children leave their c…

I am almost finished. Yes, we must have a fair and efficient immigration system, one where people can come and contribute, or can come and seek protection, and one where people who do not have a right to be here are asked to leave. However, this Chamber is where we as democratically elected representatives debate those issues. We cannot cede to the manipulative thugs who wreaked havoc last week. Social media companies need to do more. They need to be more proactive and socially responsible. It is not good enough fo…

I wish to address a point made by Deputy Gannon on Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire first. It is my priority, and I am sure that of everyone else, at the moment to make sure the children, their parents and the staff in the wider community are supported in every way possible. I reassure Deputy Gannon, and any families of those in the school, that Garda members are present and liaison officers are engaged with the school and with the crèche. With regard to any incident today, there was communication and contact with the Ga…

This is a significant day in achieving our shared goal of zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I thank Senators and Deputies on all sides of the Houses for their suggestions, debate and support. I acknowledge the work of my officials in the Department and the unbelievable work done by all those in the sector. I particularly thank them for the way they have worked and assisted in getting to this point. We are now firmly on track to have this agency established by January. The competition for…

I thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to correct some of the misinformation about this important legislation and to set out how I envisage the local community safety partnerships operating in the years ahead. The overall objective is to build stronger safer communities. As the Senator said, people must feel safe and be safe in their homes. To build stronger safer communities, the communities themselves, either directly or through their public representatives, need to have a real say in how to improve the…

I reassure the Senator of that continued engagement. Throughout the pilot process we have had consistent engagement with the LGMA and with the County and City Management Association, CCMA. Last December we held webinars and information seminars to which the chairs of the JPCs and the administrative officers were also invited. We will continue to engage. It is important to note an independent evaluation is looking at the three pilots. The reason I do not have that finalised is the Dublin partnership only published i…

I am pleased to present the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023 to the House. The programme for Government recognises that Ireland is experiencing a domestic, sexual and gender-based violence epidemic consistent with global trends. That simply must change. This Government has responded strongly and proactively with the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, the zero tolerance strategy and a wide range of related measures. The ambition, undertakings and innovat…