I assure the Senator that the Government has a steadfast commitment to improve public health. As mentioned, the programme for Government sets out a commitment to place a focus on exercise and well-being as a preventative and rehabilitation measure and to examine ways to support the provision of community-based clinical exercise programmes. It is also recognised that future health services require new approaches. The Senator is right that we need to review this. This needs to be reviewed. I will definitely be going …

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I understand from looking at the waiting lists. The Senator might send me the information and I will see what I can do, if that is okay. I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. In Europe, neurological disorders are the third leading cause of death and disability. The numbers are expected to rise in line with our ageing population. In Ireland, approximately one in six people has a neu…

Again, I thank the Senator. She can be sure I will be speaking to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. She is very committed to funding the services and working in this regard. It is acknowledged that patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families. In January this year, the Minister for Health published the 2026 waiting time action plan as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to improving access to hospit…

I want to acknowledge that the Deputy, in bringing this Bill before the House today, is motivated by public health concerns and reducing the impact of alcohol harms on our society. The Government shares that motivation. However, the Government is opposing this Private Members' Bill, which seeks to amend our Public Health (Alcohol) Act, because there is not enough evidence at this time to determine the impact of low- and no-alcohol products and their promotion through advertising. It is also being opposed on the gro…

I thank the Deputy for highlighting this important issue. I am taking this on behalf the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has drafted the general scheme of the short-term letting and tourism, STLT, Bill in full alignment with the EU short-term rental regulation, which is what the Deputy is talking about. We have a collaborative approach between enterprise and tourism. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and ad…

This is an important matter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has worked closely with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and is committed to developing a fair and balanced approach to the short-term letting question, which is crucial. As the Deputy said, as a proud Kerryman, he has always highlighted the needs in this area. I absolutely agree. It is about all of the different Departments working together. I believe this will have a good outcome. With the approach outlined …

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and highlighting the role that pubs play in Irish life and culture by providing a central hub and meeting place in towns and villages across the country. The Government’s commitment to the sector was most recently demonstrated by the reduction in the VAT rate to 9%, recognising that the sector is highly labour-intensive. It forms a key part of the domestic economy and is expected to support over 150,000 jobs across the country. We can help to keep the doors open a…

What the Deputy has spoken about is really concerning. He can be assured I will go back to the Minister for Finance. I am aware of the importance of local pubs to Irish culture and the Irish economy, particularly in local and rural areas, which we are both from. Recent years have been challenging to the hospitality sector as a whole, particularly through the period of Covid restrictions. We saw huge changes then. However, those years also demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of businesses. Premises enhanced…

I am taking this today.

I know.

The Minister is coming. I am taking the first slot and then the Minister will be in later.

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government reiterates Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality; — Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances, or common or mutual defence arrangements and this policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War; — the Government reaffirms its commitment to this policy and reiterates that it has no plans …

I thank the Senator for highlighting this very important matter, which I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Varicella is a common highly infectious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus. The virus is associated with chickenpox and shingles. This virus becomes latent in a body's nervous system and may reactivate after a period, resulting in shingles. Approximately one third of people who have had varicella infection will develop shingles infection at some point, but two thirds occu…

I thank the Senator for raising this. We are all aware that vaccination is recognised as one of the most cost-effective and successful public health interventions that exists saving many lives each year. As discussed here today, shingles can impact anyone who has been infected with chickenpox during their life, leaving a significant proportion of the population vulnerable. Up to one in three people who have had chickenpox will go on to have shingles. This is why the Department requested that HIQA carry out a health…

I thank all the TDs who contributed today. Nursing in Ireland is a modern and highly skilled profession built on education, research and continuous professional development. This evening we heard from across the Chamber a shared understanding and deep appreciation of the vital role that nurses play across our health service. There is also a shared commitment to ensuring they are supported. My own daughter is a nurse and I am very proud of her. As a mother and as a Minister of State in the Department of Health I und…

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this really important issue today. The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act introduced a licensing system for the retail and sale of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products such as vapes. This was enacted in 2023, so there was a three-year lead-in period to this measure. The Bill was passed three years ago. The Act has a number of measures that aim to protect the health of our children and denormalise smoking. This is what the Act is for. …

I thank the Senator for his contribution. There is a long and proud tradition in our country, across all political parties, of introducing strong tobacco control measures. That started with a workplace smoking ban in 2004 introduced by Micheál Martin, and has continued with successive Governments building on that achievement to further drive down our smoking rates. As the Senator will know, Stephen Donnelly was Minister at the time this legislation was brought in, in 2023. We are investing in our efforts to tackle …

I compliment my colleague and everybody involved because I know a lot of work has gone into this Bill. I know the commitment and dedication that there has been. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, several times about dual diagnosis, which I feel is really important and this is going to be addressed in this Bill. To everybody involved, as other TDs have said, this is groundbreaking legislation. Having known the Minister of State for so long, I know her commitment and dedication to getting this Bill thro…

I am delighted to be here to introduce the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill to this House. This is the first of two Bills we are bringing forward on vaping. This Bill is a short one with a single purpose, which is to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes or vapes. Like many people here, I regularly hear from parents, teachers and coaches who are concerned about the impact that vapes and nicotine use are having on children’s health. The sight of discarded vapes littering our towns and villages is als…

I thank all Senators for their contributions on this debate. I look forward to continuing engagement on the Bill on Committee Stage. Some Senators had to leave so I will come back to them on the issues raised. We are working with retailers and there will be notification. On single-use vapes from another country, this Bill applies to sales in the State. We cannot legislate for sales in other countries. Many other EU countries have banned them and an EU-wide law is coming in. I will meet any groups or organisations S…