----- from the stop-the-game question that I specifically put to him on Tuesday night.

It is taking a stand through sport.

What about morally?

I am asking this question because activities such as chess are not recognised as sports in Ireland. Chess is recognised as a sport in 24 of the 27 EU member states and in over 100 countries worldwide. It is recognised as a sport by the Olympic movement, which holds its own chess Olympiad. After football, chess is the most widely played sport in the world. It has been played for over 1,500 years. Chess has great health benefits for the ageing by stimulating the brain and has multiple benefits for children taking up …

The Minister of State’s response is positive. I cannot ask for more than that. I ask that he keep the matter on the radar as we begin the consultation for, and the implementation of, a new sports strategy. If he bears it in mind, I will be happy to work with him in that regard.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes: — the findings of major international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Palestinian human rights organisations, that Israel operates a system of apartheid against the Palestinian people; — the ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal settlements, restrictions on freedom of movement, collective punishment, and repeated attacks on civilians in Gaza and the West Bank; — the 2016 United Nations (…

The crux of the issue is not where the game should be played but who is participating in the fixture. As we debate this tonight, the people of Gaza endure starvation, bombardment, displacement and unimaginable human suffering. Does the Government's conscience allow it to continue with and encourage business as usual? I know that mine does not. I have stood proud and true to the courage of my own convictions on this issue from day one. These fixtures should not proceed.

Hear, hear.

I thank the Minister of State for being with us and for her presentation. I welcome the progression of the Bill, though many of the items in it could and should have been implemented a long time ago, had Government not voted down many of the same proposals when they were made by Sinn Féin. This includes bringing RTÉ under the aegis of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Sinn Féin also proposed a significant number of amendments through the media committee, many of which were passed and are included in this Bill. W…

I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport entitled "Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 17th September, 2025. I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss in the Dáil the report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the revised general scheme of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill, which was published in September of l…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for being here this evening, for his contribution and for his acknowledgement of the work of the committee over an extensive period in recent months. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for acknowledging that work. Given the controversies around RTÉ and the fact that it is back in the headlines this week, I very much welcome the decision that it will finally come under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is just a shame that the Government vot…

Another week and another Private Members' Bill to try to address the real issue that is adversely affecting the Irish people, and yet another seemingly disinterested and dismissive amendment from this do-nothing Government. What is beyond laughable is that it will ignore this issue and continue to inflict the highest energy bills in Europe on the Irish people. Then, come election time, the Government will suddenly be interested and most earnest and will introduce one-off or short-term measures to reduce people's ga…

Considering the significant deficiencies in Ireland's swimming pool infrastructure and the need for urgent investment, can the Minister of State make a statement outlining how we intend to action this, and provide some indicative timelines for same?

Ireland has only public pool per 81,000 people. That is a significant deficit compared with other nations like Scotland, which has one per 14,000 people. The Government, like previous Governments, has acknowledged the problem but there is no viable plan to resolve it. The Minister of State has accepted the Swim Ireland report, a pool within reach. That remains a distant reality amid critical swimming infrastructure gaps. There is just no movement in resolving the issues. This is not tomorrow's problem. There is not…

An adequate number of swimming pools for modern Ireland will not be delivered by the already oversubscribed large-scale sport infrastructure fund or the community sports facilities fund. The local authority swimming pool programme was to provide capital grant aid to local authorities for new, refurbished and upgraded swimming pools and never really did. Now the shift for future funding has moved to the LSSIF. If this remains the approach, then all of these supposedly ambitious public pools in Louth and Meath, in Dr…

The Minister might get a sense of déjà vu because I spoke on this matter during Questions on Policy or Promised Legislation last May. For those who need these vital services in Louth, it is Groundhog Day. I raise the need for additional funding and resources for the three housing adaptation grant schemes in Louth. On 1 May, just over a third of the way through the year, Louth County Council had to close its applications for anything other than priority one applications. As the Minister will be aware, very few appli…

Just over a year ago, I had the privilege of hosting Dignity4Patients in Leinster House where five courageous survivors of convicted sexual abuser, Michael Shine, shared their testimonies with TDs, Senators and political staff. Survivors Larry, Cianan, Gerard, Peter and Ian spoke with one voice on behalf of the hundreds of known victims who had come forward. Their message was clear: truth matters and transparency matters. Complaints and reports of sexual abuse by Michael Shine were first made to hospital authoritie…

Right through last year and continuing up to this week, I met principals of DEIS schools in Drogheda on various issues. Even back then, before the announcement of the DEIS plus scheme, it was very disheartening for schools to tell me they were very worried about being forgotten once more and as it turns out, they were right. DEIS schools in Drogheda provide an incredibly supportive environment for local children to thrive in. They are at the heart of communities that have been forgotten by successive governments. A…

The Minister of State is paying lip service to the dedication of the staff carrying the can for inadequate Government investment in areas ravaged on the basis of the criteria he listed, namely lone parenthood, unemployment and children living in State-funded emergency accommodation and international protection accommodation. We have Mosney seven minutes down the road and we have the D Hotel, the only large hotel in the town centre of Drogheda, which was ripped away by Government. It does not meet the Minister of St…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that the municipal district area that includes the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda Urban shall be known in the Irish language as Ceantar Bardasach Chathair Dhroichead Átha and in the English language as the Municipal District of Drogheda City, and for that purpose to amend the Local Government Act 2001; to provide that specified towns which comply with the requirements provided for by this Act may be granted city status and for those purp…