I commend the frankness of the report by the Commission on the Defence Forces. It noted the serious area and scale of responsibility that we have in "our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the scale of fishing activity in our waters, the number of aircraft crossing Irish controlled airspace, our growing seabased energy infrastructure, and the number of subsea communications cables and sea lines passing close to our coastline". There was a full and frank recognition: ...that a more comprehensive patrol programme [is req…

One of the things I have often found puzzling is that the very proud and historical tradition of maritime and naval participation that a location like Galway has among its citizens seems to have petered out in recent times. The operation of a naval support base or naval infrastructure along the west coast in Galway would encourage more local people, potentially, to join the Naval Service or the Naval Reserve. That is noted by the Commission on the Defence Forces as well. To bring it on then to our national maritime…

The Irish workforce's strong foundation has been referenced frequently throughout this debate. We have one of the youngest and most educated workforces in Europe and continue to attract significant investment because of that, particularly in high-value sectors such as med tech and ICT. Galway has become a global leader in medical technology, employing thousands in companies that export worldwide. Within the city, we are conscious of its importance and we want to develop it further and to create a workforce in the c…

I cannot say that I did not have concerns about this Bill when I noted it on the summer legislative agenda. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding of its intention. As I had read it, my concept was that this was a further centralising of the decision-making process on transport policy by the NTA at the expense of local authority members. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, has assured me that is not the intention of the change and that will not be its impact, which I welcome. However, I have to speak from a regional perspecti…

The Taoiseach recently alluded to the historic success of the social partnership model in the country and the impact and role it had in maintaining living standards, social cohesion and limiting industrial action. In alluding to that, I was hoping that we might be in a position to say that we are to commence a new period of social partnership between the employers, employees, and the Government as well. I ask the Taoiseach to update the House on whether such efforts can be made real.

There was widespread relief among the general population in Galway, and particularly among the local authorities and transport authorities, following the recent decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant approval for the Galway city ring road. This will obviously allow for the development of the road but also enable the city to develop a new metropolitan transport strategy. One group of people for whom the road development has had a direct and probably greater significance are the 54 homeowners who will be subject …

We heard earlier the impression some like to portray of the World Economic Forum. I noted that in some of the discussions the Taoiseach attended and some of the engagements he participated in, there was widespread discussion on the whole area of social cohesion. Could he outline today some of what was discussed in terms of developing further cohesion among all nations and across nations? He might extend that into some discussions there may have been around the cost-of-living pressures, including issues of poverty a…

Among the priorities of the child poverty and well-being programme in the Taoiseach's Department is to enhance participation in culture, arts and sport for children and young people affected by poverty. In many of our disadvantaged communities, there is an absence of active and passive recreational spaces where children can congregate, come together, enjoy each other's company and generate some positivity from each other. Last year, the Government provided €500,000 spread across all local authorities, a maximum of …

We all very much welcome the introduction, as the Taoiseach mentioned, of the new therapy and education service that will be implemented in special schools from next September. I very much welcome this for two schools in my constituency, Ábalta Special School and St. Joseph's Special School. One other commitment of the programme for Government - I think it is also included in the strategy in the Taoiseach's Department for tackling child poverty and supporting well-being, which the Taoiseach spoke about earlier - is…

I ask the Minister for an update on the fiscal measures currently in place to support enterprise development and investment in regional towns and rural communities; the further tax-based initiatives being examined to promote balanced economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter

The Tánaiste will be aware that the national planning framework proposes to distribute the future population growth of the country equally between the greater Dublin region, the regional cities and the metropolitan areas that surround them. To facilitate that, we need enhanced infrastructure development, and we need to increase housing options for people in those locations. We also need to look at enterprise and fiscal measures to promote the development of industries at home and attract greater foreign direct inve…

I very much welcome the Tánaiste's support for the initiative. My understanding of it is that while the local authorities would be the gatherers of the tax, it does require Department of Finance legislative change to try to make sure it is possible and feasible for them to do so. There is a sincerity and a genuine need for it in those cities or regional towns where there are significant numbers of tourists. There is an increased need for services, such as street cleaning at festivals, and all the types of services …

Ar an ábhar sin, ba mhaith liom tús a chur le mo chuid focail le buíochas a ghabhadh leis na daoine atá ag obair go deonach sna clubanna ar fad sa tír agus atá ag déanamh an-obair le daoine óga agus ag cur spraoi ar fáil do na daoine. Is dóigh go bhfuil siad ag obair chomh maith ar son ár gcóras sláinte toisc go bhfuil siad ag tabhairt aire do na páistí agus ag tabhairt deis dóibh a bheith aclaí ina bpobail féin. I commend all those who volunteer in our clubs throughout the country in whatever sport. Tonight we are…

Yesterday, the National Transport Authority, NTA, provided an opportunity for Members to raise issues with it regarding public transport in our constituencies. When I asked about expanding and developing further bus services in Galway, particularly the 424, the NTA advised me that the budget for 2026 has not yet been defined so it could not provide me with an answer. Of greater concern was the fact that, when I asked it about the development of the new Dublin Road bus corridor in Galway city, which has been in the …

Gabhaim buíochas le hOifig an Cheann Comhairle as ucht an ábhar seo a roghnú ar maidin. Mar a dúirt an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, I wish to ask the Minister to discuss the availability of the shingles vaccine for those aged over 65 or those with compromised immune systems. Shingles affects approximately one in three people during their lifetime, with the risk of contraction increasing significantly with age. I think also the risk of impact increases significantly with age. The condition can cause severe and prolonged…

I understand the vaccine is available, as the Minister of State outlined. I also understand that when the process of assessing whether it would be provided through the immunisation programme was undertaken, there was a period of public consultation and a substantial number of submissions were made in the public consultation that highlighted that the cost of the vaccine - at that time between €480 and €500 - would be prohibitive for many older people, especially those on fixed incomes and those who rely in particula…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht agus deis seo chun ábhar na Gaeilge a phlé sa Seomra inniu. Tá téama sa díospóireacht go dtí seo – luaigh mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Dolan, é, arb as Gaillimh dó chomh maith – go bhfuil muid ag iarraidh daoine a spreagadh chun a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid. Is rud thar a bheith tábhachtach é sin. Mar a dúirt an tAire níos luaithe, tá Gaeilge ag chuile dhuine. Tá Gaeilge mhaith ag formhór an daonra. Léigh mé an nuacht a bhí in An Scéal inniu. Tagann eagrán amach chuile Mháirt. Rinnea…

It is regrettable that the debate has come about in this manner. We have all expressed an opinion as to how valuable SNAs are to children and the school system. That has been worthy of recognition before today. I had the privilege in my career of working with many SNAs. I have seen children thrive through their intervention. If I go back to the start of my teaching career, I think there were around 1,000 SNAs in the system at that point, which was in the early part of the century. We have since seen a 2,000% increa…

I recently asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of the elective hospital at Merlin Park in Galway. Looking back at some documents I have, I note that the elective hospital was first proposed in 2018. It was also included as part of the national Sláintecare programme. It has been included in every HSE capital plan up to 2025. The description in each of those documents has been for an elective hospital. In 2026, when the HSE published its national service plan, I noticed that there had been …

The first thing I should have said is that I appreciate the Minister of State being here as a Minister of State in the Department of Health to take this question and provide an answer. However we present this, it is a significant change in what was to be the provision of a facility that had intended at its outset and up to 2025 to provide for 200 beds. I recognise fully the point she made that these are day procedures but I understand from the documentation that had been provided previously that there were to be 75…