On prevailing side: this member voted with the winning side in 1,044 of 1,051 decisive votes (3 abstentions excluded). Read it as a government-or-opposition indicator rather than a measure of influence — the figure is near 100% for members supporting the government of the day and near 0% for those opposing it.
This is the point of the site: contributions keep the party held on the day, not the one held now.
| Party | Recorded as | Contributions | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC | Ceann Comhairle / Chair | 417 | 2020-02-20 – 2025-03-26 |
| FF | Fianna Fáil | 415 | 2020-05-14 – 2026-10-01 |
Membership spells on record: FF 2016-03-10–2020-01-14 · FF 2020-02-08–2024-11-08 · FF 2024-11-29–present
I thank the Minister. That concludes the statements by the Minister for Education and Skills on the reopening of schools and summer provision. We will take a break now and suspend for 20 minutes before proceeding with the statement from the Minister for Justice and Equality on measures to protect victims of domestic violence during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Like my colleague, I want to huff and puff, but I will take the opportunity to advocate for the cycling argument. The transition statement on climate action provides us with an opportunity to look at the opportunities provided by Covid-19, the opportunities provided in a crisis, the changing behaviour of the public, especially over the past couple of months, and the reluctance of some members of the public, and regrettably for the immediate future, to take to public transport in huge numbers until we get some kind …
I wish to raise an issue with the Minister before referring to July provision. It is an issue that I raised here last year relating to Firhouse Educate Together secondary school. We thought we had it resolved. A permanent site has been located for the school and the tendering process for building work has been gone through which is really exciting and also very important. A temporary site had been located to accommodate the pupils from the school in the interim period, pending the completion of the permanent school…
The Minister has a little bit of time for expansion if he wants.
The Minister might give a written reply to the questions, if we do not have time at the end.
That is a matter that is close to my heart.
That concludes statements by the Minister for Education and Skills on the July education programme, as well as questions to and answers by the Minister. The Dáil will suspend for 20 minutes in accordance with the order of the Dáil today. After that we will move on to the annual transition statements on climate action and low-carbon development with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
My first question concerns a local issue but it could be transposed to many schools nationally. It concerns Scoil Naomh Pádraig in Ballyroan where the principal has had to write to parents to say that the existing five junior infants classes will become four classes in September because, while having 99.3% of the pupils required, they are four pupils short of getting that extra teacher. What that means is that instead of having classes in their low to mid twenties, which is still in excess of the European average, …
We now move to the statement by the Minister for Justice and Equality on Covid-19 as it relates to community policing, to be followed by questions and answers.
I thank the Minister. We will move on to the Opposition. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan is sharing time.
Deputies might indicate at the start of their contribution if they expect a reply from the Minister so that we can build in time for it.
I thank the Minister. We are moving on.
Next is Deputy Barry.
The Deputies are sharing time, so the Minister has approximately 45 seconds if we are to move on to the second speaker.
I call Deputy Connolly.
We are stuck on the two-hour time limit and are right up against the clock. If there is time at the end, I will allow the Minister in but health and safety rules apply here.
That concludes the statement by the Minister for Justice and Equality, questions to the Minister and answers from the Minister on Covid-19 as it relates to community policing.
Yesterday, I welcomed on Twitter the general comments tweeted by the Taoiseach regarding racism. The Tánaiste repeated those comments today. He has condemned racism and I welcome that he has done so, but surely our Government has more to say about the appalling use of Tasers, rubber bullets, tear gas and brute force on streets in the United States. The paramilitary style of policing has been truly stomach-turning for any reasonable person watching it. Has the Government any comment to make on that issue? The Tánais…
It is a nonsense we have so little time to ask the questions.
We move on to a statement by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on Covid-19, as it relates to local government, and to questions and answers on Covid-19, as they relate to local government. I call on the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy John Paul Phelan, to make the opening statement. He has ten minutes.