The Minister is being characteristically modest about the introduction of this initiative. I will highlight some other issues. I particularly welcome that she is allowing the professional organisations most associated with this area to contribute in a meaningful way so that children, schools and parents can be reassured that those who will take on this role with their children are fully qualified and accredited and will have gone through the appropriate Garda vetting. Most importantly, they will have the experience…

I welcome the O'Farrell family. I was down this kind of road when, in opposition, I was Dublin spokesperson, with the Stardust families and inquiry. I put several questions as Dublin spokesperson and I had several motions, as did many Deputies before me in previous Parliaments, to be told by Minister for Justice after Minister for Justice that everything that could be done had been done, and that every avenue that could be explored had been explored. I had to go back and face individual members of those families, l…

The intervention by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Deputy Connolly, on the events in Israel is significant, particularly her comments regarding the leadership shown by the Tánaiste. I echo those sentiments. I also want to put on the record that there is a very small Jewish population in this country that feels particularly vulnerable and fearful right now. I want to acknowledge that and put those words on the record. Those people are not forgotten in this country. There are those who suggest that they favour spending a…

What I will say can be said in a short period. I, too, commend the budget to the House. It was very well received, judged in part by the reaction to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath. There are many highlights but there is a continuing theme in some areas, particularly in education. I commend my colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on the work she has done. Quite radical work by the Government has taken place over the past two or three years as regards primary education. Free schoolbo…

Interestingly, I received an email in the past few days from the National Women's Council which will have a seminar next week on considering the inclusion of the value of care in the Constitution. Certainly, it is something I would support. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, where I would have mentioned this previously, as well as at public meetings, that I am very impressed with the way Scotland handles its care system traditionally. It seems to have a healthcare system that attempts to emb…

The term "intergenerational trauma", which is a new term to me, is being used increasingly by non-governmental organisations and stakeholders to describe the impact, particularly on young people, of life in severely challenged and disadvantaged parts of the country. Given the ongoing and relatively positive impact of the north-east inner city initiative established under the previous Government, which was predicated in part on the scoping inquiry undertaken at the time by Kieran Mulvey, does the Taoiseach accept th…

I wish to speak on the Garda rosters. I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of this. I was talking to quite a number of younger gardaí over the summer because they attend the summer fairs and police those kinds of community activities. They are four days on, four days off at the moment. For gardaí, and particularly quite a number of younger gardaí in Dublin who live in what they describe as commutable counties, to move to a six-days-on, four-days-off roster would mean two additional days of travel. For younger gardaí wh…

It was interesting to hear Members opposite refer to the tenant in situ scheme, which, as the Taoiseach knows, has two strands. One is for social housing tenants whose landlords want to bring their tenancy to an end. The other strand is for those in private rental accommodation whose landlords want to bring their tenancy to an end. In both cases, the local authority or housing association can step in to purchase the house and keep the tenant in situ . Does the Taoiseach welcome the news from my county and share my …

I thank the Minister for taking the slot today. Having listened to his speech and read page 2 of his script, I noted paragraphs 3 to 7 are quite chilling and alarming. The affected parents already have knowledge of several of these matters. Reading the script coldly, I found what it referred to truly shocking. More questions will be asked about this matter and more statements will be made about it. When colleagues in my party and I had been raising the issue of scoliosis with the Minister, we regarded the announcem…

It is good to see the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, here this morning and firing on all cylinders. As a brief aside, 95 homes have been purchased by South Dublin County Council under the tenant in situ scheme, with 133 planned, and I know the Minister would probably like to comment on that. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me away with this. The previous Government launched the north inner city initiative and while not perfect, it has met with a lot of success. The Minister will have heard me at parliamentary p…

This is not a debate I was going to contribute on. It is not that I do not feel I have anything to say. It is just that I have heard the same speeches being made again and again over the years. I share the frustration of my colleagues in opposition. I am also very proud of the tradition of my own party. I am also conscious that this week we celebrated the life and passing of a great Irish Jew, Ben Briscoe, who was a member of Fianna Fáil. Both he and his father served Parliament continuously for 75-odd years in Dub…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for his presence to take this Topical Issue, which I can probably divide into two parts. The first part seeks to open a proper debate regarding the need for a regulatory body for the construction industry. The second point is to highlight, as I am sure most colleagues would be able to do, a specific circumstance relating to a home or homes constructed in my constituency where there has been a wholly inadequate response from the construction sector, via HomeBond, whic…

Most people engage competent professionals to carry out due diligence in advance of purchasing a home, particularly a new home. The problem is that sometimes, as the Minister of State knows, the issues only come to light after purchase. Somebody can do all the due diligence in the world and the problem only comes to light some time after purchase. I want to acknowledge that while the CIF will essentially compile and operate the register, individual contractors have to apply through the federation to be on it. I am …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I congratulate the Minister and his officials. I brought forward a Bill during the previous Dáil regarding the issue of the antisocial use of scramblers, and my party colleague, Deputy McAuliffe, and I introduced a stand-alone Bill on that issue way back when the Dáil was sitting in the convention centre. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that was during this Dáil term. The issue has been a source of great frustration to communities, so it is very welcome it is being dealt with here a…

It may surprise some colleagues and even the family that a Dublin Deputy would want to make a contribution. I never served with Noel Treacy in this House, but I served in three Governments, working for a Minister, in which Noel Treacy served. They were heady electoral days for my party, Fianna Fáil. Noel was considered part of the country and western element of the party, along with the famous Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Pat The Cope Gallagher, Brian Cowen and Albert Reynolds. One of the remarkable things about him was …

Taking up that theme, I wonder that if the Government were to communicate with-----

Does Deputy Cowen want a few minutes? I am sharing my time, in that case.

I would ask the following of the Deputies opposite. If information were given to them, would they communicate it to their communities? Would they communicate the State's requirements of different communities in respect of the whole issue of refugees and asylum seekers? Would they drive that message home in order to accommodate the asylum seekers and refugees? It can be tedious rehearsing the reasons we are here but I want to put them on the record again. The bulk of those who have come to our shores have done so as…

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for the opportunity to come in and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, for his response. Clubs in our constituencies applied for the latest round of funding and received the maximum, €150,000, or a little less. Due to building and construction cost inflation, that €150,000 will cover substantially less work than it would have when they were drafting their plans and applied. I would love to see an opportunity as that part of the application process for consideration to be given t…

I thank the Minister for taking my question. I tabled this question in February and it might have done a tour of Departments before it landed on the Minister's desk so I am grateful to her for taking it today. It relates to a commemorative date plaque of the first famine commemoration, which was held, not in Skibereen in 2009, but at the Custom House in Dublin, appropriately, in 2008.