I thank the Social Democrats for tabling the motion. I support all of its asks with one exception. I agree we must intensify our efforts for an immediate ceasefire, suspend the EU-Israeli Association Agreement, suspend the EU-Israel Horizon Europe association agreement and pass the occupied territories Bill. I cannot support the call to expel the Israeli ambassador for a very simple reason. I believe in my heart of hearts that keeping channels of communication open and keeping dialogue on the table, most especially…

This week we had the historic incorporation of St. Angela's, Clogherevagh, into Atlantic Technological University, ATU. This was a most special occasion for the Ursuline Sisters, who founded the college back in 1952 and who championed third level education for women in very different times such that now St. Angela's, as part of ATU, can continue to provide the highest levels of academic excellence for its students. However, further substantial resources are needed to make up for the historic shortfall in capital fu…

First, I thank the Labour Party for a most comprehensive and clearly thought out motion on the need to radically improve our home support service in order that those who avail of the service and those who provide the service can work together to ensure a much more sustainable and accessible service for all of those in our communities who need care. I am disappointed that the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Government could not see their way to supporting this motion or at least to not opposing…

I ask the Minister about his plans for the coming winter for housing refugees. What plans does he have in place regarding modular homes, in particular, and in the wider scheme of things as well? I hope he refers in his answer to the proposal around the offering of 90 days' accommodation to those who arrive here from Ukraine.

The difficulty here is looking at the reality of the situation. The fact is that hundreds of Ukrainians are arriving here every week. The Minister has told me that 1,200 have been accommodated in modular homes in 2023. I am not minimising the effort that that takes, but I am also looking at the reality that the Government and we, as a country, face on an ongoing basis. I know it has not yet been decided by Government, but in recent times we have heard the proposal that it may decide to limit accommodation to 90 day…

Perhaps I might say what the Minister will not. He said he is not in a position to provide an unlimited offer of accommodation. In fact, he is not in a position to offer anything right now on top of the numbers that we have here. I talk to people on the street and so does the Minister. We are all aware of what the situation is. Whatever proposal the Government comes forward with, whether it is the 90-day proposal or some other proposal, we all know that after 90 days people will have nowhere to go. I quickly checke…

The Ceann Comhairle caught me by surprise. It is the same question again. I ask the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, what plans he has in place to manage the increased flow of Ukrainian refugees. He said that a message will go out to Ukrainian communities across Europe but I am asking what that message is. What are we now saying? Is the Minister in a position to tell us this evening or is the Government still deciding what that message will be?

I hear what the Minister is saying about the State investing, but he and I know that takes time. It is unlikely that he will be the Minister when much of this comes on stream. It will take quite a bit of time, so what can we do in the meantime? The elastic is well stretched at this stage. The payment to people to have a Ukrainian family or one of two members of the Ukrainian community in their homes is €800 per month. Is there any possibility that the Government would look at increasing that payment, especially wit…

I congratulate the Minister on the speed with which this has happened but it is a tiny amount compared to what is needed. We know that. That is why I put forward that suggestion. Perhaps I am talking more about people taking Ukrainians in their own private homes rather than people who might be letting their homes or letting an apartment. I understand we do not want to interfere with the private rental market and that is important. However, we are not just at a pinch point; we are way beyond that. We need to look fo…

Just before that I ask the Ceann Comhairle to give me ten seconds.

I am well aware of the case of Dan Brennan because I was in the European Parliament's Petitions Committee when Dan Brennan made his case there on several occasions. I am from Sligo so I had no political interest in him or what was happening. The Minister talks about no new evidence but he should review the old evidence. As many of the Deputies said, it is the same old line coming from the Department again. There are lots of discrepancies, gaps and unanswered questions. If the Minister reviews that evidence then he …

I thank the Minister of State. I have had a look through his response. He tells me that, back in 2021, a new mainstream en suite classroom and special education teacher room, etc., was completed at Sooey National School. That is absolutely correct. The school got rid of its prefabs. Basically, what the Department is asking of the school is to now go back to having prefabs or modular buildings. The school is not going to accept that. The Minister of State also tells us that modular accommodation has advantages in te…

I ask if the Minister of State has any plans for increasing supports to social farming given that we all know of the proven benefits of social farming and everybody recognises that. To be fair, agriculture has come up to the mark on this one but we need to look at greater coordination with other Departments.

I thank the Minister of State, but my question was about any additional supports. I heard what the Minister of State said about the money she has distributed this year. She mentioned the Leitrim development company. It does excellent work. I am very familiar with it. What I am looking at more is the mainstreaming of support for placement and that there would be a level of core funding to train farmers to set up models for social farming. There is also the idea that if people themselves had access to a disability bu…

I take what the Minister of State says, but I am talking about greater co-ordination between Departments. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, has given an allocation of €200,000 under a HSE service plan for social farming. Although €2 million was requested, in fairness to the Minister of State, she started the process. That is important. Agriculture has come up to the mark, but it is maybe health and social care. Other Departments need to become involved. This has to be a cross-depar…

I will largely refer to comments made by the Tánaiste this morning. There are certainly one or two points I take issue with. He said we need a debate to draw out what we mean by neutrality. The debate on the motion this morning certainly does that. We need that debate and we are having it this morning, but I note that the Government's amendment to the motion states that the Government "is committed to a Dáil debate on the outcome of the Consultative Forum" it established and that it "will consider in this light whe…

The Deputy's time is up.

In the very short time available, I will concentrate on the EU Council's response to the situation in the Middle East. Before that, however, I will refer briefly to two other issues. First is the review of the MFF. This is a core matter for the EU and determines the moneys at our disposal to pursue our priorities. I see there are new proposals in that regard on own resources. While I know it is only the start of the negotiation, nonetheless I hope Ireland will be supportive of moves to reform and increase the MFF. …

I am very happy to say a few words on this important legislation, the amended directive on the rights, supports and protection of victims of crime, which I believe will improve the 2012 directive that is already in place. It will respond in a more targeted and comprehensive way to victims of crime seeking to have their rights vindicated, particularly in another member state. This includes procedural rights and the right to receive a decision on compensation from the offender at the end of criminal proceedings. This…

I too extend my condolences to the families and friends of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. I recognise Anthony Burke whose brave testimony was pivotal. I also thank An Garda Síochána for its untiring work in bringing the perpetrator to justice. Today I again raise the non-delivery of balanced regional development, particularly in the context of this year's budget. I also raise the submission made by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, which has drafted a submission asking for three things - a stimulus packa…