My question relates to any strategy development in the Department that deals with foster children and the challenges facing foster parents, especially with respect to social security entitlements and pension contributions.

Deputy Canney and I, along with other members of the Regional Group, met representatives of foster families some weeks ago. There are very distinct challenges in the sector, not least access to pension entitlements. The Minister has had some engagement on this. It seems extraordinary that women who left the private sector workforce and took on foster care were not advised that they should have tried to regularise their stamps or were not given an opportunity to do so. We spoke to one foster lady who has arrived at …

Yes, residential care.

It is important to recognise the challenges faced by foster families. Despite the increases, which are very welcome, the Minister is well aware that when some foster families take on children with additional needs, they have to source services privately. Like any parent, when they look at a child, having been told it will take two, three or four years to get a National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, assessment and access occupational therapy, speech and language therapy or whatever else, they will decide …

I, too, welcome the motion, and I congratulate Deputies Pringle, Collins and Connolly on the work they have done to bring this before the House. It is timely that the Government would review fossil fuel investment, especially in light of COP activity. I note the concerns the Minister of State has raised regarding some strategic financial investments, and obviously that is going to require more work. I accept the fact the Government is not opposing this motion. The motion calls on the Government to support the fossi…

The Digital Services Bill supports Ireland's responsibilities to comply with the EU Digital Services Act. That has a very high and lofty principle, which is that what is illegal offline will be illegal online also. It seems to be a complex enough Bill and there are a number of significant statutes within it, namely, the appointment of An Coimisiún na Meán as the digital service co-ordinator and lead competent authority for the EU regulation, provision for the supervisory and enforcement powers and, as a backup, the…

I previously raised my concerns to the effect that the 2024 budget is not good for Ireland. I might add that it was also not a good budget for my constituency of Waterford. As I outlined on budget day, this budget breaks the fiscal rules that have been adopted by the Government to control State spending. It breaks ranks with the advice from IFAC, a body we designed purposely to keep budgets and Government expenditure under close scrutiny. This is even more alarming when one considers the exceptional windfalls that …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle.

I want to return to a question I asked the Taoiseach back in March. The Government has built up expectations that South East Technological University, SETU, will meet the south-east region's need for a university by adding capacity and new programmes to halt the region's long-standing brain drain. The last three programmes for Government in 2011, 2016 and 2020 specifically prioritised the development of higher education in the south east. It is more than surprising, therefore, that no new teaching buildings have be…

I welcome the release of 100 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were women and teenagers detained without trial. I also support the Government's position in calling for an end to the Israeli practice of administrative detention. This is only adding further to the resentment of moderate Palestinians, and is further adding to a justification narrative of Israeli apartheid. Like every other Irish person, my colleagues and I in the Regional Group were delighted to see the release of Em…

Ireland, as a small and open economy, needs friends. We saw the value of friendship during the financial crisis. In that context, we need Irish people in key positions in international institutions. Will Government reconsider its position and allow the Minister for public expenditure and reform to formally engage and put his hat in the ring, should an opportunity arise to lead an international institution?

I vote on a case-by-case basis, which is evidenced by the many times my vote has found fault with Government actions versus objectives. To the matter at hand, I have little confidence that Dublin is entirely safe. I have little confidence that the important reforms and modernisation of policing in this country are progressing at the pace required. I have little confidence that gardaí are appropriately and fully supported or equipped and remunerated for their work, which is a very different job from the job of decad…

Media reports in Waterford indicate that the Minister for Finance, Deputy McGrath, is due in town tomorrow. There is an expectation that he is bringing an airport runway under his arm. I understand the business case is ready to be put to the Government, but I have seen many frothy announcements for Waterford left to wither on the vine as the Government stonewalls and forces private capital to look elsewhere. I remind the Tánaiste that the Government has paid out €198 million in regional aviation supports since 2020…

The Tánaiste does that every well himself.

It only received 0.2% of the aviation funding.

I will debate the figures with the Tánaiste any time.

I can see the positives but to date it does not-----

But not for Cork or Dublin. That is the point.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This Bill provides that each Government Minister shall, annually, report on large capital expenditure in the Department five years after the expenditure occurs. As a people, we will spend €13 billion on publicly funded capital projects this year. It is projected that we will spend €165 billion by the end of this decade. This is a substantial accomplishment of our society and it has come about as a result of the discipline and pain of the austerity years. It is also…

I thank the Ministers of State for their contributions. I note, as highlighted by the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, that the Government does not oppose this Bill. That is to be welcomed, but it would be better if the Government said it would support this Bill. Perhaps we will get to that stage. It is important to highlight the value of debate. This is probably one of the more interesting debates I have heard in this House since I came here, not because I am involved in it but because it is relevant to…