Is the Minister saying there is absolutely going to be no deal with Iceland, end of story? That is all I am asking. Is the answer "Yes" or "No"? It is a simple answer. It should not be a complicated answer that goes on for another minute while I am losing valuable time.

It is a "Yes" or a "No".

Iceland is not in Europe.

There is a veto.

I thank the Minister. There are other issues I need to talk about. The inshore sector for crabs and shrimps has collapsed and many inshore fishermen are in a dire crisis. We met representatives of the inshore fishing sector at committee recently. The Minister said he will be meeting with them but what does he intend to achieve by that meeting? They have mortgages to pay and food to put on the table. They have not caught brown crab or shrimp in months. They are facing a serious crisis. They feel the talking should h…

I thank the Regional Group for bringing this very timely motion. Ms Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, the chairperson of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, said recently that the tourism sector has been abuzz with discussion about the significant number of closures of food-led hospitality businesses in January 2024, particularly when compared to January 2023. The scale of these closures is both astounding and distressing. We have witnessed too many livelihoods lost and gaping voids left in the fabric of numerous commu…

Cancer Connect is a free service for patients who travel by bus or car to Cork hospital, including people requiring radiotherapy, chemotherapy and related cancer treatments. The service started in 2011 and now covers all of Cork county with 430 voluntary drivers. Cancer Connect is about to mark its 13th anniversary, recording over 50,000 passenger journeys to date. The company is fully reliant on community donations, which is unfeasible. It is struggling to budget for 2024 effectively without an income secured. It …

I want to offer my sincere sympathy to the loved ones of anyone who has passed away due to a road traffic accident. It is a huge tragedy for families and communities and has happened too many times, unfortunately, for one reason or another. In March 2022, TII conducted an independent study on the implications of reducing speed limits. The findings of this report are both startling and concerning. The report concluded that lowering speed limits would have a negative effect on emissions. More alarmingly, it projected…

The financial instability of RTÉ, a matter that was starkly highlighted by the scandal in 2023, continues to echo throughout Ireland. The broadcaster's heavy reliance on the licence fee, which is funded by taxpayers, underscores its precarious financial position. This dependence is a stark reminder of the broadcaster’s financial vulnerability and it raises questions about the sustainability of this model in the long term. The Government's lack of decisive action in addressing this issue is a cause for concern. Whil…

Ballinspittle in west Cork was hit by flooding last night, with a number of businesses and residential properties affected. I thank members of the local fire service and emergency services who bravely saved many businesses and private properties last night. This is the second time the village has been hit by flooding in recent times. The owner of WILD restaurant woke up this morning to find his premises completely flooded. Owners of businesses and private properties in Ballinspittle need urgent assistance. Will the…

The proposed Bill seeks to modify the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, allowing adults legally to possess a specified amount of cannabis or cannabis resin for personal use. This initiative to amend the law commenced over a year ago and there are no legal obstacles to the amendment. In Ireland, drug use has been on the rise since data collection began nearly two decades ago. Cannabis use contributes to a variety of health issues, including drug-related health problems. The social problems arising from the operation of the …

Genocide is a uniquely horrific crime. The Holocaust saw the murder of 6 million Jews and was seen as so monstrous that the UN adopted the Genocide Convention promising never again to allow an attempt to wipe out a group of people or part of one simply because of their nationality, race, religion or ethnicity. That promise has been repeatedly broken, in Bosnia, Darfur and Rwanda to name but a few. Each new case brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague ought to give the world a chance to make g…

The three main changes for Irish traders are advanced notification for live animals, animal products and certain plant products; full UK customs controls; and health certification for certain animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk foods and feed of non-animal origin. The Minister for agriculture, Deputy McConalogue, stated that these rules represent a significant change for Irish agrifood exporters to Britain which is Ireland's largest export market. He urged businesses to engage with their UK custom…

I speak fairly often in this Chamber. There are a lot of things on which I would not be well versed but certainly when it comes to the community voluntary sector, that is the sector from which I came and which got me elected to Dáil Éireann so I speak with some level of expertise. I have been part of 25 community voluntary groups for a number of years and they have delivered. The sad thing about the Charities Regulator is that there are many groups that have just raised a bit of local money. It might be the Tidy To…

This is a war that has caused immense suffering and destruction for the Palestinian people who have been living under a brutal siege and bombardment for more than two months. This is a war that has also threatened the security and the stability of Israel, which has faced relentless rocket attacks and terrorist infiltrations from Hamas. This is a war that has endangered the prospects of peace and justice in the Middle East, which is already a volatile and complex region. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more t…

The Women of Honour group, which was in the audiovisual room yesterday, serves as a support network for former and current female Defence Forces members who allege they were abused within the military. The group has issued a warning and has expressed concern that the issues plaguing the Defences Forces will persist unless the terms of reference for an inquiry into these abuses are expanded. The group recently had a meeting with the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, the purpose of …

The hospitality sector in Ireland is under huge pressure. Closures of restaurants, pubs and cafes are happening at an alarming rate as we speak. More than 280 of these businesses have closed in the last number of months and records show that 48 closed in November 2023. I am inundated with businesses throughout west Cork and our country contacting me to tell me they are on the verge of closure with higher supplier costs and the value added tax, VAT, rate increase to 13.5%, which is the third highest hospitality rate…

I thank Sinn Féin for putting forward this motion. In November, Ireland had 13,514 people, including 4,105 children, in emergency or homeless accommodation, according to the Department of housing. The homelessness crisis in Ireland is growing due to this Government's lack of action. This is causing distress for many people, especially children, and is now considered a national problem. Those facing housing insecurity are being overlooked by the political system. In November 2023, the number of homeless people was 3…

The Government plans to hold two referendums on 8 March, one of which is about the definition of the "family". The proposal is based on the citizens’ assembly’s recommendations and aims to amend Article 41 of the Constitution. The term “durable relationships” is undefined and will be determined by case law. The referendum’s wording raises questions about the types of relationships included, the impact on various laws and the necessity of this constitutional change, given existing laws. The proposed amendments seem …

Investment funds are increasingly buying up properties in Ireland, such as the recent purchase of 46 houses in Belcamp Manor in Dublin for more than €21.5 million. The Government's 10% stamp duty on bulk purchases introduced in 2021 has proved insufficient in curbing this practice. The motion proposes a higher rate of stamp duty on home purchases by investment funds. However, careful implementation is needed to avoid distorting the housing market and deterring other institutional investors. We in the Rural Independ…