Everyone accepts that those impacted by mica have suffered enormously. We see the images of houses disintegrating and it is heart-wrenching. The hopes and dreams of their owners have crumbled into dust. These are not just houses; they are homes to 8,000 families who have innocently found themselves trapped in a nightmare. Their homes were the biggest and most significant investments of their lives. Many of them undoubtedly struggled to build them. Sacrifices were made as they turned their dreams into a lifelong rea…

I wish to make an observation on how budget day has been diminished. I have been in this House for more than 40 budgets. Gradually, I have seen the procedure around budgets and the delivery of budget statements altered dramatically. In the past, policy intentions were well-guarded and budget day was much anticipated. There was an air of anxiety, anticipation and excitement. We were waiting for a bit of the mystery to be revealed. Unlike yesterday, the Gallery was full and there was a real buzz around the House. Wha…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — that SSE Airtricity has announced that it will increase prices for its customers on the 1st October, with electricity bills rising by over 35 per cent and gas bills increasing by 39 per cent; — that in the space of 12 months there has been a more than €1,000 increase in both gas and electricity bills; — that poorer households and families are hardest hit by electricity price increases as they account for a larger share of household expenditure; — that a big part of these inc…

I wish to raise the concern about contingency planning in the event of decreasing levels of foreign direct investment in Ireland as a result of the implementation of the global and European minimum corporation tax rate. Ireland has used our corporation tax rate as a very effective economic development tool, which has successfully resulted in a flood of multinational investment into the country on the back of favourable conditions. However, a decision made in October 2021, that Ireland would accede to a minimum glob…

I thank the Tánaiste for clarifying that and for making it clear that the Government will not be reviewing the position. In that context, we have look to the future. I note that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Finance called for submissions in regard to enterprise policy. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment gave less than one month to people to make submissions. It restricted the submissions to 1,500 words. There are many companies out there that would like to…

Farmers have made significant progress in reducing emissions by improving their efficiency through measures such as: improved breeding, grassland management and the use of animal waste. They have proven both their awareness and long-term commitment. I have been contacted by numerous farmers from across County Tipperary who have expressed their mounting concern at the demands and expectations currently being placed on their shoulders. The underlying message is that they are willing and prepared to make changes, they…

Once again, I wish to raise the issue of the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit in Roscrea. I have raised this issue on numerous occasions with Ministers in the Department of Health and with the Taoiseach, both publicly and privately. I will not give up on the fight to maintain long-stay care for the elderly people of Roscrea. The people of Roscrea deserve the security and comfort of knowing that their own and their family members’ lives can be lived out in their own town. This has been the case for generations. A…

I welcome and thank the Taoiseach for acceding to my request for that meeting. I hope we can have that meeting shortly, because time is of the essence. We certainly would like to have the meeting before he goes back to his native Cork for the summer break. The committee will welcome that opportunity. I want to get to the kernel of the issue. I accept that the Minister of State has been working hard and has had several discussions with us. What has been on offer from the Minister in the latest proposal is very welco…

As the Minister is aware, the road hauliers will commit to a 25% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of the decade if the Government agrees to their reasonable demands to reduce operating costs. That argument is understandable. They acknowledge that their sector is a contributor to carbon emissions and accept that action is required. However, they are not in a financial position to take remedial action. The cost of replacing an existing truck with a low-emission vehicle that runs on hydrotreated vegetable oil,…

I compliment the Minister of State on taking the initiative and bringing this Bill before the House. I also acknowledge his capable and competent stewardship of his Department and his willingness to meet various representative groups and to listen to their advice and requests. This Bill offers fairness and prioritises equality for ordinary workers in businesses. This is a positive and welcome acknowledgement of the major role that employees play in keeping businesses afloat. This legislation does that. It has the p…

I ask the Tánaiste to address an anomaly that is occurring in Tipperary and across the country. Experienced drivers are being forced to stop driving school buses once they reach 70. It is not viable for younger people to obtain a D licence due to the costs involved so the bus and coach industry is losing out due to this ridiculous age restriction. A significant number of drivers on school runs are retired people who choose to work part time. This type of work lends itself to such employees. The irony is that driver…

The future sustainability of private and voluntary nursing homes across the country is a rapidly growing concern. Owners and operators of nursing homes are struggling to stay afloat. Many see no way forward. I have received numerous calls and correspondence from nursing homes across County Tipperary. All are desperate for support to save their businesses. They are not making extravagant demands; they are simply seeking equality with public nursing homes. This is a national issue. The kernel of the problem is the di…

I welcome the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is entering further discussions and negotiations, but will the Government please bring some urgency to the matter and bring it to a conclusion? There have been negotiations for years with no constructive proposals put on the table. We need to get past that stage. In my view, the ongoing medical and personal needs of elderly residents are practically the same, regardless of where they reside. It certainly does not make any sense to me to say that it costs…

Dublin Airport has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The debacle on Saturday and Sunday was covered by The New York Times and many other worldwide publications, with images of passengers at their wits' end and mind-boggling queues of hundreds of people trying to get into the airport building, even before they began the process of checking in bags and clearing security. The images beamed out on Sunday from Dublin Airport by the media reflect badly on the DAA and are very damaging. Several overseas visitors…

I am sharing time with Deputy Canney. I compliment the Minister of State on taking decisive action to develop opportunities in the apprenticeship sector and on taking corrective action to address a much-neglected sector. Apprenticeships have a crucial role to play in the future of this country and technological universities have added to their appeal. The creation of these forward-thinking centres of education has raised both the profile and the appeal of job-focused training in a blended-education and practical fo…

I ask the Minister for an update on the progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on reform of the family law system. Further, I ask the Minister whether she could or would consider moving the family law court hearings to a dedicated private sitting on a specific day, or to a separate location from the general District Court sittings.

I welcome the fact that the family court Bill will be published before the recess. The Minister has captured the essence of what the problem is. The family law system in Ireland, as it currently stands, is archaic. My difficulty - and the message I get from my constituents - is that those attending their local District Court on family law matters are obliged to sit in the court where there are a multitude of people on a variety of charges, including criminal charges. While the family law cases are heard in private,…

I thank the Minister. I acknowledge the fact that both the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, are making reforms and are progressive. They have taken a lot of very positive initiatives in the Department to date. I am glad that the Minister has acknowledged that the current system is failing people. The District Courts are overcrowded. It takes an unreasonable amount of time for cases to be heard. Due to this pressure, District Court judges simply do not have the time required to deal with in-depth a…

Despite billions of euro being pumped into the health services, our system still fails to meet the needs of service users. There is not just one reason for this. A myriad of issues combine to paint a picture of endless waiting lists, patients on trolleys, the inability to retain and recruit professional qualified staff, front-line staff burnout, under-resourced carers and mental health services, ambulances idling outside accident and emergency units and overburdened general practitioners. While there is a consensus…

I ask the Taoiseach to expand on his reply in regard to the neurology service in south Tipperary. The inability to retain and attract medical professionals to work in Ireland is given as the key reason for medical deficiencies. We hear that constantly. A high percentage of our young and newly qualified doctors and nurses choose to leave the country to work abroad. Many make this decision after a short period working within the Irish health service. Last year alone, 391 visa applications were granted to Irish doctor…