I support Deputy Ó Ríordáin's amendment. The matter of intent might need to be added to it. As the Deputy read it out, the actus reus seems to involve assaulting somebody rather than merely having the intention to assault him or her. That is just a question mark over it but I very much support the amendment. If it cannot be included, I would join with Deputy Ó Ríordáin in urging contemplation of including the matter in future legislation. I refer to future legislation during the lifetime of this Dáil rather than le…

Do I understand correctly that while attempted poisoning is obviously an offence, the mere placing of one of the substances regularly used for these purposes in somebody's drink at a bar or nightclub is not an offence, in and of itself, unless accompanied by an attempt at sexual assault, which the Minister says requires a degree of proximity, which is accepted, or an actual sexual assault? If that is the case, there is clearly a lacuna in the law because it is very difficult to see how there is an innocent way in w…

Ennis, like other market towns in Clare and market towns all over the country, has streets full of fine old buildings where there is a retail unit at ground level. In many but not all cases, they are vacant over ground level whereas, a century ago, there were families living in those. I do not underestimate the difficulty of converting those back into residential use, given there are regulations and issues around financing, but it would offer many benefits, not just in housing but also for the environment, for soci…

But not where there are retail units on the ground level, which is more complicated.

It is very limited. There is the living city initiative. In any case, the Taoiseach is happy to talk about it so I thank him for that.

I have to say that this is one of the most depressing debates I have attended in this House during this term or my previous term. On the one hand, the Government says everything is fine and lists a load of measures. I accept that all of those measures have been taken and everything is not fine. They are not effective enough. Clearly a lot more needs to be done. We have a housing crisis. People were annoyed when the President pointed out the blindingly obvious. I suppose the emperor always gets annoyed when somebody…

I think I have a few more minutes. We need to differentiate when it comes to people letting out their house on a short-term basis, and it was always on a short-term basis, and who need to move back in or even people who had enough money to buy an apartment so their children could live in it when they went to college so they would not have to commute from Clare to Dublin or Clare to Cork. I went to college in Cork. It simply would not have been possible to commute. I do not think it would have been particularly bene…

I thought it was another case of the Labour Party telling me how to vote or speak but I accept it was not the case.

Just not in here.

Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ag an Aire agus ag a Roinn chun Gaelcholáiste an Chláir neamhspleách a fhorbairt in Inis?

Bunaíodh Gaelcholáiste an Chláir mar aonad lán-Ghaeilge taobh istigh de Choláiste Phobail na hInse in 1993. Níl a leithéid de rud agus aonad lán-Ghaeilge ann i ndáiríre. Is aonad í Gaelcholáiste an Chláir atá nasctha le Coláiste Phobail na hInse, an mháthairscoil, faoi phátrúnacht Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir. Tá tosaíocht lán-Ghaeilge in ainm is a bheith ag an aonad agus soláthraíonn sé oideachas iar-bhunscoile trí mheán na Gaeilge a oiread agus is féidir leis taobh istigh de thimpeallacht…

Ní léir go dtuigeann an Roinn Oideachais an méid oibre atá á dhéanamh ag na daltaí agus tuismitheoirí in Inis. I mbeagán focal, is scannal amach agus amach é nach bhfuil freagra faighte ón Roinn ar an iarratas neamhspleáchais a sheol an patrún, Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir, chuici breis agus dhá bhliain ó shin. Is náire é go bhfuil pobal Chontae an Chláir fós ag fanacht ar iar-bhunscoil lán-Ghaeilge neamhspleách tar éis 30 bliain. Tá breis agus 20 iar-bhunscoil Bhéarla i gContae an Chláir ag…

I listened to the debate during Leaders’ Questions earlier, if it could be called a debate. The Tánaiste said the solution to the housing crisis is the provision of more accommodation. He also said that everyone in this House wants to do the right thing regardless of what they view the right thing is. I agree with him on both counts. Clare County Council recently purchased six houses on Francis Street in Ennis. It is proposed to transfer them to a company wholly owned by Clare County Council, Ennis 2040 DAC, and th…

Greenways are a success story and have the potential to be an even greater one. In general, tourism in Ireland is a success story. A significant number of tourists come to Ireland but their visits tend to be concentrated in exactly the same places as were popular with tourists in Victorian times. There are various campaigns, such as Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and so on, to try to disperse tourists and get them to consider other areas, with a degree of success. Greenways have significant potential to disperse peopl…

I have outlined to the Taoiseach the importance of this with regard to dispersing tourists. Obviously, that is why I have continually pressed the issue of the Shannon Heritage sites. I understand a deal is now imminent. I would like to express my thanks to the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I also see the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, in the Chamber. I thank all who contributed to that deal. It is indeed good news. We need to make sure that tourism is dispersed, and it is part of Clare Cou…

I am happy to bring the Taoiseach there.

W. T. Cosgrave could do it.

I have found the debate quite profoundly depressing, as will many people watching it, especially those who fear homelessness. The reality is that we need to fundamentally reform our residential tenancies sector. It was developed in 2004 for a very different Ireland, when large landlords might have had ten or 15 properties. We now have huge real estate funds coming in and buying up developments and apartment blocks. There is no reason whatsoever that there should not be security of tenure when people are investing l…

What processes are in place for farmers, part of whose holdings have recently been included in the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, co-operation area on the basis that it is a habitat conducive to breeding hen harriers, if they believe or it is evident that the land in question is not suitable habitat for hen harriers?

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, but she did not answer my question. Is there an appeals process for someone whose land has been put into a co-operation area on the basis that it is suitable for the breeding of hen harriers and who believes it is not suitable? There is a lot of land in the Slieve Aughty range and on Slieve Bernagh, where it is proposed to build a wind farm, that is suitable for hen harrier breeding. However, there is land in various parts of Tulla and right across the foothills of the S…