Given the recent devastation, which was widely reported and debated in the House, caused by Storm Éowyn, which resulted in widespread power outages and damage amounting to hundreds of millions of euros, the Climate Change Advisory Council has urged immediate action to prepare for future extreme weather events. It recommends establishing a national climate damage register to track the economic, social and environmental impacts of such storms. Will the Taoiseach consider establishing such a register? When will the Ca…

Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle.

Could the Taoiseach provide a report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February? This meeting focused on European defence, addressing critical topical issues such as enhancing defence capabilities and financing EU defence priorities. We have seen the need to improve our own defence capabilities in this country, and I look forward to hearing the Taoiseach's response.

During the commemoration, survivors expressed deep concern over the resurgence of antisemitism and the rise of radical ideologies worldwide. Leon Weintraub, a 99-year-old survivor, highlighted that such ideologies preach hostility and hatred towards others, defining racism, antisemitism and homophobia as virtues. In light of these alarming trends, how does the Government plan to strengthen and implement the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism within Ireland to effective…

Ar dtús báire, guím gach rath ar an Aire. I wish the Minister well with her new brief. We have seen the success of primary care. I look to my home town of Maynooth, which is yet to have a primary care centre. I have been calling for this for a long time. The population of Maynooth is 17,000, on top of which there are 14,000 students, as I mentioned previously, and a projected population increase of 10,000. We are looking at a town of around 31,000 without a primary care centre. Will the Minister update us regarding…

I welcome the news about the primary care centre in Leixlip. As the Minister mentioned, it will be a significant investment by the State and a significant primary care centre in Leixlip but bear in mind that the whole idea of primary care is accessibility, that older people, young families and mums with children can walk down to a primary care centre and receive care in the community. I ask the Minister, as she stated, to continue the review. This goes back as far as 2015. It is now ten years on and no real progres…

The Minister has hit the nail on the head. There was a site where a health centre was to be changed into a health centre, which is ludicrous. There is a wider argument around planning, particularly how one arm of the State speaks to another. That is a wider question. I welcome that there will be a primary care centre in Leixlip. I will continue to work with the Minister to try to find an alternative site in Maynooth. I appreciate all the work she has been doing in increasing primary care throughout the country.

Is cúis áthais é labhairt anseo inniu faoin nGaeilge, go háirithe i rith Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Tráthnóna inné, bhí mé ag ócaid de chuid Gaeilge365 i Halla na Cathrach, áit ar pléadh an obair iontach atá ar siúl ag grúpaí agus daoine aonair ar son na Gaeilge. Tugaim aitheantas do Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Daithí de Buitléar as an obair atá ar siúl acu. Tá sé mar chuspóir ag an Rialtas seo sa chlár Rialtais Gaeilge365 a leathnú timpeall na tíre. Tugaim aitheantas ar leith dóibh siúd atá ag obair ga…

I also wish the Minister well in his new role. I also wish to comment on the positive recruitment campaign for gardaí that was launched recently and to encourage people to consider the Garda as a positive career choice. We are fortunate to have an excellent police force, obviously throughout the country but in Kildare specifically. Community gardaí, such as Garda Aidan McGuane, contribute so much to the community. Community policing has been a resounding success in this country. We are, however, massively under-res…

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle sa ról nua atá aige agus leis an Aire chomh maith. Ba mhaith liom fiafraí den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí cé mhéid deontas de naíonáin nuabheirthe atá tugtha anois do thuismitheoirí i gContae Chill Dara agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ar an ábhar. How many newborn baby grants have been made to parents in Kildare and will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Naturally, I welcome the grant. In the programme for Government, there are a number of very good commitments for families and young children and this grant, for example, goes a long way towards helping with the costs that come with having a newborn. There is talk in the document of examining the extension of parent's leave and benefit and providing additional flexibility. I ask that consideration also be given to that leave in the Houses of the Oireachtas. No formal paternity leave is granted to TDs and Senators an…

I thank the Minister. I also commend the fact the new baby grant is made automatically with the child benefit payment, without the need for an additional application.

Fiafraím den Aire maidir lena na gcuid pleananna chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an córas leasa coimirce forásach agus go gcumhachtaítear do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas saol iomlán neamhspleách a chaitheamh agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ar an ábhar? What are the Minister's plans for ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers people with disabilities to live full and independent lives?

Go raibh maith ag an Aire. It is great to see the progress the Government and the Minister and his Department are making in such a short space of time. As the Minister outlined, people with disabilities face additional costs, be it in the context of healthcare, medication, transport of whatever. It is important that we provide people living with a disability with the ability to not just live but also to thrive, that we ensure there is no hindrance on the part of the State and that we are assist them as much as poss…

It is great to see the amount of work that is happening in the Department. I ask that those involved in dealing with this matter might look at the councils in how they approach this issue. The likes of the housing adaptation grant should be more readily available. People should have greater opportunities to apply for that grant in order to allow them to have the works it covers carried out.

Ar dtús báire, is mór an onóir dom labhairt anseo inniu den chéad uair sa Dáil. Gabhaim fíorbhuíochas le muintir Chill Dara Thuaidh as ucht an onóir seo a thabhairt dom. Chomh maith leis sin, gabhaim buíochas le m'fhoireann agus le mo chlann as an tacaíocht a thug siad dom i mo shaol sa pholaitíocht agus ar ndóigh sa toghchán deireanach. As this is my first time speaking in the Dáil, I am deeply honoured to stand here today as a representative for Kildare North. My heartfelt thanks go to my family, friends, team an…