I appreciate the work under way across the health service and I know there is a strong focus on delivering improved cancer outcomes, but the data points to real challenges and real opportunities for improvement. I welcome the commitment from Government and the Minister and acknowledge the investment to date. Ireland still has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in western Europe and one of the highest rates of new diagnosis in the EU. Waiting times for access to new cancer medicines remain a concern, with Iri…

I acknowledge the work of the Minister and her Department. I encourage the Department to continue prioritising that capital investment. I also encourage the delivery of ring-fenced funding for cancer services, as mentioned by her, which was committed to in the programme for Government. I also encourage the expansion of acute oncology facilities, ensuring patients undergoing treatment are not forced through overburdened emergency departments. We have heard in this House this evening that emergency departments are no…

AI represents one of the biggest economic opportunities of our generation. I was fortunate enough to work in this space for three and a half years and in the tech sector for eight and a half years prior to being elected to this House. The Taoiseach's attendance at the AI Action Summit was extremely encouraging, as will the establishment of the Oireachtas joint committee on artificial intelligence. I wish my colleague, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, the very best of luck as he chairs that committee. Opportunity demands actio…

Given the recently announced 20% US tariffs on EU goods, which is double the 10% rate applied to Britain and Northern Ireland, and considering the exposure of the Irish economy, particularly export-reliant sectors and jobs, what proactive and specific steps is the Minister's Department taking to support those most vulnerable, including multinationals, SMEs and workers in mitigating these deeply concerning economic risks?

I thank the Minister. I appreciate the immediate steps the Minister, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are taking but Ireland is uniquely exposed. Our export economy depends heavily on the US, which accounts for nearly one third of our total exports. Unlike Britain and Northern Ireland, which face a 10% tariff, we are hit with the 20% rate as members of the European Union, which puts us at a disadvantage. Key sectors such as agrifood and advance manufacturing are now vulnerable, not just in terms of competitiveness, b…

I should mention Intel and Kerry Group in my constituency of Kildare North and the impact they might face. As the Minister noted, we need a co-ordinated and multilayered response to this. First, we should push diplomatically, particularly to our partners in the EU, for a negotiation of exemptions or reductions, especially for high-value sectors like agrifood in Ireland. Second, I would love to see a financial support package to be made available, with grants, bridging finance and tax reliefs for those firms directl…

I commend Deputy Byrne for introducing this Bill. It is a positive step. Having worked in the artificial intelligence industry for the past four years and technology for the past ten years, I have seen the massive opportunities that artificial intelligence can lend to society. Indeed, I was at a Google event this afternoon that showed there was a potential positive impact on GDP of 8% over the next eight to ten years if the country were to grasp artificial intelligence properly and be a leader in Europe and globall…

Does the Tánaiste intend to issue updated travel advice to those planning to travel to the United States? There has been much talk this week, naturally, about tariffs, etc., and the impact of what could come down the line tomorrow. There have been some changes, however, particularly with the new Administration in the United States, and some people have come across difficulties when travelling to the United States. Does the Tánaiste's Department intend to issue any updated travel advice?

To add additional context, in recent weeks I have been contacted by people and received reports of them attempting to travel to the United States from Dublin and Shannon, with electronic system for travel authorization, ESTA, visas and without any criminal conviction or criminal record. There seems to be no reason for them not to have gained entry into the United States. I appreciate it is for the United States immigration service to deal with matters such as this but there are questions there, particularly when ou…

I will be in touch with the Tánaiste's office regarding particular cases where persons were denied entry into the United States from Dublin and Shannon. I have spoken to other Oireachtas Members who have received similar reports. I thank the Tánaiste for his response and his work on this matter.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille seo agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht teacht anseo agus ar ndóigh as an Bille a chur os comhair na Dála. Is léir go bhfuil rudaí maithe sa Bhille seo. Tugann sé na toghcháin do na réigiúin agus na réigiúin Ghaeltachta agus is rud an-mhaith é sin agus cuirim fáilte roimhe. Tuigim go bhfuil an-obair curtha isteach ag an Roinn agus ag an Aire go dtí an pointe seo. An gcasfaidh an tAire le muintir Chonradh na Gaeilge agus le Tinteán faoin mBille agus faoi chuid de na ceisteanna at…

We can hear you okay.

Ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghuí ar an Aire, an Teachta Browne agus an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O’Sullivan. I wish the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, well in their new briefs. In the programme for Government, there is no mention of water charges. However, there was an article in the Irish Independent last week and then a furore was created by the Opposition on social media to the effect that there was in some way an attempt to facilitate the return of water charges. Will the Min…

That is reassuring. The Opposition spokesperson on housing blew this up on social media, saying that the Government was trying to sneak this in by the back door. The Minister confirmed in the media - he has done so again now - that there is no attempt to reintroduce water charges. It is incredulous that there was an attempt to construe that there was going to be a return to water charges. It is clear that there is no attempt on the Government's part to introduce water charges. This Government has listened to the pe…

There is a wider conversation to be had about excess water usage in society. By and large, households are responsible when it comes to use of water. It is great that the Government is committed to not reintroducing any type of water charges or introducing water charges for excess use.

Do not shout at me, Deputy.

Cathaoirleach, he is way over time.

We have seen an exceptional Garda recruitment campaign recently in February. I commend the Minister and An Garda Síochána on this. However, there are ready-made police officers and there is a barrier to them becoming gardaí. Can the Minister provide an update on the progress of section 50 regulations required to open up and facilitate the transfer of a PSNI officer to the ranks of An Garda Síochána and will he make a statement on the matter?

While I appreciate that the Minister will be consulting with his counterparts in the UK, at a time when we have an acute shortage of gardaí and require additional officers, there are members of the PSNI who wish to become gardaí. They are living in the Republic and commuting to the North. They are ready-made police officers ready to act. There are many such members. One in particular who I am aware of has been writing to and speaking with the PSNI, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice and the Policing Autho…

I thank the Minister. I appreciate him looking into this matter in more detail. I will work with him outside the House in respect of the case to which I refer. The number involved is not huge. To my knowledge, it is in the teens. These are people who are working in the PSNI. They have spent a lifetime in policing and have a considerable amount of experience that could contribute a great deal to both community and specialised policing in this jurisdiction. I will work with the Minister on the particular case to whic…