We do not have any knowledge of that, but if the Deputy wants to writes to us about it, we can look into it.

Well done. That is one in a row and the first time he has said it.

I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is fully committed to tackling all forms of crime and theft everywhere in the country. The Government's first priority is to increase Garda numbers and Garda visibility so all of our communities, rural and urban, can feel safe and be safe. This is reflected in the record allocation of €2.59 billion in the Garda Vote for 2026, which will support investment in equipment and technology and, importantly, the continued recruitment of Garda personnel. I must be clear, though…

It was encouraging to see that the CSO crime statistics, released last week, show that detection rates for crime incidents reported in 2024 were equal to or above those in 2023 for nine of the 14 crime offence groups. The Department is currently progressing work to develop a retail crime strategy to tackle the complex and evolving nature of retail crime, which the Deputy mentioned. We are all too conscious that this is not just about organised retail crime, and that there is a large amount of lower level, everyday …

The Department has been informed by the Garda authorities that works are planned for Sligo Garda station in the immediate term. These works will support a scene of crime task force relocation. The project is at the tender evaluation stage. In accordance with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines, a preliminary business case for a new Garda divisional headquarters in Sligo is also being undertaken by An Garda Síochána. Once complete, the preliminary business case will be issued by An Garda Síochána to th…

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a further period of 6 months, beginning on the 1st day of December, 2025, and ending on the 31st day of May, 2026. I am here to introduce a resolution to extend the sunset clause in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021. Deputies will be aware that the Act was introduced in July 2021 and this allowed the hospitality sector to conti…

I thank the Deputies for their time and contributions. With the extension of the Act until 31 May 2026, I hope that it sends out a message of our determination to continue to support and provide clarity to businesses, An Garda Síochána and local communities. This is an important extension which clarifies the position of licence holders who wish to sell and serve alcohol adjacent to a licensed premises in an area provided by the relevant local authority. With the extension of this Act, continued certainty is provide…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations for an agreement between the European Union a…

I thank all the Deputies for their contributions, which I have listened to carefully. I also thank Deputy Crowe for a very insightful contribution about the reach of Irish missionaries as far as Korea. We know the outstanding contribution of Irish missionaries around the world and that was another example of it. I reiterate that the proposed opt-in concerns a proposal for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations for an agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea on the transfer of PNR data.…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union support for asylum, migratio…

I thank all speakers who contributed to this debate. If you listen to the range of contributions, you will hear wide and varied differences in the views and opinions being offered. For me that reflects the complexity of the whole issue of immigration and migration. There are very little solutions and lots of criticisms, which I can accept but it is the job of Government to try to manage migration and immigration. Before doing so, I restate that immigration has had positive benefits for Ireland. Both I and the Gover…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union support for internal securit…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Justice programme for the period 2…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senators. The amendment is not opposed. However, Senators are probably aware at this stage that the Government's approach to the Bill has changed and the Bill is now being opposed. I will expand a little on that. We are pleased to have the opportunity to speak about this Private Members' Bill sponsored by Senators Flynn, Black, Higgins and Ruane. I acknowledge the hard work and sustained effort the Senators have put into getting this Bill to Report Stage and engaging with us on t…

Notwithstanding the change in the Government’s position on the Bill, which we are opposing, I am happy to speak further on the two amendments as they are evidence of the democratic process at work. The Senators have engaged on the issues that were outlined with their proposal and it is important to acknowledge the work they have put in to address them. I understand that the purpose of these two amendments to the Long Title is to correct an error and substitute the updated term "Child Sexual Abuse Material" in place…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I had not realised that her mam had passed. She has my condolences and sincere sympathies in that regard. I thank her for sharing her personal experience in the aftermath of the event that is informing our discussion this morning. I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan. I hope to be able to provide some clarity on some issues and guidance on where we go from here. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners in districts throughout the co…

First, the Minister and I want to take this opportunity to again express our sincere condolences to the family of Vadym Davydenko and everyone associated with his tragic death last Wednesday, 15 October. The Minister acknowledges the interest of the Members of this House in issues surrounding unaccompanied minors from Ukraine. In particular, the Minister thanks Senator Keogan for raising the important issue of unaccompanied minors in the care of Tusla and in aftercare services. Children in the care of the State are…

I assure Deputy O'Reilly that our Department is committed to driving the modernisation of the Coroner Service in Ireland, including Dublin, where she outlined the issues many families are experiencing, including her own. The Department has received approval from the Government to draft the general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service in order to increase efficiencies and minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people and their families. The heads of the Bill, which…

I thank the Senator again for bringing forward the important issue. I thank her for her comments in relation to it. I reiterate that Ireland has responded to the Ukrainian crisis by welcoming more than 110,000 Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland in the most difficult of circumstances and have sought sanctuary in Ireland. A significant proportion of them are unaccompanied minors who fled the war and have been taken into care or provided accommodation by Tusla. I acknowledge the extraordinary efforts a…

I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this Commencement matter on the plans of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the homelessness and housing crisis. The Minister and this Government are absolutely determined to meet the needs of people who need us to respond at pace to the housing challenges we face. The programme for Government commits to delivering 300,000 new homes by 2030. To drive this delivery, the Government has committed to a new national housing plan to follow Housing for A…