When I was on the picket line with Debenhams workers in recent months, many of them indicated that even if they did not get what they were due from the agreement they had made with the company, they wanted to ensure that no other workers would be put in a similar position. They were talking about what would happen post Christmas. They did not really expect a company the size of Arcadia to go just before Christmas. In the constituency of Dublin West, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons face potential closure, while…

We all hope - the workers more than anybody else - that their jobs will be secure and that a buyer will be found for those shops, particularly, as I said, in Dublin 15, in Dublin West, in the Blanchardstown Centre, where we have three of those shops and, potentially, hundreds of jobs. However, we also have to prepare for the possibility that they may not be bought. Unfortunately, from what I have heard so far, because I asked the Taoiseach these same questions last week when I raised the same issue, the workers wer…

I thank Deputies O'Reilly and McDonald and all of those who worked so hard to bring this Bill forward. I welcome the Government's position that it will not oppose the Bill this evening. I have worked for many years in the area of family support. I was also a member of the Dublin 15 domestic violence subgroup and I have worked with many women who experience domestic violence on a daily basis. I have seen at first hand the stress and distress of many victims of domestic violence with regard to their jobs. The fear th…

As the Tánaiste will be aware, we have Debenhams workers outside shops while inside shops we have Arcadia Group workers who face the exact same situation in January. These workers received a WhatsApp message from the Arcadia Group that was directed to British workers. They did not receive a message addressed to them. Like the Debenhams workers, they have an agreement for a four-week redundancy payment scheme and have been told this will not be honoured. They have six weeks of trading ahead and tens of millions of e…

Anything the Debenhams workers have asked for, the Arcadia Group workers are now asking for. We were warned; we were told and we knew this was going to happen.

It is happening. January and February will be a bloodbath for people who are working in that-----

The programme for Government features the roll-out of cycle lanes. In our constituency, around Hartstown, Huntstown and the Mountview area, this has caused great consternation and annoyance for many people. I have received hundreds of complaints from residents who are trying to access and egress their estates. I live in Lohunda in Clonsilla, just off the Mountview Road where it has caused huge problems for people trying to get in and out. We need more consultation on these cycle lanes and to examine the guidelines.…

I thank the Minister of State for his report earlier and for the open way we have engaged with each other since his appointment. I look forward to community-focused feedback. There will be times when challenges need to be addressed. While listening to the debate over the past few hours I was interested in and impressed with some of the comments about community development because they fit into my view of it. It is something at which I have worked for more than 20 years, both as a community representative and in my …

I move: That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges that: — the unlawful use of quad-bikes and scrambler motorcycles has resulted in serious injury and death; — Gardaí do not have the required training, resources or legislative powers to effectively address the unlawful and dangerous use of quad-bikes and scrambler motorcycles; — the current practice is that Gardaí do not follow or apprehend those using or driving quad-bikes or scrambler motorcycles in an unlawful or dangerous manner; — the scourge of scrambler motorcycles and…

I thank Deputies for their contributions, particularly those who have supported the motion. I am really disappointed by the response of the Government. I am not talking about the remarks of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, or the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, which, to be honest, I take with a pinch of salt. The amendment tabled by the Minister, which I will go through, speaks volumes regarding where this Government is at. It states, "An Garda Síochána pursue appropriate policing strategies with due regard to the …

On the same matter, the workers have been 216 days on strike and they have been let down by Debenhams and KPMG. Many of them were very angry on Friday when they watched the soft sell by “The Late Late Show” and Ryan Tubridy in regard to KPMG. I wonder how much of that €15,000 bursary that it offered was made in its role with Debenhams. It is very simple: the Taoiseach can decide to intervene or not. The question we are asking him is a very simple “Yes” or “No” question. Will he intervene on behalf of the workers? I…

The programme for Government committed to support and enable a strong community sector. However, at the first hurdle of the 2021 budget, this Government has stumbled at the first fence. It is important to put into context the contribution the community, voluntary and charity sector makes in Ireland. It comprises 34,842 charitable organisations, 86,481 volunteer directors and trustees, directly employs 165,000 people and manages a turnover of €14.2 billion. These organisations raise more than half of this income the…

In the programme for Government there is a commitment to look at legislation on dog welfare. Over recent months there have been serious issues relating to Ashtown dog pound and disturbing news of an ongoing Garda investigation into the treatment of dogs brought to the pound. I am very aware of this matter from my time as a councillor and it was brought before us on many occasions. To be honest, I would be horrified if my dog ever ended up in that pound. There is current legislation on dog welfare but, unfortunately…

It is very sad that we are back in a situation where level 5 restrictions apply. I take the opportunity to express my condolences to the families whose loved ones have passed away and to offer my support to the people in hospital who are struggling to get back to full health. There has been much criticism of the Opposition from speakers on the Government benches. There is not one person in this Chamber who does not want the measures to succeed and to ensure this is over as quickly as possible. Everybody supports th…

The Minister and I have known each other for some time. I understand the difficult position he is in being a first-time Minister in a new Government and dealing with this situation but it is absolutely critical that this matter is dealt within an appropriate way. I am from the north inner city. When I was young I would go with my friends to the Sean McDermott Street swimming pool, across the road from which there was an imposing building that we knew nothing about, other than that we brought blankets there every mo…

This Bill is very simple and the decision to be made is all the simpler because Fianna Fáil and the Green Party both opposed co-living in no uncertain terms when in opposition. The Minister of State's Government colleagues from my area, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, both vehemently opposed the co-living development at the former Brady's site in Castleknock. My belief was that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, abstained previou…

The programme for Government pledges to support local drug and alcohol task forces to help them identify needs in the community. I was a member of a drugs task force in the very early days and for several periods since then, until quite recently. I remember the exciting days when the community felt its voice was being heard. That has sadly been lost in the past ten years. Can the Tánaiste commit to supporting strong community representation on drug and alcohol task forces and to making statutory engagements obligat…

I firmly believe that the process involved in selecting the preferred options and the consultation process are significantly flawed. I will give a couple of examples. First, I welcome the DART+ Maynooth–Dunboyne line. There is no doubt that the rail transport system for the whole community along that line will be transformed. I did not receive a single email, telephone call or submission in opposition to the project. There is considerable support for it. The benefits of the DART line will certainly be significant b…

I thank the Minister. I am a little disappointed in that there is no commitment to ask Irish Rail to hold off until that meeting can be held. I accept that we are not living in normal circumstances, but this is important. This is a major project and we cannot get it wrong. I would like to mention a couple of things. The Fingal County Development Plan 2017-2023 includes two local objectives. I worked on that plan, and that work commenced in 2014-2015. The objectives are to preserve the existing pedestrian or vehicle…

Can we have a conversation about putting in place funding for professional help for local communities?