In my limited time to talk about policing community safety, I will focus on a couple of key points. The first is pay for gardaí. We need to create total pay restoration to the levels before the economic downturn. As I have mentioned in respect of nurses, if we are to have gardaí posted in urban areas, they need a Dublin allowance as an incentive. Otherwise we will be unable to replace the officers leaving the force. I put that first and foremost. The second thing is community policing. You get more bang for your bu…

The Irish people are a generous people. We recognise the need of so many people fleeing persecution and war who come to this country. Long may that continue. People have said to me on the doorsteps that they recognise the fantastic contribution being made by people from various countries around the world in, for example, our healthcare system. However, there is concern about people who are economic migrants using the asylum process, nice people as they may be. I note that the recent midnight plane to Georgia brough…

Is feidir leis an Teachta críochnú.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl faoi láthair, tá sé tábhachtach gur ardaíodh an t-ábhar seo. Aontaím go mór leis an rún. Is tábhachtach go n-aithníonn an Rialtas an obair seo mar beidh mé ag labhairt faoin Aire i gceann tamaill. Maidir leis an díograis agus an tiomantas chun an Ghaeilge a shábháil beo inár gcultúr, tá bealach ann chun é seo a fhorbairt, is é sin, ceart agus rathúlacht an oideachais trí Ghaeilge a roinnt le gach saoránach in Éirinn. Maidir le staitisticí,…

I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Violence against women is a global problem. It happens in so-called capitalist societies, socialist societies, religious communities and secular communities. It happens across the world. It may have an increasing risk in areas of deprivation and poverty but it is not related to income or social status either. We have our own background of patriarchy and misogynistic history but even in modern Ireland today, the level of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is totally …

Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine three years ago was a terrible attack on a sovereign nation, escalating into a conflict that has killed more than 1 million people, created 7 million refugees, displaced 3.7 million people internally and put almost 13 million people, including more than two million children, in dire need of humanitarian aid. Tens of thousands of children were also abducted by Russia and forcefully taken away from their families. Despite its vicious, indiscriminate military assaults and many w…

I have short enough speaking time but I welcome that the Minister of State has mentioned there has been some progress on graduates in the special section of the Department of the Taoiseach. There are also quite a number of areas, however, that require urgent re-examination. Reference is made to 60% of people with disability working. If one looks, however, at people who are termed disabled to a great extent, it is only 27.3%. That is an area which needs to be focused upon. We need to look at the issue of housing for…

Driver test waiting times have become a major issue across the country. From speaking to people in different parts of the country we know there are huge differences depending on ones location. The Government has itself acknowledged since last year the need for significant restructuring of the RSA and its €90 million budget but there is a lot of work to be done. There are 72,000 learner drivers awaiting a test as of February this year. This is a rise of 10,000 over the last three months alone. The Minister for Trans…

It is good to have the opportunity to speak on housing again so soon. I welcome the motion from my Social Democrats colleagues. Looking at the Government amendment, I would vote against it but I will put on the record that I am participating in a pairing arrangement today and so will not be voting. However, I will speak in support of the motion. It is very important to emphasise a couple of things. The Government statement says that some of the investment has to come from the private sector and that there is not an…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl go luath i gceann coicíse, bhí mé ag smaoineamh faoi conas a chothaítear níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid, go mór mór i measc na nÉireannach nua. I ndáiríre, tá fadhb againn. Léiríonn figiúirí ón Roinn Oideachais go bhfuil 8% de dhaltaí bunscoile sna Sé Chontae Fichead ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna agus go bhfuil 8.3% de na bunscoileanna sna Sé Chontae Fichead ag baint le Gaelscoileanna. Léiríonn taighde ón ESRI, áfach, go bhfuil an leibhéal éilim…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Taoiseach. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil caighdeán Gaeilge an-mhaith sna gnáthscoileanna freisin agus go bhfuil na hÉireannaigh nua ag lorg áiteanna chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt an t-am ar fad freisin. Tá a fhios agam sin. Is mór is cuimhin liom nuair a bhí mé i mo mhéara ar Chomhairle Contae Átha Cliath Theas, fuarthas cuireadh ó ghrúpa reilige ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig agus bhí an ghrúpa ag canadh go leor amhrán. Chan siad amhráin as Béarla agus as Gaeilge. Ba mhór an bród a bhí ar an ngrúpa seo as…

Honourable Members of Dáil Eireann, we stand at the dawn of a transformative age, one driven by the power of artificial intelligence. In business, AI offers unparalleled potential to boost productivity, streamline operations and foster innovation. Our economy can harness AI to enhance sectors like manufacturing, healthcare and finance, positioning Ireland as a global leader in technological advancements. However, with great power comes great responsibility. AI's rapid growth presents challenges: job displacement, e…

Why is it that despite investment, we seem to be, at best, running to stand still in respect of our mental health services? There are many things to cover, but I will focus on some of the matters that are getting worse despite a record allocation of €1.48 billion in budget 2024. Of particular concern to me and my constituents, and the topic I wish to concentrate on in my brief contribution, is the alarming increase in waiting times for CAMHS. I recently submitted a parliamentary question on the issue and await the …

As I look around the Chamber, I see the busts of those involved in the 1916 Rising. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic resolved to cherish all children of the nation equally. This has been used before many times. It can almost become cliched at times, but it must be stated that in the area of special education, we are not cherishing children equally. Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states: States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. Wi…

Here is a quote for the Minister of State: Every child gets free health and development checks from 0 to 5 years. This is to make sure they are healthy and developing normally. Checks will happen with a healthcare professional, for example your public health nurse (PHN), GP practice nurse or GP. They will normally happen at home or at your local health centre. You can use these visits and health checks to ask any questions or talk about any concerns about yourself or your baby. This is not misinformation on a Faceb…

These checks are crucial for the early identification of any developmental concerns, allowing for timely interventions. and they can significantly enhance or basically curse a child's prospects in the future if it is not looked at. Parents are understandably concerned about the need to have their children assessed in a timely manner, and it cannot be done privately. Maybe that needs to be examined in the context of something like the treatment purchase fund while we are trying to sort it out. In the limited time I …

The Road Safety Act was a progressive piece of legislation and I commend those involved in its implementation. The legislation, which I broadly welcome, targets three main areas namely mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious collisions; penalty points and some movement around speed limits. It is not a universally well received piece of legislation but we must look first and foremost at saving lives. There are many aspects we need to look at such as ensuring people who cannot drive properly are taken off the …

I reiterate my support for the recommendations of the Housing Commission report and emphasise the need to act on a macro level. I will outline a few more suggestions I will bring forward in more detail at a later stage. The first is increased penalties for housing not occupied including the right of a local authority to make a compulsory purchase order faster than the current derelict sites process. Allied to this are incentives to allow for the refurbishment of derelict buildings in city centres and rural towns an…

I have one minute and 30 seconds to speak. I actually supported curtailing this debate because it was all done and dusted when the Government was announced. There is a simple sentence that describes this ministerial appointment splurge. It is "The Late Late Show", with one for everyone in the audience. That is what it seems like. I can take on board that we have additional tasks and we have to deal with a strange new regime in the USA and a very dangerous world. We do need more people to look at more things but tha…

Legislation to enable a domestic violence register was listed as a priority in the Fianna Fáil manifesto before the general election. However, this important matter is not mentioned in the programme for Government. Will the Minister for Justice indicate whether it is still a priority - he has said that it is - and, if so, when will legislation, to be known as Jennie's law in memory of the late Jennifer Poole, to create a register for those with a history of coercive control and abuse be brought forward? The Departm…