Today the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, stated that the Mercosur deal held many benefits for the Irish farmers and the wider economy. He said that for Ireland, Mercosur could be a significant beneficiary. This is incredible. It is the Minister of State putting up the white flag of surrender in terms of Mercosur. It comes just a few days after the Government put up the white flag in terms of the Irish fishing industry. Make no mistake about it, the Mercosur trade agreement will damage the livelihoods of hu…

What is our position?

Can the Taoiseach categorically say that the Government is able to protect all of the EU leaders who will come to this country during the EU Presidency? Who launched the drones that were seen off Dublin Bay during the Zelenskyy visit? Why were those drones not dealt with? Where did these drones come from? Where did they retreat to? How come none of that information is known at this stage? Who was behind the drones? We have heard statements that it is likely that they may have come from Russia, but what evidence is …

The Taoiseach has not categorically-----

-----stated that EU leaders will be safe during the Presidency.

He also has not stated where those drones came from and where they went.

He has not answered those questions.

Why will the Taoiseach not answer the question about the drones?

The Navan to Dublin rail line is not included in the national development plan review as a project that will start to be built before 2030. It has no start date for construction at all at the moment. It is up to a future government to fund the construction of a Navan to Dublin rail line. No money has been assigned or ring-fenced for that particular project, despite the fact there are 90,000 people commuting from Meath at the moment, 60,000 of whom travel by car and add to the M50 crisis. The M50 is currently grindi…

It is not a Bill.

That-----

I have to, a Cheann Comhairle.

There is no date for construction.

The human cost of this whole crisis is absolutely incredible. I visited Donegal many times with my good friend Mary T. Sweeney in relation to this particular crisis. I visited many families in many homes who have shown me chimney stacks falling down and massive gaps in the walls of their houses. We have the incredible situation of children sleeping in rooms on windy, stormy nights in fear that the building is going to collapse. I have no doubt this is leading to significant problems physically, but the mental and p…

It is hard to believe that it is 12 years since this crisis started to unfold. It is hard to believe that we still do not know how many homes, flats, offices, shops, farm buildings, etc., are impacted in the likes of Donegal or Mayo. It also is hard to believe there have been four attempts at rewriting this scheme over that period and yet we are still not at a scheme that is fit for purpose. This amendment speaks to the fact that so many people are snookered and have been left without any real options at the moment…

Are you though?

Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an leasú seo. Ba cheart go mbeadh an córas iomlán trédhearcach. I support Deputy Ward’s amendments. From a homeowner’s point of view, in Donegal especially, this process has been a never-ending, complex bureaucratic nightmare. One of the key characteristics that exists with this Government is the glacial pace with which it delivers anything. Even when it decides what to do and sets its mind to do it, it is incredibly slow. From a governance point of view, transparency is very important. You…

Today sees the publication of a significant report into British collusion in the killing of innocent Irish citizens. The report details how MI5 managed murderers and then sought to hide the truth afterwards. The Glenanne gang, who killed 127 Irish people, and was also made up of British Army, RUC and loyalist paramilitaries, is another example of collusion. In most countries, information such as this would be of the gravest priority but not here. The legacy Act, which was designed to let British soldiers away with …

The Secretary of State is still in charge of the information.

Aontú believes in self-determination. We believe that no other country, organisation or external investor court will make decisions in Ireland's best interests as good as those we will make. It is the very nature of national interests, corporate interests, etc. that self-determination is the only way to guarantee that our national interest is upheld. We learned that the hard way with regard to British rule and people in this country hold sovereignty very dear. We believe in co-operation with other countries and, at…