First, it is the greatest myth to suggest that we have an opt out because we do not. I will explain this in specific terms. We are working under the 1954 UN Human Rights Charter in the context of our core obligation as a country to provide asylum. The Lisbon treaty is totally separate. Under that treaty, this country has an opt out on justice and home affairs issues or issues of taxation. This means that if a European decision is being taken, Ireland has the option to opt out of that decision under those competenci…

Shall I continue, a Cheann Comhairle?

I am not aware that it arose at the last meeting.

Very good. I again acknowledge the Deputies and all the work they have done in their well-informed contributions. To again address the issue of the Middle East, the European response has unfortunately not been as unified as we hoped. As I pointed out, there is urgency in finding common ground on which to engage with our global partners. It is clear that the majority of member states are demanding an immediate ceasefire, while all member states are calling for the immediate release of hostages and the alleviation of…

From day one the Government has been very clear and unequivocal in our demands at home and abroad when engaging with partners in Europe and across the globe. We are calling for four actions: an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, urgent and effective humanitarian access, the protection of civilians, and the release of all hostages. I utterly condemn the violence committed in Israel and Gaza since 7 October and the disproportionate response we have seen coming from the Israeli Government in the intervening period. Gaz…

I thank the Deputies for their statements in the House this afternoon. I will focus my remarks on enlargement, security and defence, and migration. On the situation in the Middle East, Ireland has consistently been clear that the protection of civilians must be paramount. It is an obligation under international humanitarian law. There must be accountability for civilian deaths. We are very disappointed that the truce between Israel and Palestine has been ended. The seven-day truce was seen to work, with the release…

I thank Senator Gallagher for his Commencement matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who cannot be here this morning because he is at Cabinet. I fully agree with the Senator's sentiments that local, national and primary roads are so important in terms of the infrastructure for local communities. As the Senator is aware and as is outlined in the national development plan, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network is fundame…

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this Commencement matter and I will take his message back firmly to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I will point out that in 2023 an additional €22.5 million was allocated for issues related to inflationary costs and damage to regional and local roads. That is to point out that those roads take 55% of our traffic nationally which is a very significant portion. In that region, Cavan received €687,500 and Monaghan received €580,000. I do firmly take the Senator's point about investmen…

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this very important matter. It provides the Minister for Education with an opportunity to outline a response. The Minister is at Cabinet today and was unable to attend to respond to the Senator’s Commencement matter. For school planning purposes the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, GIS, to anticipate school place demand. Information systems from a range of sources, including child benefit data, …

I thank the Senator for outlining the strong case for school places in Clonakilty. As was contained in the response from the Department, it is clear it will ensure that every child has a place in September 2024. The Senator has acknowledged the investment that has already taken place in Clonakilty Community College and has made a significant case for more investment in that key educational facility. We need to talk to the Minister about that. I will raise the Senator's valid concerns and the arguments he has put be…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I also thank Deputy Cahill for raising this issue. I acknowledge the people in the Gallery who have come here to hear this Topical Issue debate. I am obviously taking this on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, who cannot be here. As someone from a farming background who was reared on our family's suckler farm, I can really appreciate from Deputy Cahill's testimony how distressing an experience like this can be. I do ask him to be aware, howe…

Just to be very clear, I am not in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and I do not have any knowledge of this case. I know this is not acceptable at times for Deputies when Topical Issue debates and the issues raised in them are very important. Obviously, though, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, will have the detail and knowledge concerning this matter. When Deputies have visitors coming to the Gallery, I respect the fact that it is not ideal when someone like me comes in who does not have the detail o…

I am.

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue and for the opportunity to discuss the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. As the Deputy will be aware, the Act was commenced in April of this year, following the passage of amending legislation, by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, and the constructive input of Deputies and Senators across the Houses. First, let me acknowledge the scale and magnitude of change that this legislation has brought about in Irish society. In repealing the Lun…

It is very important that we articulate lived experiences, especially when going through a new system, so if the Deputy wants to give me the details of the person in question, I will absolutely bring them to the attention of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. It is important also that a steering group would see challenges. We know, as constituency TDs holding clinics, how circumstances can change rapidly in the lives of people going through difficult times, and it is important that the system support that in a user-fri…

I have a prepared response from the Minister, Deputy Ryan, anyway.

I am not aware that it is but, I have to say, I am not an expert in the matter.

Absolutely. I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I would like to clarify that issues in respect of Córas Iompair Éireann pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group and its employees. The employees of the CIÉ Group companies, namely, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and CIÉ, are provided with pension benefits on retirement from one of two schemes, namely, the regular wages …

I reassure the Deputy that the Minister for Transport and his officials are working closely with CIÉ to seek a resolution to the ongoing pension issues in the group. I am also advised that the key step to resolving the CIÉ pension deficit and, therefore, towards making pension increases payable is to implement the Labour Court recommendation that has previously been accepted in a ballot of the CIÉ trade union group. The Labour Court recommendation also contained an ex gratia payment of €1 million to pensioners belo…

I thank Deputy Cannon for raising this very important topic, which I know he has a great interest in and has been fighting for. From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Tran…