In time for 2025.

Approximately 40% of Irish exports in food and beverages take place with the UK. Some 47% of Irish beef exports, with an estimated value of €1.3 billion go there, while dairy exports to the UK were valued at €1.1 billion in 2023. Overall, it is clear to see that despite the UK now being outside the EU Single Market and customs union, it continues to be an important market for Irish exports. The smooth transition to these new UK requirements, therefore, will be important for us and for certain sectors of the economy…

I ask the Minister to expand on the funding for which students from the Republic of Ireland can apply in the context of places on medicine courses at universities in Belfast and Derry, and to make a statement on the matter.

I received an email from a third-year medical student who is attending Ulster University. The course is located on Magee campus in Derry and, this year, the students are based in hospitals throughout the east Trust in Northern Ireland. Many of those studying medicine at Ulster University are from the Republic of Ireland. The student was shocked to find out this week that upon their graduation in 2025, it is unlikely they will be able to apply for internship posts and work as doctors in the Republic of Ireland. This…

I am surprised that no one else has contacted the Minister on the matter. In fairness, the Government is subsidising these medical students to go to Northern Ireland. The difference is that students from Northern Ireland who wish to attend university there have to pay up to £10,000 or £11,000 to do so. My big concern is that a recent ESRI study showed Ireland will need at least another 2,600 doctors in hospitals by 2025. Many of the doctors training in the Republic of Ireland are going abroad. This issue is on our …

Ireland used to have one of the highest rates of home ownership in the EU. Yet, despite reaching nearly full employment and economic growth, just 66% of housing is owner-occupied. Home ownership has collapsed particularly among younger generations and lower-income groups. Housing is consistently the number one issue of concern for my constituents in Louth and East Meath. Last week, the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, said that the Government had delivered more than 100,000 homes since 2020. Yet, the number of peop…

It has been one year since the tragic death of Private Seán Rooney, a member of the 27 Infantry Battalion in Dundalk. Today our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. There seem to be more and more problems for cancer patients applying for a discretionary medical card. A discretionary medical card gives you the same services as a means-tested medical card. However, a few of my constituents have not qualified for a medical card based on the means test. If someone is self-employed, young, without priva…

The word "cancer" puts fear into every household in the country. It changes people's lives. I guarantee the Tánaiste that not one person in this House does not have examples similar to those I will give him today. The bottom line is that if you are not working, you are not earning. I had a self-employed man come into my office this week whose wife was diagnosed with cancer. He is self-employed and he has to start working. The wife is in hospital getting treatment. I refer to the simple things of getting children up…

I raise an issue highlighted by a GP in my constituency that reduces patients' access to GPs. The issue relates to Revenue plans to change the current system in which GPs pay their taxes. GPs practising under the General Medical Services scheme often lodge money from it and from private patents into a partnership bank account of the practice that can cover running costs, including light, heating, insurance and staff costs. The doctors themselves then take an annual salary and are taxed from the salary they receive …

I welcome the opportunity to debate this important and long-anticipated legislation. The Bill impacts many areas, from housing to roads and from renewable energy to environmental and architectural conservation. Given this is once-in-a-generation legislation, we need to ensure we get it right so we meet the needs of society, enhance economic prosperity, promote a good quality of life and social cohesion and protect the quality of our environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The key aim of the r…

I condemn the barbaric attack on three children and their carer, crèche manager Leanne Flynn, outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Thursday, 23 November, and send my prayers to the two people still in hospital. There seems to be an idea that the Minister for Justice should have a hands-on role in day-to-day policing. The Minister's job is to be very clear on policy, put laws in place and ensure police have the numbers and resources necessary. In September, I and my colleagues in the Regional Group published a moti…

In recent years Ireland's private rental sector has been used to plug the gap left by reduced social housing availability. The total number of occupied rental properties in the 2022 census was 513,704. However, while the ten-year housing plan may bring relief in the long term, more immediate action is needed to relieve the burden on renters. Combined with booming demand from private renters, properties are in short supply. The number of homes available to rent across the country remains low, meaning the Government'…

In view of the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, does the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs believe a two-state solution is still possible, what steps is he taking towards this, and will he instruct Ireland’s representative at the United Nations to initiate a "Uniting for peace" initiative to discuss a permanent and sustainable ceasefire and a lifting of the blockade on Gaza? Will he make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I am delighted to see there is a seventh day of ceasefire today. I pray for it to go on longer and for a peaceful solution. The good news is that, over the past six days, Israelis and foreign national hostages have been released. Some 210 Palestinians have also been released. Like the Tánaiste, I condemn terrorism. I have no time for it at all. So far, more than 10,000 innocent women, children and older people have been killed and 60,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. …

I was one of those who did not want to send the ambassador back to Israel. At the time, doing so would have been wrong. What steps are the Tánaiste and the Israeli ambassador taking to assist the advance towards democracy? In Ireland, we have had our fair share of wars. In fairness, it was Americans who helped pave the way for the nitty-gritty negotiations that aided the peace process. I have been listening to many families who are saying that what they are seeing on their television screens right now is not nice. …

I thank Deputy Shanahan for a fantastic job getting this Bill to the House. Budget 2024 set out an approach centred on balanced budgetary policies, which allows for sustainable investment in our public services and extra supports to respond to external challenges, where needed. The figure of €91.2 billion in core expenditure for the normal spending and everyday business of Government sets a clear vision for continuous improvement of public services, living standards and infrastructure. The aim of the increased inve…

Ireland is one of five member states of the European Union that are not members of NATO. This country has a long-standing policy of military neutrality. It does not join miliary alliances or defence pacts or take part in international conflicts. With almost 10% of the Army deployed to the Middle East, Ireland’s substantial contribution to peacekeeping efforts in the region are unmatched by any other country. The Government is preparing legislation to change the protocol around the future of deployment of the Defenc…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill and I will support its progress today. The Spotlight on Income in Older Age: The State of Ageing in Ireland 2023 report found that 30% of people aged 66 and older rely on State payments from the Department of Social Protection for more than 90% of the money on which they live. This shows the heavy dependence on public schemes such as the State pension together with supports, such as the medical card and free travel pass, for survival. In this context…

The number of homeless people in Louth and the north east continues to climb, with 185 people accessing emergency accommodation in this region, 163 of them are in Louth. Along with investment in housing, we must further invest in our homeless charities through both Government and local authority supports. Homeless charities have picked up the pieces where insufficient Government funding has failed, providing crucial services to the community. For example, the Save our Homeless Dundalk charity is dedicated to helpin…

It is not the first time I have said to the Minister that I have good time for him. He listens to people and he does react. He came to County Louth last week over the flooding. I am a wee bit concerned with the Minister's answers. I thought, perhaps, that he might give me more of a personal answer. We have Save our Homeless Dundalk doing an absolutely fantastic job and I will put my hands up to say that the homelessness section in Louth County Council is also doing a fantastic job. We have concerns. I ask the Minis…