Who is subsiding that? Who is policing all of that? What is coming out of this?

I, too, have been listening to this debate for a number of hours. I will acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, have only been in office since last January. From engaging with both of them on these issues, I know of the gallant efforts being made to resolve them. As I said, I listened to the debate. Like most others, the problems are repeated in every constituency. My real concern is people being denied tickets sometimes without a clear explanation. Some children …

I welcome the publication of the strategy and give credit to the Minister for bringing it to the Chamber. For too many families in Ireland, strategies and promises have come and gone, so to speak. Sometimes what remains is a very real sense of letdown. I do not speak today in abstract as a member of my staff is the mother of a lovely ten-year-old girl with Down's syndrome. For those ten years, her lived experience has been that unless she shouts the loudest, her child's needs go unnoticed for the best part. What fa…

My question is on carers. I acknowledge, as most of us do from time to time, the outstanding work Family Carers Ireland and carers in general do in our communities. I also acknowledge the increase in the income threshold in the assessment. As part of the programme for Government, there is a commitment to abolish the means test. I am anxious to know the timelines in this respect.

I support the Second Reading of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill is timely and necessary and fundamentally about one thing: accountability in how we plan, manage and deliver healthcare in Ireland. The central purpose of the legislation is to ensure the Health Service Executive operates under the highest standards of prudent and effective financial management. It replaces the old service plan model with a more accountable performance delivery plan, strengthening the role of Ministers and the HSE CEO in fin…

I thank the Minister and Minister of State for progressing the commission of investigation. It matters to me, as it matters to all previous speakers. This is a very solemn day, not because we are beginning something new but because we are acknowledging something that was hidden for many years. The commission is being established because survivors of childhood sexual abuse, both men and women, had the courage to speak. I thank them for that. They have broken silences imposed on them by shame, industrial-institutiona…

The issue I bring to the Taoiseach's attention relates to LEADER funding. I will throw the spotlight on how the allocations affect us in east Galway. Per head of population, Roscommon receives €97; Offaly, €76; Mayo, €64; Clare, €53; and poor east Galway, €37. I ask that consideration be given to rebalancing how LEADER funding is divvied out and that we get our proportionate share.

I acknowledge the extension of the last train from Galway to Dublin on Saturdays, which is now running at 8.50 p.m. as opposed to 7.25 p.m., which is a step in the right direction. It is important also to highlight the inconsistency in the service during the week. The last train departs at 10.25 p.m., yet on Saturdays, when demand for cultural and social events peaks, the cut-off is at the earlier time of 8.50 p.m. That is a little bit short of what is required to support cultural events. Now with the Galway Intern…

Like others, I welcome the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. I commend the Department of Education and Youth on undertaking that critical work. Although many positives have been reported, the findings of the review confirm what some families, educators and advocates have long felt. We still need to work harder on delivering inclusive, equitable education for children with special educational needs, particularly those with Down's syndrome, general learning disabilities, and…

The Government committed in the men's health action plan 2024-28 to increase health literacy and raise public awareness of boys' and men's physical, mental and emotional health through a range of promotional activities. I welcome that the Minister for Health is in the Chamber. How much funding has been allocated to implement the actions in the plan? Is the Government confident the strategy is fully funded and resourced? Are any potential difficulties with the plan anticipated as we go forward?

I appreciate the Minister coming into the Chamber to deal with the responses to some of the genuine concerns that people have about the finances. I ask the Minister where he and his Department intend to ensure that employment growth continues, given the global uncertainty.

I thank the Minister for a comprehensive response. No matter where you come from, there are, right around the island of Ireland, representatives like me who are concerned about the threat to any job, particularly in the more dispersed rural villages. Everything the Minister for Finance can do would be much appreciated and is much needed. None of us was aware of what the volatile President Trump was about to do and the impact it would have on our economy. The Minister stated that there are 2.8 million people in empl…

In east Galway, we are fortunate to have Dexcom. The company is at an advanced stage with its development in Athenry. It plans to employ many people there, which is really welcome. Most of us understand that some companies are better insulated against the proposed tariffs than others. I am heartened to hear the Minister's plans to safeguard employment and the measures he has taken or is considering to further ensure there is no threat to those in employment.

The Minister has inherited quite a difficult situation. I do not doubt her response, her hands-on approach and the swift action that she has taken. I read in a report that she means business, and rightly so. It is shameful that we have to be talking about this kind of a calamity happening in modern-day medicine. It is hard to believe. Sitting at home listening to the news reports, I found myself saying "Not again." It beggars belief that this is happening in this day and age. However, we are where we are. I thank t…

I thank the Minister very much for the statement she has just read, which is very comprehensive and sets out an ambitious programme of work. I deeply appreciated her coming to visit my constituency of Galway East. She did a great honour to the teaching staff, parents and organisers of the €16,000 fundraiser that developed the sensory room in Barnaderg National School. The fact that the Minister arranged to visit the school and officially open the facility demonstrates her empathy and compassion. She did not just vi…

It is a remarkably decent and generous thing that Cara Darmody has done for this island in terms of bringing this to a level where nothing else has been discussed today, and rightly so. When I was campaigning in my municipal authority of Tuam in the run-up to the local elections last year there were lots of issues discussed, such as housing, homelessness, migration and childcare, and, of course, early years intervention was one of the priorities. Then at the back end of last year when we had the general election ca…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber because this discussion is timely in view of the fact that so many of us have been bombarded by constituents. I support all of the contributions made so far. A total of 80,000 people nationally are waiting for tests. That is quite a substantial number, consisting of young people, students, and people wanting to get access to education or employment. Not being able to avail of a test places a restriction and real burden on people. In recent times, there have be…

I understand the Minister is coming to visit Galway this week. I assure him he will be most welcome. Over the past three years, the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, GRETB, has grown significantly. In 2022, there were 17,000 beneficiaries. In 2023, there were 20,000 beneficiaries. In 2024, there were 24,000 beneficiaries. This shows the level of growth in the demand for services and educational investment, which must be matched by investment in facilities and infrastructure. Across our 40 centres, …

Europe Day is more than a date on the calendar; it is a moment to reflect on how far we have come as a continent and indeed as a country. In an ever-changing Europe, unity remains the greatest strength. Unity is not about sameness but a shared purpose. Ireland's journey within the European Union has coincided with our transformation into a vibrant, open, knowledge-based society. As an active contributor to the European project, we have seized opportunities to connect, to grow and to assert our voice in our island n…

I have listened with interest to all the comments throughout the day. If there is anyone from Irish Water listening, I will not take from their woes or suggest it is better than what has been suggested. However, I preface my remarks by saying my engagement with the Irish Water representatives on the ground, when it comes to dealing with local, small issues, has been quite positive. That is against the background that I know these individuals and I respect them hugely for their speedy responses in times of need. I w…