It needed to be said and I appreciate-----

Táim críochnaithe. Go raibh maith agat. I imagine a considerable number of people are going to speak to this amendment. Many of us have had to deal with the circumstances this Government has caused by not dealing with the issue of accommodation over many years. Deputy Carthy is correct that at times we have taken flak in relation to this. While there are a number of really bad actors out there, circumstances were created that they could use and abuse. It is right that we talk about the D Hotel in Drogheda. It was n…

I want to bring up once again the issue of Carlinn Hall in Dundalk and its communal heating system. There are approximately 200 homes there. I have met the SEAI and third-party operators that are looking at a possible renewable solution involving heat pumps. I have spoken to the local authority. A huge piece of work needs to be done with the management committee and the residents. They are only putting the proposal together. The fact is that we would need to make sure there is flexibility from the SEAI and the Gove…

Could it not be taken from anywhere else?

It was biomass and gas-fired. We just need to replace them and to have flexibility and funding.

Deputy McGuinness is waiting for an answer.

In fairness this was brought up earlier as regards energy poverty. There is an acceptance by Government that there is a need for a payment relating to the cost of disability. It was provided for last year. A review process is ongoing. It is unfortunate that it is necessary for the Affordable Ireland Campaign coalition to come together and for that protest to happen on 28 February but we need action now. It is not much good for people who cannot afford to pay for heating at this point in time. They cannot afford to …

I accept that, but there is need for an emergency measure because people are under severe pressure.

I know there has been much discussion on this already. I ask the Minister to commit to a public plebiscite on the question of the removal of the triple lock. Many have spoken in here, including Deputy Crowe, to the Irish people's belief in relation to an independent foreign policy, our neutrality and how they are completely against any movements away from this. They feel and believe the triple lock is that. It was offered previously as a protection and now it is being taken away.

We start from the point of view of the UNDOF mission to the Golan Heights and the fact that it was a governmental decision to step aside and remove us from that operation that we have been engaged in for a huge period of time. That is down to the fact that there was a run-down allowed of the Defence Forces. The one thing the Minister will get agreement on throughout the Chamber and throughout the campus is that there has been a long-term failure to invest in the Defence Forces and that when we even spoke of neutral…

I get there is not going to be agreement. That could be taken from the first question, never mind some of the latter questions that were asked on this. I get that there is no constitutional requirement for the Government to call a referendum. I am just stating that asking the Irish people is the right thing to do. What engagement has there been in relation to changes to the triple lock? I will again ask the Minister to explain these checks and balances on what a peacekeeping mission is. The Minister spoke about how…

We have already spoken about the issues in relation to retention and recruitment. It is necessary that resourcing, training, and particularly buildings, barracks and living accommodation would be up to scratch and we need to ensure that we see delivery in relation to Aiken Barracks. Aiken Barracks has huge history. It has huge connection with Dundalk, and particularly that area in The Quay, where it is situated, and the 27th Infantry Battalion. There is a huge level of respect for those in the Defence Forces. I hav…

What progress has been made in relation to those investigations that fall under the Minister's remit? I refer to the huge loss of Private Seán Rooney to his community, family, friends and comrades. I am talking about everybody in Newtowncunningham and across Dundalk. It is a matter of ensuring that we see the State playing its part in delivering truth and justice for the family of Private Seán Rooney.

I appreciate the sentiment and the promises the Minister has made. It is very important that we engage with the Lebanese. They made a number of promises, first of all to do everything they could with regard to apprehending Mohammad Ayyad, who was found guilty of the murder of Private Seán Rooney, and to appeal those other cases. I do not think anybody within this entire building or anyone you were to talk to throughout Ireland would be happy with the results. Some of the sentences were particularly disgraceful. Wha…

I agree with the Minister. I certainly hope that we do not have to deal with many more cases like that of Private Seán Rooney, who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is necessary that the State would follow through on that sacrifice. I accept what the Minister has said about there being many strands in operation. Perhaps I could be updated on where that independent investigation is and be given whatever information can be provided on the engagement with and progress by, or lack thereof, the Lebanese. That can be provi…

Will the Minister indicate whether there are plans - because there should be plans - to revise the Army Pensions Act and ensure fair treatment for families? There is a very particular issue that I have dealt with before. I know there is interaction between the man's family and the Department. I will not get into the specifics of that but in the long term we need to update that legislation to ensure we do right by the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Before we continue, I would like to recognise Brendan and Maura Neal, and Maura's children, from Springfield, Massachusetts. They are here with Deputy James O'Connor. They are the son, daughter and grandchildren of Representative Richard Neal, who is known to many in the House.

Le do thoil. The Minister of State will not be shocked when I raise the issues we have had recently in County Louth, particularly in the Dundalk area. In fairness, the Minister of State visited Blackrock. The local authorities stated minor works schemes could be implemented in Dundalk, more so even than Blackrock. The Minister of State has spoken of the need for a personal property scheme to be implemented. He might give some detail on that. Obviously, we need works done. We have seen coastal erosion recently on th…

Ba mhaith liom déileáil le fadhb atá ann maidir le Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan. Tá sé mar scoil satailíte de chuid Choláiste Ghlór na Mara i mBaile Brigín. Tá fadhb sa scoil maidir leis an gcóras iompair. Nílimid sásta leis an bhfreagra atá faighte againn ón Roinn. Níl córas iompair á chur ar fáil fá choinne na scoile. Ba cheart go mbeidh sé sin déanta. Chomh maith leis sin, tá fadhb ann maidir le scrúduithe. Tá uimhir scrúdaithe de dhíth ón scoil fá choinne na scrúduithe móra Stáit. It is fairly straightforward. Th…

To put it lightly, it would be fair to say we had serious rains and serious flooding. There are issues that need to be dealt with in north Louth. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, he was in Blackrock recently. We need to make sure that catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, is driven ahead. For Dundalk and Blackrock south we are only talking about the application going in probably around June 2027. However, we need to make sure there are no hold-ups and that any short-term mi…