Commissioners Hansen and Serafin were here last week. We all had an opportunity to engage with them. We had them in at the EU affairs committee. The fear I have is that they did not rule out the ability, the capacity and, maybe, the willingness to introduce provisional application of the Mercosur agreement before the European Court of Justice carries out its due diligence of the legality of the deal. Our big fear relates to imports of 100,000 tonnes of Brazilian beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry that will not be u…

We have had the really tragic cases of Kyran Durnin-----

-----Oísín Reddin, Daniel Aruebose, Vadym Davydenko-----

We also have the issues raised by the child law project and the terrible case of a serious assault of a ten-year-old girl in Citywest. While we have heard from Tusla that it is reorientating and we know that there are legislative changes on the way, a big issue remains. Mr. Gerry Hone, the national director of services and integration for Tusla, appeared before an Oireachtas committee recently and said that we are missing or we need 300 more social workers and 100 more social care workers.

He told me afterwards that at least 500 foster carers are needed.

We do not have sufficient capacity.

Could the Minister provide an update on the development of the new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector 2026 to 2030? When we talk about the community and voluntary sector, that takes in a whole range of things. I am talking about everything from Muirhevnamor Community Centre through to the family resource centre, FRC, that was set up in Dundalk Counselling Centre. I hope another one will be set up in the Redeemer Centre. We know the work that is done and the support that is necessary.

I appreciate the timeline with the caveats the Minister of State provided. The element of engagement with the stakeholders is all very well and good but it is a matter of actually putting a plan in place and then operating it. Like any plan, it will be up for and will need review. We were talking about sustainability. We have all dealt with individual projects from time to time when the pressure is on. I had a meeting with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, SERI, which represents social enterprises. It would ta…

We all engage with the community and voluntary sector on a daily basis. Generally that is on the basis that these people can deal with some of the issues that sometimes one cannot get deal with the State agencies, particularly when we are dealing with more complex issues in communities - everything from addiction to mental health services and the supports that are required. I mention the likes of The House, the Redeemer Centre, Muirhevnamor Community Centre and Cuidigh Linn but I would also mention Creative Spark, …

That is what we need.

The question relates to governmental engagements with the European Union and the European Commission. I was at the committee during the week when we met with Commissioners Hansen and Serafin. I will ask specifically about Mercosur. We can have an argument about how strong the Government was in its opposition to it but what the Commissioners said was that it is within the EU's gambit, if it wants, to allow for provisional application of Mercosur. We know the huge issues there are, particularly from the farming secto…

We do not have time to get into arguments about what the Irish Government could have done to oppose the Mercosur trade deal, which is a lot more. The fact is - we heard it from the commissioners recently - that the Commission can allow for the provisional application of the Mercosur deal, which would undermine democracy and the vote that already happened in the European Parliament. We need to ensure this does not happen. There are huge worries about Brazilian beef and poultry, that is not up to the same standard as…

Yet.

I also add my voice in relation to those who have been injured and offer condolences to the family of the man who has died. I have spoken too many times over the last short period about absolute tragedies. It is obviously disappointing to see this on the streets of Dublin. Too many times have I had to commend those who work in the emergency services. As Deputy O’Reilly said, we do not always think through what they do on a day-by-day basis but, as she says, they always show up and we are very glad they do. I thank …

De réir Bhuan-Ordaithe 85(2), cuirfear an vótáil siar go dtí an am vótála seachtainiúil Dé Céadaoin, 11 Feabhra 2026.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil - To discuss schools infrastructure in Kildare North. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss an update on settlements with south Kerry CAMHS victims. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss insurance protections for people impacted by flooding. Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss provision of special classes for children in County Meath. Deputy Ba…

We need to deal with the planning and delivery of infrastructure. I have received a letter from the parent of a child attending junior infants in St. Mochta's National School in Louth village. The parent writes that two classes are currently being taught in the school hall and special education teachers are teaching in a cupboard, in the staff room and in a corridor due to lack of space. I have previously raised Monksland National School on the Cooley Peninsula, where teachers are taking their lunch in their cars o…

Yes. It is about departmental engagement with the three schools: Ardee Educate Together, St. Mochta's National School and Monksland National School.

Yes.

It is hard to call this anything other than the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rent-hike Bill. This is going to allow vulture funds and big landlords to hike up the rents of 60,000 people every year. That means thousands of euro extra will be paid in rent from 1 March. It is hard to believe. In fairness, Deputy Ó Laoghaire said it earlier. Whatever about the setting of the rules, there is a huge level of confusion on the part of landlords and we are going to have confusion from tenants right through to landlords. The Mi…