-----but there needs to be movement from Government and the Department. The problem is there are too many people responsible for this, so no one is responsible. We need to see delivery on this. It is not good enough.

My question relates to the investigations into the tragedy of the loss of Private Seán Rooney, who was killed on 14 December 2022 while on active service in Lebanon. Trooper Shane Kearney and a number of others were injured in the incident. This shows us the reality of peacekeeping. It is absolutely vital that we engage with the Lebanese authorities on this matter. None of us could be happy with the lenient sentences for those responsible. I understand Mohammad Ayyad is still free. We must ensure the Lebanese autho…

I really appreciate the Minister's answer. It is absolutely vital that we follow through on the promise that was made that no stone will be left unturned in delivering justice for Private Seán Rooney. It is essential that we look after the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I understand the Tánaiste briefed the Minister on the issue, of which she may already have been aware, regarding John McNeela and the non-transfer of a pension to him on the death of his wife. His son Michael McNeela died in…

I ask that the Minister also get back to me on the timeline for the report by Mr. Micheal Delaney SC. It was intended to be published in quarter four of this year, which is now.

The previous Minister, Deputy Foley, put out the following statement: "The Department of Education and Youth will shortly agree a new process to remove the requirement for professional reports such as assessment of need reports from entry requirements for special schools and special classes." We have all been inundated with queries from people who are very worried about this. We have no clarity and no information as to who is going to be assessed. I have no issue with streamlining processes but people need to know …

We know there is a particular issue in relation to planning for school builds. There is a lack of flexibility in the system and there needs to be a greater level of agility. I brought this issue up previously with regard to Ardee Educate Together National School. It is a national school and a great build but the problem is there are 21 parking spaces and double that number are needed. There are only two set-down places for minibuses for children with disabilities who are brought to the school and there is a need fo…

I ask the Minister to outline all the engagements between his Department, Dundalk IT and Queen's University Belfast. We were all happy to see this recent partnership, which will result in greater provision of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and the creation of an innovation hub, all of which is very positive. I commend Diarmuid O'Callaghan and his team on their work. We need to ensure this partnership is facilitated and enhanced.

We are all very supportive of this proposal, and why would we not be? Obviously, I want to see Dundalk university college, but the cross-Border aspects are fabulous, as is the research and innovation centre the Minister referred to. This is a world-class institute and a world-class university coming together to produce something better. We will be able to build on the great work done by the regional development centre that has spun out a number of impressive start-ups, some of which are incredibly well-known or wor…

I agree with the Minister. It is about making sure that happens, with the heads of agreement and then beyond that. Subject to all the caveats associated with setting deadlines, Dundalk university college could be up and running in 2026, possibly in September. As I said, it will be signed, sealed and delivered in respect of the relationship. We all welcome the fact that the college will be autonomous, rather than being subsumed into another outfit. There is a huge body of work to do to achieve alignment. We know the…

The Minister met personal assistants from the likes of Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE, the Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education and Cavan Institute who do huge work in relation to those with disabilities. Fórsa has a pay claim in with the WRC at the moment. Some issues were resolved but I think the biggest issue was the fact that there was the expectation of a review. We know there was going to be a review specifically of PA services but I think it became subsumed into a wider review of disability…

It is a vital piece of work. It will commence in 2026. I ask the Minister to give me a rough outline as to what he thinks this deadline is. I do not think anybody here would dispute that there has been a need to do this for a long time in relation to further and higher education and to find out how we best suit those with disabilities and ensure we can keep them within the educational process. I am obviously disappointed - I have told the Minister this before - that the review in relation to personal assistants had…

I ask the Minister to expand on that and this review in relation to PA services. I think the biggest issue, as I said previously, was that the position was that the role of the PAs in supporting disabled students was to be considered as part of an interdepartmental review and no progress could be made until the review had concluded. They were unable to state with any certainty when the review would commence and finish. At this point it could be almost both those projects, but it is a timeline as to when that is dea…

I understand that.

I was.

We need some sort of detail and we need to know there is a plan to address cybersecurity and hybrid warfare. The HSE attack brought to light what was probably happening to a lot of businesses which did not provide information. There has been increased funding for the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, but we need to get down to brass tacks. There have been drone attacks over the past while and we need to make sure that we have the capacity and technological know-how to be able to deal with these issues. There ha…

We have all seen a huge amount of flood damage and the danger of nature. While a huge amount of work has been done by local authorities and emergency services, this brings to light the need to deal expeditiously with CFRAM protections that are necessary throughout Louth. With regard to the south part of the Dundalk and Blackrock project, the promise is quarter 2 of 2027 for planning application submission. There have been promises and we have been waiting years.

It is CFRAM. There are five particular projects throughout Louth, in Drogheda, Carlingford, Greenore, Baltray and Ardee. The lack of wastewater capacity is also causing issues.

In the review-----

The Minister spent considerable time going through the framework, whether that is the Digital Services Act, the guidelines or the powers of Coimisiún na Meán. I have spoken on this issue previously in committee, where I spoke to Coimisiún na Meán and An Coimisiún Toghcháin about their engagement with the big social media companies. It sometimes seems like a five-a-side team going up against Bayern Munich. I am not entirely sure that we have the power and frameworks to take on companies that have budgets and economi…

Unfortunately, there will probably be a fair amount of repetition from all of us. The Minister could go back through the record and find these particular issues being brought up multiple times. At this stage, it is a request from us that this particular issue be dealt with. We all want a thriving film industry. We see the benefits of the supports under section 481 but it is a huge amount of taxpayers' money that is provided to producers to produce, the intention being that we produce quality employment alongside a …