I welcome the Taoiseach's interaction to ensure the family of Private Seán Rooney gets the full truth of that devastating tragedy. We are now dealing with the carpet bombing of Palestine by Israel. People are doing without food, energy, water and all those necessities. The Taoiseach spoke earlier about Ireland's interaction in respect of driving home the message, which needs to happen, that there needs to be a ceasefire. There must be an opening in order that Palestinians can be provided with the essentials that ar…

This has been a useful exercise, in that a lot of information has been put out there by the Minister of State and others. Deputy Colm Burke had no difficulty in reeling off a lot of useful figures. Particularly since we entered the Covid period we have been dealing with a lot of disinformation and misinformation. There have been some who will abuse the data and others who fall prey to that. It is something that needs to be dealt with. There is a lack of statistics and information that needs to be collated on older …

The Palestinian people of Gaza are under an unmerciful onslaught that includes carpet bombing of civilian infrastructure and civilians. Israel has cut off food, water and energy. What it is offering are bombs, starvation and 1 million people being displaced within Gaza. In other places and at other times, this would be called genocide and ethnic cleansing. Then we listen to what this Israeli regime says. The emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy, or "human animals". What does Benjamin Netanyahu mean by, "We wil…

On my behalf and on behalf of Deputy Munster, I commend the board of Drogheda United FC and its chair, Councillor Joanna Byrne, on their work. There has been provisional acceptance of an investment offer by the Trivela Group, which has been okayed by the FAI and which must be finalised at next month's AGM. This project is about keeping the best parts of a community club, professionalising it and developing a new stadium.

Yes. Soccer and the League of Ireland need this sort of redevelopment. In order that I do not get lynched, I must also state that Dundalk FC has a development group that is working on short- and long-term plans in relation to the development of Oriel Park. We know that the bid to host Euro 2028 has been a success and that money is needed for the redevelopment of Casement Park. However, money is needed across the board.

There was much discussion here about innovation, all the benefits that arise through foreign direct investment and taxation, and the wonders that exist regarding enterprise. We all agree on the fabulous work done by the local enterprise offices, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland but we should be absolutely clear that this budget has not brought any solutions regarding the high costs. I am sure all Deputies have got from many businesses the same emails I have got, which state they are still dealing with costs. Even…

I also welcome the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers and those citizens who use the services here today. I think we all accept on some level that it is a complete disaster that they had to come here and we have to have this conversation. We have dealt with a budget that did not put anything aside to deal with this issue. We talk about section 39 and section 56 workers. The Irish Wheelchair Association does huge, visible work in my constituency and many people avail of its service in the town of Dun…

I would like to deal with the tragic loss of Private Seán Rooney in Lebanon on 14 December 2022. His loss will be felt by all of us, but particularly those in Donegal and Dundalk, for a long time to come. The Tánaiste has been very clear that all facts would be uncovered and that all would be done in delivering justice. I think "no stone unturned" was the term he used. There has been a huge level of engagement with the Lebanese authorities. That obviously limits what can be said because a judicial process is in pla…

I ask for information on that and around the Garda Síochána. The UN has also carried out a board of inquiry. That has concluded and it has been shared with Ireland-----

-----for official use only. Can that be shared with the Defence Forces or could it be shared with the family?

Tá brón orm.

That has concluded.

I raised with the Aire previously the proposed changes to the new Garda operating model in County Louth, whereby the Louth division would be amalgamated with Cavan and Monaghan, with the addition of part of east Meath. I am fairly sure at this stage that the Minister has been spoken to and written to by joint policing committees across Louth, Cavan and Monaghan. I think Cavan and Monaghan would make the argument that they would see an awful lot of the resources being used in County Louth on the basis of the size of…

We all support the work of the shared island unit. In particular, we have seen some major infrastructural projects such as the Narrow Water bridge, which we want to see completed as soon as possible, and that everything is going in the correct direction. I welcome any moves that are made in relation to educational improvements on a cross-Border basis. I have one issue that I would like to throw into the mix. It relates to apprenticeships and was raised with me by a young man who is working in south Armagh. He is an…

I have to agree. This is not the first time I have raised this issue. The amalgamation of the Louth division with Cavan and Monaghan will not work at all. The Louth division will include parts of east Meath. One superintendent with responsibility for serious crime, who will be based in Bailieborough, will have to deal with the entire region. I understand the streamlining, but Donegal will not be included with Sligo and Leitrim, something that was due to happen. I understand Kerry will also be a stand-alone division…

I asked about international engagement as regards dealing with drug issues.

Outside the DUP, all of us across this island want to see an Executive up and running and Michelle O'Neill as First Minister. I welcome what the Taoiseach said about a window of opportunity. We need to make sure that is not lost and there is no drift. I am interested in hearing how the Taoiseach found his recent conversations with the DUP and about the onus on the British Government, which, at times, has given cover for some of the actions taken by the DUP. In fairness, it is the British Government that is ultimate…

The House has dealt with many issues recently related to violence against women, sexual assault, sexual violence and rape. There is no more heinous crime than rape. It can have a life-long impact on people, women in particular, so we need to ensure that all the protections of the justice system are put in place. All the updating of law is to be supported, whether we are dealing with consent, protections in the court setting around anonymity or separate legal representation. All of these are absolutely vital. We are…

I got reasonable news in the form of the SEAI's feasibility study on shallow geothermal heat sources to replace the gas communal system that is operational in Carlinn Hall, Dundalk. Obviously, this would be applicable in many of these types of scenarios. I have stated previously that these are almost the Achilles heel in relation to district heating, which we need to see in play. There will be legislative changes needed to make sure that we do not continue with these gas-fed systems but I think we would all say tha…

Earlier, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and I met representatives of film crew in Ireland. I reiterate earlier comments about actors and how they do not have decent contracts or the residuals that many actors have across the world. Beyond that, we constantly deal with the other issues like blackballing and work conditions that no one would accept for film crew. We need the recommendations in the Committee on Budgetary Oversight’s review to be put in place. The Taoiseach has said he supports it. First and foremost, we must ensur…