We have seen athletes from the North of Ireland represent Ireland with great pride and passion at every Olympic Games. However, few would know that with regard to sportspeople engaged in athletics - I am talking about running, jumping, throwing and walking - those from the North who have flown the flag for Ireland at the Olympics are barred from representing Ireland at European and world athletic competitions due to a 1938 ruling. That means that people from Cullaville, Drumintee or Newry, only a couple of miles fr…

It is about how we move it on.

I should take this opportunity to thank all of the staff of the House, and all of the people who facilitate us. I usually make apologies because I can be a nuisance at times. It has been pointed out to me before. That goes for everybody.

No, no.

There are very few. Most people only say it behind my back anyway. Let us be clear about the issue we are dealing with. There is an element of groundhog day. We are back talking about the situation the Palestinian people find themselves in. We know what has happened. We know the murderous acts that happened in Jenin. We know this is the means by which the Israeli government wanted to take out what we can call the third force. We know what they have done in the Gaza strip. In recent years we have seen right-wing gov…

I agree with Deputy O'Reilly on everything. It is a strong signal the Minister is here on the last sitting day to deal with this important legislation. We are talking about abortion and termination services, but we are really talking about health services and ensuring people have unhindered access to what are lawful health services and do not have to deal with harassment and intimidation. It is as simple as that. We are talking about hospitals, clinics and healthcare settings. None of that is acceptable. This does …

I am under instruction to welcome Palmerstown FC on behalf of Deputies Mark Ward and Eoin Ó Broin. Other people were declaring an interest and I suppose I should declare at this stage that I still play badly at seven-a-side in the Gaels on a Monday night and occasionally on a Thursday. I also want to refute what I heard at a recent meeting. I thank the Labour Party but I must call out Deputy Nash because there was an implication he is a very good footballer and I refuse to believe it. On some level there is agreeme…

Obviously, we are asking questions on what his Department is spending on advertising with RTÉ. There are wider questions for RTÉ but, on some level, that has been done to death, without getting hold of the answers we require in the context of providing the new trust that we hope to find. All present know the importance of public sector broadcasting, however. Are there plans to deal with the issue relating to certain processed foods and all the rest? A holistic approach is needed. The sugar tax and so on were introd…

It relates to advertising, although that is only part of it. It is looking at how we advertise processed foods, and whatever else. A sugar tax was introduced and I know that will be reviewed but it is as part of the holistic nature of dealing with childhood obesity in particular. I was probably clearer when I said it the first time.

I back what Deputy Haughey said in the sense that we need to look at the whole issue of migration holistically. We all know that across Europe, but particularly here, of the huge gaps we have regarding employees so we need to rectify that across the board. I would be interested how the Taoiseach thinks the conversations went with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg regarding NATO co-operation, given this State's position of non-alignment and military neutrality. The Taoiseach mentioned what has happened in Koso…

The current programme for Government commits to holding a referendum to extend the franchise in presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State. This was raised previously by me and others, and the Taoiseach stated the work is ongoing on presidential voting rights and that reports had been completed. Will he spell out exactly what work has been undertaken by the Government over the past three years on this matter? What are the reports? I understand significant work is involved in preparing for the…

The Taoiseach has spoken about the fact that there will be a greater level of information with regard to the conversations on Türkiye and Cyprus. He referred somewhat positively to his own engagements on that matter, but I hope we will get some further information. We are dealing with a changed set of geopolitical circumstances because of Russia, which has been the aggressor in chief. I do not think anyone has any doubt about an imperialist act that has led to the deaths of many people, including a huge number of c…

I would like an update on what the Taoiseach spoke about as regards Türkiye and Cyprus and what sorts of engagements we are talking about as regards possibly bringing something that has been obviously an absolute imposition on the Cypriot people but has not moved for a considerable time. I brought up the fact the Tánaiste has said he is looking for a consensus among like-minded states on actions as regards Palestine and holding Israel to account. Obviously, we would all like to see that but I would like to see what…

I am raising again the issue of section 39 workers. They carry out many necessary types of work, including work for people with disabilities, healthcare and addiction services. These services are all talking about how they cannot retain workers. Sometimes that is because people are leaving to work directly for the HSE where they are on better conditions, which makes sense from a personal perspective. To deal with this, we need to see the introduction of decent pay and conditions. I would like to see some engagement…

I will keep this generalised. There are huge issues. We have very old housing estates with, in some cases, legacy sewerage systems, both the public line and the individual run of houses, too many houses on the one line, the wrong types of piping and so on. In my estate there is a huge number of issues and sometimes the responsibility lies literally with the person who owns the house. Sometimes that can create huge difficulties. I think we will have to find some sort of framework to deal with this issue. I know that…

Can we have a timeline for when we will see the guidelines for rural housing? We know about the issue. When somebody comes with a planning issue the worst element is that there is no consistency either in the local authority, among local authorities or from planner to planner. We are speaking about landowners who cannot understand why they cannot get planning permission on their land for a child. We are speaking about people who have grown up in these rural areas. I accept that, from a services point of view, we wa…

Has the Minister given consideration to the use of 3D concrete printing and its possible benefits in the context of the current problems with housing construction? Obviously, he has engaged with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney. Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, had a printing operation in Drogheda. Are there plans in this regard? It is not a silver bullet but, alongside modular housing, it can provide answers. Are there plans in County Louth in particular?

Has the Minister given any consideration to extending the number of home caring periods a foster carer can accrue throughout the year as he or she fosters in order to be able to claim a contributory State pension? We all know of the great contribution made by foster carers who take children, who sometimes are coming from incredibly difficult situations, into their homes. I had an interaction with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding certain other conditions that need impr…

I welcome what the Minister of State has said. We need this enacted as soon as possible. When I dealt earlier with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, it was particularly in relation to the foster carer allowance, which has not been increased since 2009. It related to the travel expenses, and there is obviously an onus on foster carers to maintain that connection with families. We all know the added expense in the current period. It seems that promises are being made relating to …

I should allow the Minister of State to respond. That would be fair.