How could I refuse a request like that? I will speak to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence about meeting the United Nations veterans. I do not think any of us does not know our local post and my one in Portlaoise is very active. The veterans turn out on occasion after occasion and are so proud of the service they have given abroad over the years. Many of them have done several tours, as we know. On 3 April 2024, the UN provided a briefing to delegates of the permanent mission in New York on the UN reimbursement …

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, also has a clear role in this area due to the data protection issue. The Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 advanced a number of priority provisions identified in the waste action plan, including the provision of GDPR-compliant use of technologies, such as CCTV. The …

I thank the Senator. The Department has allocated €3 million to local authorities as part of the anti-dumping initiative for 2024. Since 2017, €18 million has been provided to local authorities across the country to support more than 1,700 projects. Local authorities continue to work with the State agency to identify problems. That funding does not specifically relate to CCTV but rather to the anti-dumping initiative. I welcome the clarity the Department has provided in stating that the use of these technologies sh…

I thank the Deputy for raising this question today. I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Transport. It should be recognised that with its vast coastline and strong winds, Ireland has the opportunity to harness clean and renewable energy from offshore wind. This will not only reduce our emissions from electricity but also allow us to electrify and reduce our emissions in the transport sector across all modes while also reducing emissions in other sectors. Ireland has set an ambitious target of achieving 5 GW…

I thank Deputy Stanton for his further contribution, highlighting the significance, importance and timeliness of this project proceeding. In advance of a comprehensive review of the national ports policy in 2013, which had just commenced, the Department of Transport, in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office, carried out an assessment of the options for Irish commercial State ports to facilitate the offshore energy sector and assist in Ireland achieving its emissions reductions targets. The key reco…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to provide an update to the House on the current position in respect of the campus project in Dunshaughlin for Dunshaughlin Community National School and Coláiste Ríoga. The Deputy will be aware that every Deputy in the House is inundated with various school projects. Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the…

I again thank the Deputy. I assure him the Dunshaughlin school campus project is a significant priority for the Department of Education, which will continue to liaise with the school and its patron body on interim accommodation requirements and will provide any updates about the progress of the school building project we have been discussing. The Deputy has read a list of serious questions and I will personally bring them to the Minister tomorrow. Perhaps a written parliamentary question would get some of those ans…

I am pleased to hear that. The school building project for Dunshaughlin Community National School involves the construction of eight new classrooms, as the Deputy is aware, and accommodation, including two classrooms for children with special educational needs and ancillary accommodation. The location, as the Deputy is aware, is on the Dublin Road and the campus site will also incorporate the new post-primary school building for Coláiste Ríoga. The planning permission for the school referred to by the Deputy was gr…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2° of Bunreacht na hÉireann, approves the terms of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of other part, signed at Brussels on 14th December, 2022, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 10th January, 2024.

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2° of Bunreacht na hÉireann, approves the terms of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part, signed at Brussels on 24th August, 2018, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 10th January, 2024.

First, I thank Senators Black, Ruane, Flynn and Higgins for bringing forward this motion here today. It should be generally understood by now but I confirm that the Government is not opposing the motion. It is a very extensive motion that condemns a number of actions. It notes, with grave concern, a number of other issues, further regrets several other items and further notes a number of points put forward by the Senators. It calls on the Government to take specific action, and calls on the Council of the European …

I thank Senators for their statements, which have addressed many of the pressing concerns of the Irish people on the horrific situation in the Middle East. We know the devastating human loss that the war in the Gaza Strip has caused. Since October, 100,000 people have been killed or injured, or are missing. The vast proportion of the population of Gaza is displaced and international organisations are speaking of the potential for famine conditions. I have heard Senators' comments about the way that the unfolding tr…

I thank the Chair for the opportunity today for this House to consider recent developments in Northern Ireland. I take good note of all the points raised by Deputies in the course of our debate. While we may sometimes differ on points of emphasis or perspective, I know that all Members of this House are united in wanting to see the power-sharing institutions operate as effectively as possible for the people of Northern Ireland and across this island. I thank them for their constructive contributions to that end in …

I thank Senator Denis O'Donovan for raising this issue. It is obviously an issue which is close to his heart. He represents people in his area when he raises it here in the House. It is an issue that is cropping up in every county in Ireland. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister. The climate action plan and the national retrofit plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a BER B2 rating in a cost optimal manner and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace…

I listened carefully to what Senator O'Donovan said and I absolutely take on board the point he raised concerning the limited number of people who can provide BER certificates. This can cause a logjam. I will take this point back to the Minister and ask if additional people can be added to that list to ensure people's applications can be dealt with earlier. I think this is a fair point and that I am right when I say the situation the Senator spoke about applies right across the country and not just in his area. The…

I thank the Senator for tabling this important matter for discussion here in the Seanad. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Catherine Martin, who cannot be with us. The Senator has a long and deep knowledge of the area. It is a matter he has been following for a lengthy period. That is why it is good to have a debate on the matter this morning. Internationally, in recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cases in which artefacts have been returned by cultural institutions to their places of ori…

In recent times, this issue has become prominent in many other countries, many of which are developing and issuing national policies in this area. The Heritage Council is supporting the committee in its work. Other countries that have restitution committees include Australia, France, Germany and the Netherlands. We can deal with the panel involved in the UK to obtain advice on how it went about matters. It may have many more artefacts to deal with and might have developed policies in this regard. It is proposed tha…

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is not isolated. Every Oireachtas Member has encountered a difficult case in his or her constituency regarding this matter. The issue raised by the Senator affects people all over Ireland. It is important to put that on the record so people listening will understand it is not just a local issue. Primary weekly social welfare payments from the Department of Social Protection are intended to enable recipients to meet basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to providin…

I thank the Senator for highlighting this particular case. The neighbour was only performing an act of charity and should not have been penalised for it. I do not know anything about the circumstances of the case. I can understand that the issue probably depends on how long the people were living there. I know that rent was not being charged but it would be important in the case to know how long the people were living there. If it was turned down, I would certainly hope that it would have been taken to the social w…

On behalf of the Minister I want to thank Senator Sherlock for raising this matter this morning. A priority of this Government is to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs. It is important to remember that the vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. To support children with more complex needs, sp…