I agree with the Senator's remarks on the feeder school. The child is attending a school that is not in his locality and when it comes to secondary school it becomes an issue. I am aware of that issue myself. Much of the focus in recent years has been on primary schools and the focus now needs to be on secondary schools as well because we have lots of children leaving primary school and there is not a place for them in secondary school. This particular issue is being experienced at both school levels. Along with th…

I welcome the opportunity to respond. I thank Deputies for their contributions to the debate and their constructive engagement on this legislation. First, I acknowledge the final point made by Deputy Alan Farrell in respect of what many would see as double taxation. People are taxed on the income that helped to contribute to their pension and then they are taxed again when they receive the pension. I will ask the Minister to clarify that matter on Report Stage and to provide a comprehensive note on it. There is a w…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I thank Deputy Mairéad Farrell for raising this issue and offering the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister. First of all, tá brón orm a rá nach bhfuil mórán Gaeilge agam agus gur mhaith liom an cheist a fhreagairt as Béarla. With State funding in early learning and childcare at an all-time high, and set to reach €1.109 billion this year, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Government have demonstrated a strong track record in this policy area. This funding is delivering two years of free preschool e…

I thank the Deputy for her contribution. A number of safety nets are in place to ensure that all services can remain sustainable and are adequately supported, including a case management support system. It is important that I put that on the record. The Department of children oversees the case management process through which the local city or county childcare committee, CCC, and Pobal work together to assess and provide support services for those experiencing difficulties and through which sustainability funding m…

I thank Deputy Durkan for his ongoing interest in Castletown House and estate. He has raised this issue on a number of occasions in the House, representing the local community and the people affected by the situation. In October 2023, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy O'Donovan, initiated a working group to progress the reuniting of the historic demesne and access issues to Castletown House and estate. The group includes representatives of the community and all the pol…

I reiterate that the OPW is not seeking to bring significant volumes of traffic through the Celbridge gate and the lime avenue. The OPW envisages the lime avenue operating as a pedestrian-priority road in line with current practice across numerous OPW sites, such as St. Stephen's Green and Farmleigh. The OPW has given written commitments that the volume of traffic will be approximately 20 vehicles per day for OPW staff and essential contractors. People with a disability will also be facilitated at that entrance. At…

I thank Deputy Lahart for raising the important topic of the inadequate and inconsistent Luas red line services to Citywest. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I will clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger trans…

I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport believes that expanding the public transport network and increasing service levels throughout the country will lead to a more balanced service being provided across the entire country, especially into the built-up areas at the edge of Dublin city. It is also significant to point out the growth in passengers on that line for a period during 2023. The number of passengers was 1.734 million. For the same period in 2024 it was 1.828 million, w…

The situation in the Gaza Strip is deeply shocking and I echo the comments of the Tánaiste and Deputies here in this House in decrying the appalling conditions in which the people of Gaza are now living and the terrible loss of life. The Government's priorities are clear and consistent. It is clear that a durable ceasefire is needed immediately and that there needs to be a drastic increase in the level of humanitarian aid reaching people in Gaza. The Government continues to call for the immediate and unconditional …

We want to insert "reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on 7th October, 2023". That needs to be said and I think most Irish people would agree with that. Then we ask for the deletion of the words " call on Israel to immediately implement fully" and we say on a textual basis "reiterate its call on Israel to immediately implement fully". It is a textual change. We propose to delete "file a declaration of intention to intervene in this case with the ICJ" from the Si…

I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. I reiterate that supporting homeownership is a top priority for the Government. I know some parties in this House are generally opposed to the principle of homeownership. It is extraordinary that they come with a motion relating to people who want their own residential house and that they talk about residential property prices. The policy of the party that put forward this motion is clearly to make sure every householder in the country is plunged into negative equity.…

I will certainly relay that request to the line Minister.

It must have hurt you.

I am pleased to join Deputies for this important debate and I thank them for their contributions in the House. This is the third time in recent weeks that we are debating the issue of Irish neutrality and the outcome of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, realising one of the key aims of the forum, which was for us to have a more open and constructive debate on these issues. What we need now is a more serious, sustained and informed discussion on our international security policies. I have note…

In particular, this is covered in Article 29 which establishes the framework within which Ireland conducts its international relations. Article 29.1 reads: "Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality." Article 29.2 confirms that Ireland adheres to the principle of the peaceful settlement of international disputes. That is already in our Constitution. Article 29.4.9° states and sets out that the "State shall not adopt a d…

I thank all who have contributed to the debate. It is clear that Deputies across the House are deeply and genuinely concerned at the horrific situation that has unfolded in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories over the past three weeks. The Government shares their deep alarm at the situation and the way in which it continues to deteriorate rapidly, including in the context of the grave humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The terrible violence of the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel's citizens on 7 Oc…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "strongly condemns the attack by Hamas on the people of Israel on 7th October and deplores the escalation of violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since then, particularly the killing of innocent men, women and children, the taking of hostages, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the mass displacement of civilians; notes that: — the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the cornerstone of th…

-----and to pursue the prosecutor. This could be interpreted by some as putting pressure on the prosecutor to prioritise one investigation over another-----

-----and, possibly, as undermining the independent and impartial nature of both the prosecutor and the court.