Like other speakers, I welcome this legislation, which seems to be getting universal acceptance in the House. It implements a commitment given in the programme for Government not to extend the strategic housing development provisions beyond the expiry date of 25 February 2022. The SHD planning system has had an adverse impact on my constituency of Dublin Bay North. Planning permission was granted for enormous build-to-rent apartment schemes backed up by vulture funds. This was facilitated by ministerial guidelines.…

The problem of antisocial behaviour is an ongoing one. I am particularly interested in and concerned about antisocial behaviour on public transport. I would be interested to know what initiatives are being taken to tackle antisocial behaviour generally, particularly since the Government came into office last year.

I thank the Minister of State. I am aware that my parliamentary question is a broad one. I would like to narrow it down to antisocial behaviour in the Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, north and specifically on public transport, especially the DART. Gangs on the DART can be very intimidating and threatening to our transport workers but also to female passengers travelling on their own, especially at night-time. What is being done to address this problem? The Garda needs to liaise more with the National Transport Aut…

We are aware there is a problem in Dublin city centre but there is also a problem in the suburbs, particularly in high-amenity areas, especially on public transport, during the summer but also at Hallowe'en and on bank holiday weekends, as the Minister of State has said. Operation Citizen was launched in Dublin city centre recently. Would the Minister of State agree that we need more high-visibility patrols, foot patrols and mountain bike patrols in areas where public order offences are occurring, as well as an inc…

I wish to raise the issue of migration, which the Taoiseach mentioned. It is clear that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding on the Belarusian border with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Thousands of migrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing enormous suffering and are living in appalling conditions with sub-zero temperatures. Their plight is becoming increasingly desperate. As we know these migrants are being flown in at the instigation of Alexander Lukashenko and are then being bussed to the borders. …

I welcome the shared island dialogue and appreciate the report given by the Taoiseach. As we know, Northern Ireland's society is becoming increasingly more diverse. An increasing number of people identify themselves as neither nationalist nor unionist. An increasing number of people do not classify themselves as Irish, British or Northern Irish. There is a new diversity there. I welcome the dialogue in this regard. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that the voices of young people, who bring a new perspective to old challe…

I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach engaged with the Northern Irish political leaders last week. I understand from what he said that the main issue for discussion was the Northern Ireland protocol and the associated Article 16. The Vice President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, gave an optimistic assessment of the current position in the negotiations between the EU and the UK at yesterday's meeting of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU. The change in tone of th…

As we have heard, last week the Taoiseach told the Dáil that the triggering of Article 16 would be irresponsible, unwise and reckless. It certainly looks as though that is about to happen. Is that the Taoiseach's understanding of the position? It is totally unnecessary and will be seen as a hostile act. It would add to political instability in Northern Ireland and cause economic disruption on the island of Ireland. The breach of trust would further damage relations between the EU and UK and it would lead to a deter…

The Taoiseach had a full-on visit to the United States. In delivering Ireland's national statement to the UN General Assembly in September, the Taoiseach rightly referred to the three Cs, namely, conflict, Covid and climate. These three issues disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations in least developed countries. I ask the Taoiseach about climate and security and his chairing of the debate on this topic at the UN Security Council. I also believe that the effects of climate change on peace and secur…

From the very beginning, Brexit represented a threat to the Good Friday Agreement. This led to the Northern Ireland protocol being agreed between the EU and the UK to protect the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process and avoid the creation of a hard border on the island of Ireland. Negotiations between the EU and the UK on the implementation of the protocol are continuing. The EU has come forward with sensible, practical proposals to deal with the matters that have arisen in respect of the protocol. European …

I am conscious of the fact the G20 summit has taken place following the October European Council meeting and in advance of the COP26 climate conference, which is under way in Glasgow. It is fair to say the outcome of the G20 meeting was a disappointment as far as climate change is concerned. These economies account for 80% of global emissions. While they agreed to deploy meaningful and effective action to limit global warming, they failed to agree on clear pathways as to how to proceed and few concrete commitments …

I welcome the publication last week by the European Commission of the package of proposals on the Northern Ireland protocol. Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič has taken a huge interest in this issue. He has consulted widely and listened to the concerns of businesses, stakeholders and individuals on the ground in Northern Ireland and he has done everything possible to address the challenges. We now need serious constructive engagement by the UK with the European Union, through the established mechanisms, to resolve thes…

The Taoiseach's speech to the BIA conference in Oxford last month was a significant one. He dealt with a number of issues affecting British-Irish relations, including the Good Friday Agreement and the obligations of the two Governments, Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol, legacy issues and the shared island initiative. On a personal level, I welcome the Taoiseach's remarks about the constitutional position of Northern Ireland when he stated that everyone on the island had the right to make the case for the co…

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the so-called strategic compass which is due to be published in November by the European Commission. It is a roadmap for European security and defence capabilities. The initiative can be seen against the backdrop of recent global developments, including the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan, the cyberattack on the HSE, the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Belarus and ongoing Russian activities generally. What will be Ireland's approach to the strategic compass, having regard…

The ancient festival of Hallowe'en has become an excuse for wanton vandalism and lawlessness throughout Dublin and other cities. Every year, Hallowe'en starts earlier and earlier. I am referring to illegal fireworks and bonfires being lit on our public open spaces. People and animals are being terrorised and public open spaces are being destroyed. It is the same every year and it has to stop. I note the Minister for Justice has launched the fireworks awareness-raising campaign for 2021 in association with the Irish…

All Members of the House are aware of the recent history of Afghanistan. As a country, it has been forever caught up in regional conflicts and interference by neighbouring powers. Prior to 9-11, al-Qaeda was allowed to operate in Afghanistan under Osama bin Laden, hence the subsequent US-led NATO action in 2001 and the toppling of the Taliban regime. In hindsight, one would have to question if the USA in particular could ever have hoped to bring about regime change and impose a Western-backed government and liberal…

As the Taoiseach knows, the new DUP leader has threatened to collapse the Northern Ireland Executive unless the Northern Ireland protocol is effectively set aside. He has also said that his party will not co-operate with the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement, in particular the North-South Ministerial Council. This cannot be allowed to happen. The Taoiseach must do everything possible to persuade him not to do that. We saw what happened when Sinn Féin deliberately collapsed the institutions pr…

Nobody can say the Taoiseach is not accountable to this House on his participation at European Council meetings. In the past two weeks, there have been pre-European Council statements, post-European Council statements and today there are further parliamentary questions. Will he give the House further information on his discussions with the Romanian president on plans to purchase 1 million Covid-19 mRNA vaccines from Romania? I understand there is an agreement in principle to purchase. What developments have since t…

I wish to raise the Conference on the Future of Europe. This was launched on 9 May last. We must have real engagement with citizens here on this matter. In particular, we have to engage with citizens living in Northern Ireland, other EU citizens living in Ireland and especially with young people. I have a question for the Taoiseach about the issue of treaty change. In practical terms, treaty change means giving more power to the EU institutions, including the European Parliament, and diminishing unanimity voting. A…

As we know the British-Irish Council, established under the Good Friday Agreement, deals with the totality of relationships on these islands. It is welcome that the council met recently and important that it, along with the North South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, would meet regularly. I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the state of Anglo-Irish relations. There is no doubt that those relations have been strained due to Brexit and that opportunities for the Taoiseach and the…