I thank the Tánaiste for that commitment and I acknowledge Deputy Carthy's role in moving the motion last year and his support on this particular matter. I have a question later on regarding the commitment from the UK Government to repeal the legacy Act, which I hope we will get to. The victim-centred approach needs to be at the heart of what we do here. I hope the intentions the UK Government has indicated in respect of the legacy Act will be followed through with a commitment, with progress on this particular mat…

As students navigate increasingly complex issues around mental health, relationships, identity and online safety, the feedback I am getting from teachers in my own constituency of Dublin Mid-West is that they do not feel prepared or trained on how to address and deal with these complex and sensitive issues when they arise in the classroom. The foundation for how teachers can address these things can be found in their initial teacher education which, in the case of secondary school teachers, is the professional mast…

I am pleased the Topical Issue matter I raise has been selected for discussion. It relates to safety concerns around the use of signage-only zebra crossings, as are permitted under Department of Transport guidelines from February 2024. Pedestrian crossings are something I often sought as a councillor, as I believe they are key to encouraging active travel, especially for older pedestrians and children. We want the latter to get in the habit of walking to school and crossing roads safely. As a local representative, …

I thank the Minister of State for engaging with a number of the points I raised. I will make a number of observations on the guidelines. For areas such as Newcastle and Lucan where there is two-lane traffic, there also areas such as Main Street or Castle Road which are not low-volume traffic areas. In the first instance, I request that updated guidance be issued to local authorities so that they do specify how they are determining that an area is a low-volume traffic area. Certainly, Main Street, Newcastle, and Cas…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach as ucht an chead sin a oscailt suas dom labhairt leis an Teach trathnóna faoi na ceisteanna tábhachtacha a bhaineann le cúrsaí slándála idirnáisiúnta. Mar atá ráite ag Teachtaí timpeall an Tí, is mór againn é labhairt faoi na mórcheisteanna seo agus comhrá aibí a bheith againn faoi céard a bhfuil in ann don tír seo, agus céard iad na cinntí a chaithfimid a dhéanamh mar thír, ó thaobh cúrsaí slándála de, agus an stádas atá againn i leith na tíortha eile a bhfuilimid …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Taoiseach as ucht an fhreagra i leith cúrsaí fuinnimh agus an coiste comhordaithe a bheidh ag casadh le chéile. Obviously, one of the items that has been raised by the Draghi report on competitiveness is the need for the EU and Ireland to maintain a focus on competitiveness. Does the Taoiseach agree that pursuing an energy policy that prioritises an abundance and an even more plentiful supply and that takes advantage of our uniquely available national assets and our geographic location, wil…

Is mór agam an deis seo a thapú labhairt ar cheist na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta tráthnóna. I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas oifigiúil a dhéanamh le hAire nua na Gaeltachta. Seo hé an chéad deis dom é a dhéanamh ar úrláir na Dála. Is as Contae Mhaigh Eo do mo bhean agus tá sise an-tógtha go bhfuil Aire Gaeltachta ann ó Chontae Mhaigh Eo. Guím gach rath ar an Aire. Faoi mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Cearúil níos túisce, bhí mise i láthair ag an ócáid inspioráideach a bhí ar siúl i Halla na Cathrach i mBaile …

I dtosach báire, tréaslaím leis an Aire as a ról nua. Táim ag súil go mór le hoibriú leis amach anseo. I congratulate the Minister on his role. I know Deputy Jim O'Callaghan will approach this with the energy with which he approached it as our party's spokesperson in the previous Dáil. At the outset, I have had the privilege of working with some of the finest members of An Garda Síochána during my time as a county councillor and as chairperson of south Dublin county joint policing committee. They exemplify in many …

I wish to raise issue that is very important to people in my constituency, particularly in the Palmerstown area, namely access to cash. The previous Government introduced the Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill and began preparing to put it on the Statute Book. It is to be restored to the programme of this Dáil. Will the Tánaiste expedite the entry into law of that Bill? There are older people in my constituency who do not have readily available access to an ATM and who may not be entirely com…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach as ucht an deis seo labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo a bhaineann leis an moill atá ar oifig na cróinéara coirp daoine marbha a scaoileadh chuig a gcuid clann. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on what is becoming an increasingly important issue raised by constituents. I wish the Minister of State the very best in his new role on our first official engagement across the floor of the Dáil and I thank him for being here today. All of us who h…

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. It is very welcome to hear the reforms that are being undertaken to address the backlog. I have a few follow-up questions. Will the Minister of State provide a timeline for the implementation of the Bill that will be brought to Government later this year? When is the expected commencement date for the Bill? I am happy to see the decision to establish the office of the chief coroner. It will be crucial in setting standards and expectations. I assume part …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as ucht a bheith i láthair inniu chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt. I am extremely proud that Casement Aerodrome, the headquarters of the Air Corps is based in Baldonnel in my constituency, Dublin Mid-West. Like Deputy Cleere, I would love to invite the Tánaiste to visit the facility and see the tremendous work our personnel in the Air Corps do. My question relates to the procurement of additional assets for the Air Corps and Naval Service. One of the key recommendations made in the …

I agree with the Minister that the planned upgrade for the Baldonnel site is extremely exciting. I am looking forward to seeing progress on that. I am aware that South Dublin County Council is extremely engaged on that overall, aside from the connectivity that was made available for personnel who work in the aerodrome. On the specific questions relating to equipment, I welcome the Minister's responses and thank him. Will he provide more information on the progress that is being made in acquiring the new multirole v…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. I welcome very much the fact that the product team has been put in place, and that the Minister has asked for a more certain timeline in the delivery of that equipment. I believe it will be the first time an Irish Government will buy that sort of equipment. Perhaps the Minister will speak a little bit as to how the Minister is keeping value for money at top of his mind and what is the approach being taken to procurement to ensure that the equipment we purchase …

Tá a fhios agam go gcuireann an Taoiseach dóchas sna ionaid sláinte cúraim phríomhúil faoi mar a chuirim féin. The constituency I represent, like Cork South-Central and Dublin Mid West, is one which has one of the most rapidly growing populations in the country and the need for these primary care centres is paramount. I am delighted to see progress in the acquisition and, hopefully, repurposing of Adamstown and Clondalkin primary care centres. I would encourage the Taoiseach to take up the matter with the Cabinet c…

First, will the Taoiseach let the House know when he intends to have his first engagement with the new German Chancellor designate, Friedrich Merz? Second, since the United Kingdom has left the European Union, I know the Government has been actively looking to form alliances with other smaller member states as well. Will the Taoiseach update the House on the efforts and the strategic direction that the Department of foreign affairs and his Department are taking with regard to forming those alliances with other memb…

Guím gach rath ar mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Smyth, as ucht a ceapacháin mar Aire Stáit le freagracht as intleacht shaorga. Táim ag súil go mór le hobair léi amach anseo agus muid ag dul i ngleic leis an gclaochlú a chruthóidh an intleacht shaorga inár sochaí agus inár ngeilleagar. I look forward to working with the Minister of State in her new role. I congratulate her on her appointment. I am pleased to contribute to the debate Dáil Éireann is having on the role of artificial intelligence, the advent of which ha…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I dtosach, guím gach rath ar an Taoiseach agus é ag tosú amach mar Thaoiseach. Baineann an cheist a chuir mé leis an gclár Rialtais agus le hoifig a bhunú i Roinn an Taoisigh le déileáil leis an gclár Rialtais a chur i gcrích. Like me, I know the Taoiseach was extremely enthused by the prospect for delivery of the measures contained in the programme for Government. My question relates to the steps being taken to establish a programme for Government office in his Department…

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Táim buíoch as an bhfreagra ar an gceist i leith cursaí infreastruchtúir. My constituency, Dublin Mid-West, is one of the fastest growing in the country in terms of the number of houses being delivered and population growth. I welcome the establishment of a Cabinet committee on infrastructure. I hope it will look favourably on the very real infrastructure and public transport requirements of the communities I represent. There is a need for a Luas to Lucan and proper roads in…

Mar atá ráite ag an Taoiseach, tá tábhacht faoi leith ag baint le cumas iomaíochta na tíre. I very much welcome the outline or blueprint that has been given in the Government's response to the competitiveness challenge. I will focus on two chapters of that report where focus is needed over the coming years. The first is with regard to the role of SMEs. I am proud to be a member of the board of Ace Enterprise Park, which focuses on start-ups in the broader Clondalkin, Bawnogue and Neilstown area, but an issue is com…