I must say I agree with the Deputy. This is a bizarre situation where somebody over the age of 70 can drive kids in a private bus to the soccer or GAA game at the weekend but cannot drive them to school in a Bus Éireann bus. It is either safe or it is not safe and the inconsistency in relation to this is quite farcical and annoying at a time when we are trying to get more drivers. I have raised this myself. I do not mean to say this in a way that infuriates the Deputy but it is, in the first instance, a matter for …

If the Deputy sends the details to my office I will engage immediately with the Minister for housing in relation to that matter.

I thank Deputy O'Meara and congratulate him on his election representing the people of Tipperary North. I wish him very well. The programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to this. The Deputy is right that housing is the biggest challenge that our country faces and it is the biggest priority that the Government intends to address. As he also rightly highlighted, there is a number of enablers to build housing. It is not just about housing construction capacity but also about water and was…

I thank Deputy Geoghegan and congratulate him on his election to Dáil Éireann, representing the people of Dublin Bay South. I look forward to working closely with him. I want to thank him for the instrumental role he played in the Dublin city task force during his time as Lord Mayor and first citizen of Dublin. We have a really good piece of work now, with very clear recommendations and owners beside each of the recommendations. The Deputy is right that there is no one issue here. Of course, we need to do more on G…

As the Deputy knows, I agree with him on this issue and I am supportive of this project. It could be a real enabler for the south-east region. The new Minister of State sitting beside me, Deputy Canney, is due to meet his officials in the coming days specifically on that issue. It is, as Deputy Cullinane fairly acknowledges, specifically referenced in the programme for Government. Once the Minister of State has had an opportunity to engage with his officials, I will ask him to engage with Waterford Oireachtas Membe…

I thank Deputy O'Gorman and wish him well in his new role over on that side of the House. I am proud of the work we did together in the last Government in terms of supporting UNRWA when other countries, as the Deputy rightly says, withdrew their support. I acknowledge the role that the Taoiseach played in increasing the level of funding that we were providing to UNRWA. As recently as this morning I spoke to officials in the Department of foreign affairs and trade about what more we can do to show, in a very demonst…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes the ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of hostages that has taken place to date; urges all parties to ensure full implementation of all phases of this agreement and commends the effort of stakeholders for their ongoing efforts as facilitators; deplores the loss of so many civilian lives, in Gaza and in Israel; recalls that this House has condemned the brutal attacks by Hamas in Israel on 7th October, 202…

May I take it when I have finished?

Will the clock be paused?

I welcome that, but the motion published and publicised by Sinn Féin yesterday wrongly attributed comments to officials in my Department.

I accept that, but it is important that Department of Foreign Affairs officials are not misrepresented in their comments. I stand by their integrity in what they say. I am submitting an amendment on behalf of the Government that sets out the full range of meaningful actions taken by the Government as well as our broad approach to important recent developments and current considerations. Last month saw agreement on a long-awaited ceasefire and a hostage release deal. This has brought much-needed hope and relief to t…

They are major legal issues.

They have all been detailed and legal advices, including those of the legal adviser from the Department of Foreign Affairs, have been shared at the committee. We are happy to provide further detail. It is about getting legislation that is lawful, Deputy McDonald, not about pretending to do something for the sake of it. We must get this right. We must continue to work in that regard. The Deputy should not tut-tut at me and suggest that she has a monopoly on this issue. The Irish Government-----

We do not need tut-tutting. We can be a little more mature in this debate.

You can do what you want, but you can be a little more mature in relation to this.

This Government has taken a number of actions on behalf of the Irish people. I am proud of the approach Ireland has taken. I believe Irish people are proud of the approach we have taken. We are on the right side of history in this country. The Palestinian people and the President of the Palestinian National Authority know that too. One day, the Deputy might also acknowledge the positive efforts of this Government and the people of this country to help bring about a two-state solution. In the meantime, we will work …

I genuinely did.

Fine Gael will be supporting the nomination of Deputy Micheál Martin as Taoiseach. I will begin with some words of sincere congratulations to Deputy Martin as he returns to the office of Taoiseach. I know it is really special day for you Micheál, and for Mary, Micheál Aodh, Aoibhe and Cillian, for your siblings, your wider family and for your team, and all the people behind you who worked so hard to ensure you were elected to this House, just like all of us in this House can relate to. I know it is especially signi…

-----in this Government and making progress for our people in each of the next five years. There will be more of that later, but for now, I wish Micheál well. I look forward to working in partnership with him in this Government. I am excited, energised and determined about the time ahead for the country we love.

I congratulate the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, on his election and appointment as Taoiseach of our country and Government. I congratulate all colleagues in Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents who are assuming ministerial office today and others who will assume ministerial office in the days to come. I very much look forward to working together in partnership for the next five years. We have much to do. It is clear to me from the very detailed and thorough negotiations we undertook on the programme for Gov…