While I acknowledge, on one hand, that Deputy Boyd Barrett welcomed, albeit he said we did it belatedly, our recognition of the State of Palestine, I do not believe that anyone sees it as hollow symbolism. I accept the point and the debate about the need to do more and the questions as to what comes next and how we can continue to apply maximum pressure. These parliamentary questions relate to engagement with the ambassador. From speaking to the ambassador, the President of the Palestinian Authority and many leader…

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this extraordinarily important issue. Before I answer her directly, may I acknowledge the fact that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has made the decision to step down as leader of the Green Party? Obviously, he has played a major leadership role in this coalition, and I want to acknowledge that. He is an honest, sincere, dedicated and decent politician. He is a person of substance and a person who has had a positive impact on Irish politics and I fully respect and understand his…

First, I agree with the Deputy that this was not a social or a national priority in all aspects of life, including in politics, until those like the Minister, Deputy McEntee, prioritised the issue. We have now seen this become an absolute priority. We have taken very significant assignments of responsibility and decisions within Government to say the Minister, Deputy McEntee, now co-ordinates across all of Government in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence because every Department has a role to pl…

I thank Deputy Bacik for the question and for acknowledging the role the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has played as a leader of his party. I am very conscious that he intends to continue in office, and that is a matter for the soon-to-be new leader of the Green Party in due course, but also continuing to serve his constituents in the Deputy's own constituency until the next election. He is a politician of substance and impact and I know we all understand and respect his decision. With regard to this very important issue …

The committee, chaired by Deputy Steven Matthews, who is here with us, had about 120 hours worth of hearings on Committee Stage. That is extraordinarily significant and for people watching this debate and Leaders' Questions, that is quite an unusual length of time on Committee Stage, as it should be with respect to getting this right. The Planning and Development Bill 2023 did complete all Stages in this House, as Deputies know, on 12 June, and it will now begin its passage through Seanad Éireann. I understand it i…

The honest truth is that on any legislative issue, one gets to a point where the point of disagreement is just reached. I can absolutely assure the Deputy that the Minister-----

It was reached. I will explain to Deputy Howlin how the point of disagreement was reached. He has been in this House a very long time. The Minister and the Government have been listening to these issues through a whole variety of fora, through consultation, through Committee Stage-----

The committee of the Oireachtas is not a residents' association; it is an Oireachtas committee of the Dáil. The Ceann Comhairle can clarify that is where Members of Dáil Éireann can go to tease through legislation. To be clear, the committee is of the Dáil. The only people who can attend it are Members of the Dáil.

There was a lot of time spent there. The Minister considered the issues. Amendments are tabled on Committee Stage. Quite often, members of the Opposition, as is their right, table the exact same amendment, or a variation of it, on Report Stage. At some point, the Minister, with such lengthy legislation, which is trying to modernise housing planning so we can get things moving in this country, has to decide to press go. That is what we have decided to do. We need to progress this legislation. There are people depend…

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this important issue. I join with him in completely condemning what happened in Loughinisland. I very much agree with them on the point that just because time has passed, it does not mean that issues can be ignored. It does not mean that an approach can be taken to any issue that is not victim centred and is not centred in terms of justice, truth and accountability. I think all parties in this House, and certainly all parties in Northern Ireland, which is a rare event, have rightly…

I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising the issue of Noah Donohoe and my thoughts are with his family. I am reluctant to talk too much about any individual case. I am conscious of the processes and the independence of the PSNI from political interference as one would expect, just like An Garda Síochána in this jurisdiction. However, I am always happy and eager to hear from families and people who have concerns about how they have been treated regarding our State institutions or in our role as co-guarantor of the Good Fri…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I spoke yesterday to President Biden. I spoke specifically on behalf of Ireland about the importance of an immediate ceasefire. The President agreed that there was a need for a two-state solution. I think he said that in his read-out of the call. My question to everybody is what more can we do to bring about the circumstances where a ceasefire can be achieved because I genuinely believe the first thing that has to happen is a cessation of violence. As recently as yesterday…

There is a serious misrepresentation of the views of President von der Leyen by some in this country. Some have done so for political gain during the European elections. I attended the European Council last night with 26 other prime ministers and presidents. I have not heard any country within the European Union actively propose another name for President of the Commission. While President von der Leyen has not got everything right, she has shown leadership on humanitarian aid and UNRWA, and has clearly called for …

I thank the Deputies. First, in respect of Deputy Bacik's point, I am not sure this always come across in our domestic debates on European positions but four posts are currently being considered in Europe - the European Parliament President, the President of the Council, the President of the Commission and the High Representative for foreign affairs - and the different political groupings at a European level are involved in that, including the Deputy's own group, the Socialists and Democrats. Based on the conversat…

How many times do you want to speak on it? Are you voting against the arrangement to allow every Deputy to speak on it?

I met Cara and her father, Mark, briefly this morning when I came back from Brussels. I met them in the courtyard of Government Buildings before the Cabinet meeting. I will formally and properly meet Cara this week with, I hope, other relevant Ministers as well. I have here her letter, which she gave me this morning. She is an incredible young person. We have taken a number of steps already in relation to assessments of needs since I became Taoiseach, including €12 million in funding, which will result in an extra …

I thank Deputy Nash. We are having a meeting of the Cabinet committee on health in early July, I believe, and I look forward to seeing whether we can bring progress to that issue of the pay and numbers strategy there because discussions are ongoing between the HSE and the Department of Health. However, there is broad agreement in relation to the pay and numbers strategy. The Minister has approved the allocation of the 2024 new development posts, along with the roll-out of safe staffing through the conversion of 418…

I thank Deputy Cairns for her kind words for the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and congratulate her on her own good news. I know everyone in this House is genuinely delighted for her and for Barry and we wish them all the very best. It is nice to have good news in this place too. I thank her for raising the very important issue relating to the Women’s Aid report and the work relating to the zero-tolerance strategy. She asked specifically about new measures. The honest answer to that, in addition to the list I can provide …

I will be able to very shortly and will be happy to tell the Deputy once I have received a final submission on the issue. My Department, for legacy reasons, as it were, has a role in bringing this project forward. I intend to bring a memorandum to the Government on it very shortly. Once I have brought that final memorandum to the Government and it has made a decision, I will be happy to share the details with the House.

That is my hope.