I will be continuing in it shortly. Is deis a bheidh ann freisin do AE agus ASEAN cinneadh polaitíochta comhroinnte a léiriú chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar shaincheisteanna atá ina n-ábhair imní go réigiúnach agus ar fud an domhain. Beidh cruinniú mullaigh idir AE agus na Balcáin Thiar ar siúl i dTiorána na hAlbáine an 6 Nollaig. Casfar ceannairí AE ar a macasamhlacha ó na Balcáin Thiar i mí na Nollag agus is deis a bheidh ann chun iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar na réimsí inar féidir leis na Balcáin Thiar agus AE tacaíocht a…

I want to offer some praise. People are making complaints about their constituencies, which is only right. There are areas of my constituency where there are issues with Irish Water. I came into the Dáil in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and made those complaints on behalf of my constituents, in particular those served by the Staleen water supply, which goes all the way from Staleen on the River Boyne to Ashbourne, Kilbride and Ratoath. I was pleased that earlier this year major upgrades were done in Ashbourne to ensure the r…

It is not on the agenda.

Unfortunately, many questions have been asked but the format does not give me the opportunity to respond to all of them but I will try to respond to some of them. I am obliged to respond, however, to the specific issues that the Taoiseach indicated that he would ask me to respond to and it is important that I do that. I will deal with the comments by Sinn Féin on two fronts. One was on the issue of the protocol and why this was not on the agenda of the European Council. That is very simple. Britain will not be ther…

On humanitarian assistance, Ireland has done more than almost any other country. I have quoted the Deputy exactly. I thank Deputies for their statements and it is very important that we engage in these debates before and after the European Council meeting. The agenda was discussed and this was the main item yesterday in Luxembourg where I attended the General Affairs Council of the EU affairs ministers. The Taoiseach said that a number of external relations matters would be discussed this week. Leaders will discuss…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Comhaltaí go léir sa Seanad. Tá áthas orm an deis seo a bheith agam chun díospóireacht a dhéanamh ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo agus chun míniú a thabhairt ar an stádas reatha i seirbhís na bpasanna sa tír seo. As we all know, the passport service was the subject of much public attention earlier this year as it dealt with an unprecedented demand as many of our citizens prepared for their first holidays overseas for some time. I am glad many Irish people got the opp…

We have all had experience of that, unfortunately for the people involved. We reckon that Passport Online is available to all Irish citizens on this island and 97% of Irish citizens around the world. There are some countries where people cannot apply online. Passport Online has been extremely successful. Some 90% of applicants use it. This has reduced massively the number of people who visit the post office or passport offices to apply in person. The public is doing this and we want more and more of them to apply o…

I think we can consider that.

North and south.

It is more.

Do not send them.

I wish to address the specific point on paper applications. People should not submit paper applications; they should apply online. All applications are being processed on time at the moment.

We can help them. I have done that. All applications are being processed on time and are not expedited for anybody except in an emergency situation. I am subject to the same provisions as any Member of the Oireachtas.

Tá áthas agus bród orm labhairt sa Dáil inniu i bhfabhar agus ar son cháinaisnéis 2023. Tá sé cothrom agus cuireadh le chéile í ar son leasa an phobail. This budget enhances Ireland's reputation for looking after our most vulnerable, for promoting income equality and for encouraging enterprise and job creation. This is a budget that recognises the challenges of today and invests in our future. It is a continuation of the budgets of Fianna Fáil over many years, where it sought to create jobs and wealth and then to d…

Táim ag labhairt ar mo shon féin agus ar son an Rialtais agus mo pháirtí féin.

The €4.1 billion cost-of-living package recognises the challenges that families, workers, businesses and young people face. As a Fianna Fáil Minister in a coalition Government, I am delighted to be supporting this budget. I am very proud that the principles of my party have been put forward in this budget by our Ministers, together with those from the other parties. I am very proud that Fianna Fáil is in government and that we are making real changes that are putting money into people's pockets. Undoubtedly, people…

The Senator is right to be excited, interested and encouraged by what is being done in Galway. It is really positive. As he rightly noted, sustainability and the need to decarbonise lie at the heart of transport policy, as set out in commitments under the programme for Government, the national development plan, NDP, the whole-of-government climate action plan and key strategies such as the national sustainable mobility policy. Against the backdrop of a shift away from fossil fuels and towards clean and green energy…

I thank the Senator. I will certainly pass his comments on to the Minister. The programme for Government and climate action plan commit the Government to positioning Ireland at the forefront of a wider energy transition and the cutting edge of scientific and technological innovation in meeting our climate targets. Against that background and all of the actions we are taking under the climate action plan, the programme for Government and EU plans, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, recognises that the GH2 hydrogen valley an…

The Government's commitment to supporting artists and creative people has undergone rapid and immense transformation in recent years due to equally monumental challenges faced by the creative communities. Culture and creativity are and will remain at the heart of Government policy, but our continuing priority is to ensure this creativity is allowed to thrive with the necessary supports. The audiovisual action plan was launched in June 2018. This is an industry-wide, long-term plan under the Creative Ireland program…

I thank the Minister, Deputy Martin, for prioritising this. I am also proud to be in a Fianna Fáil Government coalition because we have provided historic support for the arts over many decades. I am glad that continues in coalition with Fine Gael and the Green Party, in particular. Historic levels of funding are being provided by the Department. It recognises how united the screen industry proved to be by pulling together and working towards a common goal. The screen industry in Ireland provides a tangible economic…