When the Deputy uses phrases like “rolls out the red carpet” for the President of the European Commission, the mask kind of slips. It is a sharp reminder that Sinn Féin has opposed every single European referendum, including the one to join the European Union. It is a Eurosceptic party; it has been since its foundation. If it were up to Sinn Féin, Ireland would not be in the European Union because it opposed joining it. It is nothing to do with the colour of the carpet, but more to do with Sinn Féin’s politically inward-looking ideology. In relation to the triple lock, this is an act of sovereignty. We do not believe that the British Prime Minister, the US President, the Chinese President or the Russian President should decide where we send the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann. As someone who has stood with our troops in Lebanon - I do not think Deputy Doherty has - I believe they should be able to continue doing their excellent peacekeeping work there but they cannot because people who are not the Deputy or me have made that decision. If other European countries came together to continue peacekeeping in Lebanon, I would like Ireland to have been involved in that conversation because I am proud of the decades of tradition of the men and women in Óglaigh na hÉireann. However, other people - not me, the Deputy or the Oireachtas - have decided that is not possible. Removing the triple lock is in the programme for Government. It should not come as a surprise to anyone on any side of the House that we intend to change this legislation because it was voted through as part of the programme for Government. The Minister will take the legislation through this House in the course of this year. It is an important reform.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I reject the idea that any report has sat on the shelf and gathered dust. I have had many engagements with the Traveller community in a whole variety of roles, most particularly in the education space. Indeed, it was my party in government that recognised Traveller as an ethnicity, which was an important moment for members of the Traveller community. The report is a valuable piece of work. It highlights stark inequalities and discrimination that still exists in this Republic. Certainly, I and the Government as a whole will give it consideration. I will also ask the Minister for Health to come back to the Deputy directly on what is quite a damning report in terms of the level of progress that still needs to be made in our country to improve outcomes for Travellers across a whole variety of areas.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I thank Deputy Ahern for that colourful intervention, but on an important matter. The Minister for justice has introduced an 8% increase in criminal legal aid fees payable to solicitors and barristers in both the Circuit Court and High Court from 1 July. This is now a total restoration of criminal legal aid fees cut under the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI. He has also proposed, and is trying to bring about reform with, a move to a flat-fee model. I would also point out that he has moved on the level of that fee. The figure represents the current fee paid for five appearances in the District Court, plus an 8% increase. The weighted average of appearances by a solicitor in criminal cases legally aided is five, but many cases obviously require fewer appearances to be concluded. Everyone wants to see progress on this. The Minister is pursuing a reform agenda. No one wants to see justice in any way delayed or disrupted. I am informed that no solicitor has formally resigned or withdrawn their name from the criminal legal aid panel, but I have certainly heard media commentary to the contrary. I think three solicitors wrote to the Department indicating they would be seeking to withdraw from the panel, but I hope a resolution can be found. I understand and support the reforms the Minister is trying to bring about.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I may have to ask the Minister to come back on some of the specifics, but I know that the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 sets out a clear process for what should happen when a new standard is made available. It requires that a review of the operation of the Act commences within three months of that standard being published. The Minister for housing now intends to commence a review of the operation of the Act in the coming weeks. I will ask him to keep in close contact with the Deputy on that. In the meantime, the scheme can continue to operate and fix homes for many homeowners who have already received a determination and a grant amount under the former scheme. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy specifically on those questions. We hope the review will be under way within weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.04
I would be happy to visit Scoil Padre Pio. If the Deputy wants to liaise with me, I will make arrangements to do that in due course in the new school year. I thank the school, based on what the Deputy has told me, for the leadership role it is playing in the provision of special education. I will certainly speak with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, about the school building project. What I would say all Members of this House, including Deputy O'Flynn, is that while we have announced a significant increase in capital funding for schools, it is not the final word on the matter. There will be a requirement for additional capital funding for school projects. There are quite a number at stage 2b. The Government has additional capital to allocate as part of our medium-term fiscal plan and we will work our way through that in the time ahead. I am happy to engage and I will ask the Minister to look specifically into the building project.
Sentiment score: 0.33
That contribution made me smile to see the positivity, infectiousness and county pride the GAA can bring. I look forward to attending that game because, of course, what the Deputy did not say in her contribution, is that County Wicklow is in the Tailteann Cup final on the same day, just before that match. Wicklow will beat Down and then Louth and Mayo I am not getting involved in, but I wish everybody well. I take the point about the large-scale projects. Indeed, I had an opportunity quite a while ago to meet with some of the Louth county board members while I was in Louth, and I know how serious this project is. It is the county that has the outstanding need for those county grounds. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, about it before. On foot of the Deputy raising it today, I will talk to him again and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly.
Sentiment score: 0.31
This a great round of Questions on Policy or Legislation. We have gone from GAA pitches to concert events. The Deputy raises a very important point. It is great to see the level of activity and the concerts going on right across the country and particularly the city and county of Dublin. Deputy Boland is right; the joy can be somewhat taken out of that if there are real challenges in terms of traffic, congestion and a lack of co-ordination. I know that is an issue that can affect her own constituency of Dublin Fingal West, particularly during the summer months. As she said, the NTA is the organisation with statutory responsibility for pulling all of this together. There is significant collaboration between the NTA and all public transport operators, but I think she is right. There is an issue that needs to be resolved. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage directly with the Minister for Transport and others, and we will come back to her to see what more can be done.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I thank Deputy Mythen for raising this issue in relation to primary care services in County Wexford and the impact it is having on children waiting longer periods on waiting lists. I will certainly raise this issue with the Minister for Health and ask that she discuss it specifically with that CHO and the HSE to see what more can be done to make progress. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to come back to the Deputy directly.
Sentiment score: 0.44
I thank Deputy Nolan for raising this issue in relation to access to occupational therapy for older people. I will speak to the Minister about that broader issue but also specifically the issue she has raised regarding that elderly gentleman who is seeking an assessment and has a number of medical referrals. If she wants to send me the information, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to engage with the HSE and come back to her.
Sentiment score: 0.27
I think Deputy McCormack for raising this issue. I will discuss it with the Minister, Deputy Burke, and ask that he revert to the Deputy. More broadly, the IDA is continuing to deliver very successful results in a very challenging environment and is securing more sites that, as the Deputy said, are able to be accessed because they have the enabling infrastructure to try to keep ahead of the curve. The world is getting more and more competitive. It is more vital than ever to have that joined-up approach to securing sites but also to ensure they are functional and ready to rock. That is an absolute imperative. I will speak to the Minister and he will revert to the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I do not honestly know the answer to the question of whether we have one. I have not seen it if we do, so I presume we have not. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the relevant Ministers to take a look at it because I am conscious he is a doctor as well as a Deputy and there is a very clear differentiation between what he is trying to achieve from an economic point of view and the broader discussion in relation to cannabis and the likes. That idea of the industrial use of hemp and the good that could come of it is certainly something that should be explored. I will perhaps ask the Minister, Deputy Burke, in the first instance to come back to the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I thank Deputy Crowe. I can hear his frustration. From memory, I think the waiting time for driving tests is falling, albeit from a very high place. I take the point that there can be geographic differences in relation to that too. I am not sure of the situation in relation to the Sandyford test centre but on foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who has responsibility for the RSA and road safety to see what can be done. More broadly, we are having a conversation about the role of the RSA. I will come back to the Deputy directly and see what can be done for the people in Tallaght and Dún Laoghaire on those wait times.
Sentiment score: 0.03
I genuinely thank Deputy Whitmore for her work on this. I know her work to get this bus service up and running is sincere. I very much support it. This is where State agencies have to stop with the codology. Deputy Whitmore and I did not make up that this bus was coming to Wicklow. This information flowed from the NTA. She is right that certain bus routes have started and certain other ones have not. I watched back some of the NTA's contribution in response to the Deputy. Deputy Whitmore and I, as a Wicklow TD, were given assurances that this bus service was to be delivered within the timeline. I expect State agencies to keep to the commitments they give and not to go into Oireachtas committees with measly words and try to suggest that somehow the idea just dropped from the sky. It came from the NTA. I am very happy to meet the NTA with Deputy Whitmore in relation to this and to try to get this bus service up and running as quickly as possible.
Sentiment score: 0.21
Deputy O'Donoghue is having a busy day. I thank him for raising the issue of the 33 bus again. I take the point that there is always a balance between the reliability of the service and increasing the frequency of it. I know the Minister's aim in the first instance is to improve reliability. The Deputy has put forward some suggestions as to measures that could be taken that would pass the common-sense test in terms of helping get people to and from train stations and the likes. I am very much aware that he represents a constituency with a growing and young population where investment in public transport is crucial. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy in the first instance. I hope we can focus on public transport and bus provision in the forthcoming budget because it has been a challenging year for Local Link and the likes.
Sentiment score: 0.29
I thank Deputy Kenny. First, I respect the outcome of the ballot because it is important that processes are respected. I know Fórsa opened a consultation ballot. It is important to say that the union representing SNAs did recommend acceptance of the plan but the members rejected it. That is a statement of fact too and that is how democracy works. In terms of what happens next and what now, Fórsa has said it will consider the outcome carefully. I understand, as the Deputy outlined, that its education divisional executive committee will meet next Wednesday to consider the outcome and determine the next steps. We, as a Government, and the Department await the feedback from Fórsa's engagement with its members. We are respectful of that. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and their officials are ready and willing to constructively work and engage with Fórsa and all stakeholders to address any concerns or issues. We all want to get agreement on this. In fairness, I know the SNAs want to get agreement on it. They have waited a long time for it. This was seen as an important step forward. We need to hear what was behind the outcome of the ballot to see if we can tease through some of the issues. We look forward to hearing from Fórsa after the meeting next Wednesday.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I thank Deputy McGrath. As is often the case I agree with some of what he says and disagree with some of it also. The establishment of Uisce Éireann, to have one national body for co-ordinating and directing a very significant level of investment in water quality, water services and the water supply we need for housing, is a good thing. I genuinely believe that and I stand over that decision. However, the Deputy raised two other issues. One is the boil water notices in his constituency and the very significant impact they have had on his constituents. I will raise that with Irish Water and ask that it comes back to him directly. The second issue is the accountability of Irish Water. I am only one Member of this House - it is for the House to consider this - but it is my very clear view that Uisce Éireann should be accountable to Dáil Eireann through parliamentary questions. I do not understand why it is not. It was intended to be set up in a different way. Deputy McGrath will remember those battles. He referenced my former colleague, the then Minister, Phil Hogan, but it has not been established in that way. Therefore, I think it should be covered. I do not think it is acceptable. I do not blame the Ceann Comhairle or the Leas-Cheann Comhairle - far from it - but at the moment if a Deputy asks a question about Uisce Éireann, it is ruled out of order. If we ask a question about the HSE, the Minister answers it and refers it to the HSE. We need to do work in whatever the appropriate committee is - the Committee on Members' Interests or the Oireachtas Commission - on how we are going to bring accountability. This is an organisation with vast sums of public money. Deputy McGrath's frustration is shared by Deputies across the House.
Sentiment score: 0.10
Absolutely. We should work it out together.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I defended the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's honour but we need to seriously look at this.
Sentiment score: 0.08
As is often the way, there is a lot of logic in what the Deputy is suggesting. We have to consider these matters as part of the budgetary process. I am proud that we are in a Government that has significantly expanded the fuel allowance and made sure that more homes and more people than ever before are receiving it. We have increased the amount of the fuel allowance and took the decision to extend the fuel allowance season this year when the energy prices went in a very bad direction globally and in Ireland. The Deputy is making the point that there is a certain cohort of people of an age who still do not qualify and he would like that examined. On foot of his raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to give it consideration and come back to the Deputy directly.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I thank Deputy Roche for raising this issue. I will reflect on what he says in respect of the actual process itself. Specifically on the issue of the length of time for appeals, I acknowledge the appeals board is independent but the board does run regional clinics on occasion where appropriate facilities can be sourced and where there is sufficient demand and attendance. For instance, over the past 12 months, it held these regional clinics in Cork and Galway and I think that helped somewhat with those delays. I am advised that the location of alternative regional clinics is kept under review by the board. This is very welcome. On foot of the Deputy raising the matter today, I will ask that his views are conveyed to the board as well. Those regional hearing centres could make a real difference in speeding up those times and I know it is something the board is open to as well.
Sentiment score: 0.22