We committed in the programme for Government to work with like-minded states, particularly France, Poland and Italy, in respect of the Mercosur deal. Additional safeguards which resulted from that endeavour are now, hopefully, being translated into a legal instrument. Of course, we still have concerns with the Mercosur deal. There are many issues on the agricultural portfolio that I am dealing with. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, is dealing with the Commission on the nitrates directive, Mercosur, the financial framework for farmers-----
Sentiment score: 0.26
The draft multi-annual financial framework only gives farmers about 80% of what we got on the last occasion. That is a big issue we have to negotiate down the line with the Commission as well. On the blocking majority, all countries are engaging with the Commission, including those countries the Deputy mentioned, in respect of Mercosur. It is not as clear as Deputy McDonald suggested.
Sentiment score: 0.11
The lifelong package is there. We have a liaison person from the HSE and there is an office working with survivors and victims of the thalidomide drug. It is substantial. No one wants to get this concluded more quickly than I do, and indeed the Tánaiste and others do. We met recently with the group. We had a very good meeting. We will be meeting again in early December. We had set up a mediation process and a judge was appointed. I do not want to say too much in public, but I will put it this way. I am annoyed, quite frankly, about the pace of this. I will say no more, but there are issues that have delayed this and that I have concerns about. I articulated that to the group. We agreed we want to progress this as quickly as possible and I think we can.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I am somewhat surprised by the Deputy's comments. Most people who are working will make a contribution to their accommodation and food.
Sentiment score: 0.08
For those who are working that is the general view across society. It was always provided for in legislation in respect of those working in direct provision who have residency and could be earning good wages. Surely it is not too much to say that they should make a contribution to their upkeep. That is all. The Deputy is way out of order to suggest that it is something extraordinary to ask for or put in place. There is a tightening up in terms of the procedures being announced by the Minister, and the Government has approved this, which is necessary and relatively modest. The Deputy has used language in an attempt to create a sort of image of the Government. He has thrown in Nigel Farage, which is unnecessary and inappropriate. It is not anything to do with UK legislation. The UK has more legislation coming, which we have to take on board, by the way, and watch how it impacts on us.
Sentiment score: 0.19
What is that?
Sentiment score: 0.00
I have not seen the Bill. Normally what happens is that a Bill is published and people look at it and make up their minds whether they want to support it. The colonial appellation is a new one on me.
Sentiment score: 0.15
A lot of people have practised this throughout rural Ireland historically. They have been involved in hunting. There is always balance in debates of this kind. We await publication of the Bill.
Sentiment score: 0.18
The first thing the Government did when coming into office was to commit to establishing a national in-school therapy service. Within a very short time we will establish it, with €16 million allocated to that in the budget. CDNTs are now supporting almost 45,000 children, an increase of 5% since December last year. Waiting lists have come down by 21%. Workforce capacity within CDNTs has grown significantly; it has increased by 26%. The vacancy rate in CDNTs nationally has fallen from 29% in 2023 to 18% today. Resources have increased for CDNTs. Many of the issues are related to recruitment, not funding. It is about getting people in. With that in mind, we have created additional places in colleges.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I thank the Deputy for so eloquently articulating the situation in the two beautiful towns of Broadford and Cooraclare. The Minister recently brought a memorandum to Government to deal with the issue. The scheme was announced some time back when local authorities were given supports. To be fair, the Deputy is correct when he said there has been a problem in the delivery of those schemes. The Minister recently introduced supports for that. I will ask him to speak to the Deputy. What he is endeavouring to do with the county councils is positive in terms of making sure we get action on these specific projects identified two years ago.
Sentiment score: 0.30
It is a good idea to follow up with the newly appointed Minister for Finance on this issue. I agree with Deputy Neville. We have to look more generally at disincentives to investment and returns. This also affects quite a number of other areas. We need balance. When we try to do something like this, there is an inevitable cry that we are only looking after wealthy people and so on. We are trying to release money and capital into the economy. Britain has a far more effective framework on entrepreneurial reinvestment. We are not bad, but we could be better, in particular in respect of successful entrepreneurs who develop very good start-ups or companies that have grown to scale. When companies are sold, many go elsewhere instead of some of that money being used to build new start-ups and create an entrepreneurial dynamic. We are working on that. The research and development tax incentive is a significant enterprise incentive.
Sentiment score: 0.33
I am glad the Deputy has raised this matter with the National Transport Authority, which has statutory responsibility for it. The sectoral transport plan under the national development plan will be published today, although that is for bigger projects. There is substantial money for public transport if the need and demand is there. I do not understand why Bus Éireann and the NTA do not provide additional capacity on the route. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot look over every bus route in the country but there is no shortage of resources being allocated.
Sentiment score: 0.01
Does the Deputy expects me to bring clarity to that presentation?
Sentiment score: 0.40
Revenue is the guiding light, obviously, in this matter. I will discuss it with the new Minister for Finance but I would have thought Revenue implements the impact of the legislation faithfully and dutifully.
Sentiment score: 0.30
If the Deputy can do so, I would appreciate it. There were some challenges some time back in terms of that entire issue. If I am thinking of the same issue the Deputy referenced, there was a reason change had to happen. Revenue will identify what is required.
Sentiment score: 0.13
The Deputy knows the answer to that. I am as anxious as he is to get a flood relief plan enacted and implemented as quickly as possible. The Deputy does not have a monopoly on concern. I went down to visit and meet with people who were victims of the floods on that occasion.
Sentiment score: -0.01
The sooner we can get this done the better. The Deputy has a habit of making commentary that is not accurate and I take issue with that. He did this on a previous occasion in respect of another issue, when what he said was inaccurate and wrong. He is doing it again today in saying I was disdainful. He is saying to the people of Castlemartyr and Killeagh that I am disdainful. That is what he is trying to imply. It is an unnecessarily sly way of doing business. I will be as upfront with him as he is with me in respect of a genuine issue, which the flooding is, no question. However, let us not play sly games with this.
Sentiment score: 0.05
This is a serious issue for people. The Deputy should not underestimate my commitment or that of the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to dealing with it. The Deputy knows it involves a lot of stakeholders and a lot of consultation with people. The sooner we get it done the better and the Government is committed to getting it done.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. He is correct that the NTA has statutory responsibility in this matter. The authority is currently finalising plans for late-night services over the Christmas period and will publish full details of those arrangements late next week. The Deputy has been a strong advocate for this service and for clarity around it. I will alert the authority again of his concerns. In line with the approach adopted in previous years, broadly speaking, additional late-night services will be provided in the lead-up to Christmas on Luas, DART and commuter rail, as well as extra Nitelink and commuter bus services. This is in addition to the expanding 24-hour network and usual Nitelink services. The Christmas public transport schedules are typically published in the first week of December. The Transport for Ireland website includes information for each of the operators. The Government is committed to providing all citizens with reliable, realistic and sustainable mobility options. As the Deputy said, public transport is key to that.
Sentiment score: 0.21
As I outlined earlier to Deputy Dolan, the Minister for housing is looking at guidelines and will bring forward a national planning statement that will create guidelines and frameworks for both onshore wind and solar energy. The entire objective is to balance energy security and sustainability with ensuring development does not impinge on residential amenity or people's quality of life.
Sentiment score: 0.59
I did not just announce it; the Government allocated funding for it. The Deputy was on the council until recently and probably knows more about it than he lets on. It is a council responsibility to present the plan to the Government. Up until quite recently, a plan had not arrived at the Government in respect of this. Apparently, there were issues with sites, property and all the rest of it. Laterally and very lately, the council has put forward ideas, although I am not sure whether this was formally done, as to where it could be located. The Government allocated the funding under the URDF, just as it did for the docklands. A lot of it has been spent on the docklands. There have been issues around the location of the new library, but the Government's commitment is still there. Obviously, it has to be executed by the council on the ground. My understanding from recent meetings with the council is that it is pursuing options in this respect, which may not gain agreement from everybody.
Sentiment score: 0.05
In the budget, as the Deputy knows, we have reduced the VAT-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
-----for the next five years to 9% on electricity and so on, for which we have provided a lot of resources. If we did not do that, it would have resulted in significantly higher bills. We have also substantially improved the situation. We have increased the free fuel allowance and expanded the number of people who will be able to get it. For example, those on working family payments will be able to get it as well. We have also significantly expanded the budget for retrofitting to enable people to have houses in the end that will bring bills down substantially. I accept that prices have gone high, however. They have come down since the escalated increases as a result of the war on Ukraine and so forth.
Sentiment score: 0.16
There is no policy framework leaving anyone behind, let us be frank about it. It is an operational issue for the Garda Commissioner. The policy framework is to dramatically increase recruitment into An Garda Síochána and training in Templemore, and that is happening. We had the biggest intake into Templemore recently with 220 recruits. Some 200 have also graduated. What is happening is that, progressively, bigger numbers are being allocated to particular areas to deal with those areas rather than allocating smaller numbers all over the place. That policy has had an impact in the city of Dublin. There is far greater visibility and a greater sense of safety in the city centre. That is being done now in other centres across the country. I will alert the Commissioner to the Deputy's concerns but I have no doubt that as the numbers increase, the numbers will increase in DMR west as well. The strategy is working but it is time and patience. That is the issue really.
Sentiment score: 0.11
Midnight?
Sentiment score: 0.00
First, I will say to Deputy McGettigan that I will talk to the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, about Part 5 of the Act in respect of the code of practice for CCTV cameras. With regard to Deputy O'Gorman's question, that emerged at the last COP in a very rushed way. We have to apply our resources to where we are going to get yield. I cannot see any prospect of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty happening in the immediate future. It was disappointing that consensus was not arrived at. The number of leaders who attended was a concern. There was a reduction in the number of world leaders who attended the COP. I said in my speech that I feel there is a weakening of resolve. We will reflect and review this but I think we should-----
Sentiment score: 0.03
Yes, but in areas where we can get results. Our climate finance is one area where we have done quite well.
Sentiment score: 0.28