10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [50160/25]

Sentiment score: 0.00

Education is crucial to competitiveness. We will not have it without teachers, yet many schools are in crisis situations. I will give one example from my constituency. St. Mary's Boys National School in Rathfarnham is set to lose another teacher next year, having lost one in September, unless the Government commits to reducing class sizes. I have been contacted by many parents, one of whom wrote to say: My son is already in a class that exceeds the national average size. Without intervention, he may soon be placed in an even larger multigrade class, which would significantly affect the quality of his education. The school is currently just four pupils short of retaining its 16 class teachers. In the budget, it was announced that 1,042 teachers will be hired, which will not cover the 1,046 teachers who will be retiring so it will not reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. The hospitality VAT rate cut cost the equivalent of hiring 7,800 teachers, illustrating where the Government's priorities lie. Will the Taoiseach commit to reducing class sizes?

Sentiment score: -0.12

20. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [50161/25]

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I welcome the ceasefire. Any relief for the Palestinian people facing genocide is obviously welcome. I emphasise that a lasting peace will only be built on the basis of justice and there is still definitely no justice for the Palestinian people. My question relates to Government policy in this context. I am concerned that the various commitments that have been given in the context of pressure of a massive solidarity movement and massive public support for the Palestinian people will now be forgotten or kicked down the road never to happen. First, in relation to the occupied territories Bill, will the Taoiseach give a commitment that it will be passed and implemented before Christmas and will it include trade in goods and services, as the Fine Gael candidate for President has now apparently said she is in favour of? Second, in relation to the investigation about the overflights, there is an examination ongoing for more than a year of something that is very simple. Is this just going to simply continue and disappear or are we ever going to get to the bottom of that and action to stop it? Third, I have heard the Taoiseach previously say that no airplanes with military cargo, weapons or soldiers are landing in Shannon Airport on the way to Israel. The Ditch has a story saying that on Sunday Simon Harris authorised a US military plane to refuel at Shannon Airport on its way from a US Department of War air base to the Nevatim Israel Defense Forces base. It was transporting soldiers or military cargo and it stopped over at Shannon Airport. That seems to me to be completely wrong. Was the Taoiseach aware of this? Does the Taoiseach agree with granting authorisation for our airport to be used in that way?

Sentiment score: 0.10

Can we get answers on the occupied territories Bill?

Sentiment score: 0.00

No, we are asking questions.

Sentiment score: -0.30