He agreed yesterday.
Sentiment score: 0.27
First, I join the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming the active retirement group from Midleton, and Ability West. I have a strong fondness for Midleton women.
Sentiment score: 0.81
I know. In any event, in terms of the bike shed the Deputy referenced earlier, the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is saying the approximate cost for the actual bike shed was €32,000. There is a lot more going on there. In terms of the IPAS, that report was circulated today and we need to examine it. We have transferred responsibility for migration and IPAS centres from the Department of children to the Department of justice. There was huge pressure over the past number of years in respect of the migration system. This necessitated urgent responses by the Department of children in terms of the location and securing of places on an emergency basis. We will examine that report. Certainly, our aim is to reduce costs significantly and get better value for money. The Minister for justice is taking a number of initiatives designed to do that.
Sentiment score: 0.25
House prices are very high, and too high for many young people. That said, since 2020, notwithstanding Covid, about 148,000 new houses have been delivered in this country. The percentage of first-time buyers has been steadily increasing from about 25% of all purchases in 2015 to just under 40% in July 2025, and the latest data indicate further increases. First-time buyers continue to make the largest contribution to the mortgage market, accounting for 63% of approvals. Notwithstanding high prices - and they are too high, in my view - first-time buyers are getting opportunities to buy. About 119,000 first-time buyer mortgages were drawn down from 2020 to the first quarter of 2025. We need more supply – that is the key. The national development plan outlines the enormous Government expenditure that will ensue in the coming years. The budget will be supportive of housing but we need more private sector investment in housing as well.
Sentiment score: 0.10
That review is going before the emergency development forum, which is imminent. I met with many of the groups after Storm Éowyn. Irish Water, in particular, undertook to immediately procure additional generators for the number of facilities where there had not been generators prior to or during Storm Éowyn. That was one practical step that we could take. We have also undertaken to resource various community-based groups and centres, so there would be one focal point in every area in the event of a storm like this happening again. That would have the necessary generating capacity and the various resources and amenities available for people in a given area to access in the event of being cut off from electricity, hot water, water in general or connectivity through communications. The Departments of agriculture and climate and energy, with respect to the ESB, farming and all of that, will ensure there are proper free corridors in respect of trees and so on.
Sentiment score: 0.10
It is but I will get the most up-to-date information for the Deputy and will communicate it to her directly. From 1 October, trawling activity and fishing vessels over 18 m in length over all waters inside the 6 nautical mile zone will be prohibited.
Sentiment score: 0.00
That is the policy.
Sentiment score: 0.00
If you prohibit, you prohibit from 1 October. My briefing note states a limited total allowable catch of 2,000 tonnes of sprat will be permitted for vessels over 18 m long overall within the 6 nautical miles and inside baselines from October 2025 to 30 December 2026 only. The Deputy will know the story of the extensive public consultation that happened prior to this decision being made and the 5,000 submissions received. Some 94% of those submissions wanted a new ban on trawling activity. I have been pursuing it myself with the respective Ministers to get this decision.
Sentiment score: -0.07
It is very disturbing. Irish Water should have the highest standards. Something like this should not be occurring. In recent months, Uisce Éireann had been assessing the feasible options for addressing the primary issue relating to the nine terraced houses and associated septic tank and percolation area in Shannonvale Park. The option is to establish a pumping station and transfer flow across the river towards the Clonakilty wastewater network. That is being progressed. This will involve the requirement to purchase land, establishing wayleaves, applying for planning permission and completing the required wastewater discharge authorisation reviews. Two local legacy developer-provided infrastructure wastewater treatment plants will also be included in this project. Projects of this nature take a number of years to deliver. Funding has been allocated to develop the designs for this project and progress through the statutory consenting processes. We will keep in touch with and keep pressure on Uisce Éireann to make sure this happens.
Sentiment score: 0.03
I thank the Deputy and he has made a very fair point. Obviously, there are pressures on budgets all over. There are ongoing discussions between the respective Ministers and the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, right now. We are conscious of the pressures on schools in respect of capitation and the need for longer term sustainable funding to deal with increasing costs.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. I fully acknowledge the tillage sector is under significant pressure. I met with some individuals at the recent national ploughing championships and also met with the IFA in respect of the issue, as well as the ICMSA and other organisations. Substantial support has been allocated by Government, including about €32.4 million under the tillage and horticulture support scheme in February of this year, which the Minister, Deputy Heydon announced. The budget for protein aid increased to €10 million annually from 2024, with an overall Common Agricultural Policy allocation of €47 million. The straw incorporation measure has an allocation of €50 million over five years. Approximately 66,000 ha of cereals in oilseed, rape and straw were submitted for incorporating in 2025 and all farmers will be paid who have applied under the scheme this year. Then there are other schemes like-----
Sentiment score: 0.22
----- farming for water EIP, the tillage capital investment scheme, ACRES and the organic farming scheme. However, there are issues and we do not want to maintain that support.
Sentiment score: 0.18
There is a programme for Government. I do not announce budgets in advance.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Deputy's ministerial colleague would not be happy if I announced the budget in advance.
Sentiment score: -0.46
My understanding is Carlow County Council made a submission to Irish Water. I do not know how recent that was. The Government and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, have allocated substantial funding to Irish Water in respect of the national development plan. We have engaged with Irish Water on this particular proposal.
Sentiment score: 0.25
My understanding is that the Minister for education met with the group or representatives of the group yesterday. Obviously, I would ask people to come off the hunger strike. It is difficult for the survivors concerned to be on hunger strike. It can have health implications. The Government will engage, and I hope people will come off the hunger strike.
Sentiment score: -0.11
The Ministers were very clear and acted in good faith. The Minister for justice was clear that there was not sufficient documentation. Any future visit should be properly organised well in advance and there should be engagement with the national sporting authorities of any particular code of sport and then with the Government well in advance of the submission of any applications in order that we can avoid any issues that emerged as in this occasion. That might be one way of avoiding what transpired the last time.
Sentiment score: 0.45
It was more than that. There were issues of minors and accompanying them.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The legislation is on a priority publication list. It is being worked on intensively. Hopefully, given that it is on a priority publication list, we will see its publication shortly. The Dáil has been back two weeks and work has been under way for quite some time. I will consult with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, in respect of any communication to the Deputy in respect of this issue.
Sentiment score: 0.23
There have been quite a number of very large commencements in Cork city. There is the Greenfield site, for example. The old Dairygold site is now commencing, and money has been released for that. There are the Railway Yard apartments and the docklands. So there has been some very significant-----
Sentiment score: 0.03
Sorry?
Sentiment score: -0.08
They are private?
Sentiment score: 0.00
What is wrong with that?
Sentiment score: -0.48
I will come back to the Deputy again, maybe, and we will discuss that.
Sentiment score: 0.00
There have been very substantial increases in funding in recent years. I appreciate what the Deputy has said about the fantastic work that CDYS is doing in Mitchelstown and in the hinterland. It provides very important interventions and opportunities for young people to progress. I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, in respect of the issue he has raised.
Sentiment score: 0.56
Military neutrality is protected. We are not members of NATO. We are not militarily aligned.
Sentiment score: 0.15
The second point I will make about the specifics is that the world has changed dramatically since 2013. Russia, the United States and China have the veto on Irish foreign policy - well, not foreign policy.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I ask the Deputy to let me finish. Not on foreign policy but on any decision we would make to send Irish troops abroad. It is quite interesting that a number of Sinn Féin Deputies are asking that we send the Irish Naval Service out to international waters in the Middle East. That would breach the triple lock.
Sentiment score: 0.14
Russia should not have a veto over Ireland's decisions to participate in peacekeeping. We are peacekeepers. We have always been peacekeepers. That is what we want to be in the future. That is our commitment.
Sentiment score: 0.34