I am pleased to hear the Deputy spoke to Senator Andrews. It is obviously a very traumatic event for him and all other persons who are on the flotilla. As I said in my earlier comments, this is a reflection of the contempt Israel has for people who are non-combatants, whether they are in Gaza or on international waters. Having engaged with the Tánaiste's Department this morning I am aware that the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach are very concerned about the overnight attacks on the flotilla and reiterate that no unlawful or violent acts should be taken against the flotilla. I would urge Israel to respect international law and international humanitarian law. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are closely monitoring the situation and will provide whatever assistance that Senator Andrews, Deputy Heneghan or anyone else on the boat requires. That is the current situation but obviously it is a concern that the Government will keep a close eye on.
Sentiment score: -0.15
Government policy on any health issue has to be guided by science. It cannot be guided by politics. I recall 20 years ago there was a theory put out that there was a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. It got a lot of traction in very respectable organs. Ultimately, it was completely disproven. The Irish Government will certainly not be taking any stances in respect of causes of diseases without any proof in place to indicate what the source of them is. Science has to dictate this, not political convenience.
Sentiment score: 0.17
No. I thank the Deputy for the question. Like him, I am a Deputy for Dublin city centre. It is a great city. I am concerned about a narrative that keeps stating that it is a dangerous place to go into.
Sentiment score: 0.11
There are tens of thousands of people walking around the streets of Dublin today as the Deputy and I will do later. They feel safe, and they are right to feel safe.
Sentiment score: 0.35
There are always going to be circumstances where there are criminal acts. It is a city and county that has 1.2 million people in it. As Minister for justice, I cannot come to the Deputy and say there will be no criminal activity in Dublin. It is a large international capital city. What we have to do as Deputies representing the city centre is be more positive about it. There are obviously aspects-----
Sentiment score: -0.04
There are parts of Dublin city that can be unsafe, particularly for somebody who has been attacked, but predominantly it is a safe city. Look at the crime statistics; they are down. Look at the knife statistics; they are down. The Garda is doing a good job and the Deputy should get behind his city rather than denigrating it.
Sentiment score: 0.08
I thank Deputy Ward. I was not aware there was a closure of the ISPCA centre in Donegal. It is obviously a concern for people and for the animals of Donegal. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Heydon. I do not have an answer for the Deputy. I do not where it is proposed that the closest centre will be for people in Donegal. I hope there will be one in Donegal or the surrounding counties. I will come back to the Deputy in respect of that having spoken to the Minister, Deputy Heydon.
Sentiment score: 0.16
I thank the Deputy for the question. I agree with him that family resource centres do outstanding work. I have them in my own constituency. I would say every Member of this House is aware of the excellent work they do. I am informed that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has announced the opening of five new family resource centres this year. There are many applications for funding in respect of the resource centres throughout the country. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Foley, in respect of the issue the Deputy raised in his constituency. I do not have a detailed response at present but I will try to come back to the Deputy on that. I can understand his desire to ensure the family resource centre, which has a board and a building, continues and that it needs money.
Sentiment score: 0.37
I have been given a note in respect to that matter. I am very concerned that people have taken the extreme step of going on hunger strike. Like the Deputy, I urge them to reflect upon the potential damage they are doing to themselves by engaging in this. I will certainly speak to the relevant Ministers for the purpose of seeing whether a resolution can be obtained. From what Deputy Cahill says, the demands are relatively limited. However, there is an opportunity for people to discuss this and to seek to get agreement and resolution without the extreme action that is being taken at present.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I have to be aware of the limits of Irish influence and Irish powers. We are not a strong military power. I cannot direct marines or members of the Irish Rangers to rescue people on that ship. We are not in that type of business. When it comes to what action are we going to take, the Deputy knows as well as I do that the only action we can take is through the power of our influence, by condemning this behaviour and by trying to bring to the attention of the international community the totally unacceptable behaviour of the Israeli Government. We have been quite effective in doing that. However, that is all we can do. We are not a military power. We do not get involved in military engagements with other countries.
Sentiment score: 0.05
In fairness, the Deputy asked a straightforward question. I do not have that information. I will ask the Minister for Health to give me the specific information in respect of it. However, there was an announcement today that it is the Minister's intention to fully integrate CHI into the HSE, which is a positive development. There has been a number of reviews recently focused on the paediatric services in CHI. The Nayagam review is also under way-----
Sentiment score: 0.25
-----phase 2 of which is reviewing the service, including the governance being provided by the paediatric surgery service at Temple Street. I cannot tell the Deputy when it will be finished.
Sentiment score: 0.00
No.
Sentiment score: -0.30
My instruction is that it is not yet with the Minister. I will ask the Minister when it will be available.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank the Deputy. I agree that housing aid and housing adaption grants are vital. They are hugely important and the Government is supporting them. I do not have the details required to reply to the Deputy's question, and I apologise for that. However, I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Browne, try to get the information and come back to the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.48
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know he featured in the programme. I had a walk-on part as well. The Data Protection Commission is treating this matter seriously and is investigating it. The officials in my Department are engaging with the commission, which is required by law to ensure that it investigates matters such as this if it believes what is involved infringes upon the data rights of individuals. Part of the problem, as the Deputy identified, is that there is not sufficient awareness on the part of individuals that when they link to certain apps, they are providing ongoing information in respect of their movements. I want the Data Protection Commission to investigate the issue and I want a report from it in respect of what it identifies. I share the Deputy's concern.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank the Deputy for informing and educating me about the success of the Wade family in kickboxing. As the Deputy knows, Sport Ireland is the entity that allocates funding directly to the relevant national governing bodies. I am concerned to hear that they received no funding whatsoever. This is an issue that I will raise with my colleague the Minister for sport. The way we decide how funding should be allocated is on the basis that Sport Ireland has the significant say in the distribution of funding. I thank the Deputy for bringing the matter to my attention. I will raise the matter with the Minister for sport.
Sentiment score: 0.15
Ireland has provided significant humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza. The amount is in the region of €90 million. I ask the Deputy to tell me what she wants the Irish Government to do.
Sentiment score: 0.07
We are keeping our eyes on what is happening in Gaza. We are condemning the actions of the Israeli Government.
Sentiment score: 0.00
We are leading by example in the European Union, and other countries are following our example by recognising the State of Palestine. We are leading by example in ensuring that the issue of the EU-Israel trade agreement is coming under consideration. People are coming around to the Irish point of view. We are doing a lot.
Sentiment score: 0.16
The Deputy says there are only three candidates for the Presidency of Ireland when there are 5.5 million people here. In the United States of America, which has a population of approximately 400 million, there are only two candidates.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I ask the Deputy to bring forward legislation.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I ask the Deputy to bring forward legislation and it can be considered. I must point out that it will require a constitutional amendment. My view is that when you look at the provisions contained within the Constitution, they are probably correct. Twenty Members of the Oireachtas and-or four local authorities are required. Much consideration went into drafting that. If the Deputy wants to change that, he must bring forward a Bill proposing how the Constitution should be amended. I would be cautious as to whether or not the Irish public would support it.
Sentiment score: 0.05
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of childcare facilities in Kildare. If a premises is left vacant for a lengthy period, it is, in the first instance, an issue for the local authority in Kildare to assess what can be done. The Government has invested a considerable amount of money to fund childcare. I am conscious that one of the issues is trying to identify appropriate properties for the provision of childcare facilities. I will certainly speak to the relevant Minister, Deputy Foley, in respect of it and on whether anything is available for Kildare. However, the local authority also has a big role to play in respect of it.
Sentiment score: 0.30