I thank the Deputy for her questions and, like her, I extend my condolences to those who knew and loved Daniel Aruebose. As the Deputy will be aware, there is an ongoing Garda investigation in respect of that matter. The Garda deserves to be commended on the work it has done to date. It was a very difficult search but, ultimately, the Garda tragically found the remains of the young boy. I urge anyone with information to provide it to An Garda Síochána to ensure the investigation that is ongoing is brought to a conclusion. The Deputy then moved to a question about a company called GoodPeople Homecare. I am aware that an individual who worked for that company was convicted of serious offences before the courts in terms of forging vetting certificates. That company previously had a contract with my Department for the provision of accommodation for Ukrainians. That contract was terminated this month. The Deputy has correctly pointed out, however, that the company has a contract in place to provide vulnerability assessments. That contract was entered into in September 2024. It was a European-wide contract that was put into the public domain. My Department has done an assessment of all the vetting certificates that have been provided and they have been found to be valid.

Sentiment score: 0.06

Like Deputy Bacik, I was very concerned when I heard about the stabbing of the two individuals over the weekend but it has to be put in context as well. I received a report from An Garda Síochána at the end of August this year in respect of knife crime. It showed that knife-crime seizures where up and knife-crime injuries were down. In general, knife crime as a criminal offence is down. That has to be taken into account. Also, regarding Garda visibility, the Deputy will be aware herself from being around the city that we have an increased Garda presence in Dublin city centre. I want to see that rolled out through the country in all the villages and towns as well. In order to do that we need to get the recruitment of gardaí up. I am pleased to say that the numbers are going in the right direction. Some 200 hundred new recruits entered into Templemore in August of this year and in November, at the next passing out, 200 will be coming out. The numbers are looking good but the secret to Garda visibility is increased Garda recruitment.

Sentiment score: 0.11

I thank Deputy Cummins for her question. To answer it straight, no, we will not suspend it and it needs to be put in context with what is being done in respect of special education at present. There are over 23,000 SNAs currently in place in the education system, which is an increase of 43% since 2020, and budget 2025 added 1,600 SNAs, the largest increase to date. Almost 21,000 special education teachers support children with special needs. Therefore, there is a huge amount being done in the area. I am conscious that there are demands on the system that need to be filled and I know, from speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Ministers, Deputies McEntee and Foley, that a huge amount of work has been done. Some 407 new special classes were sanctioned for this current academic year, 300 of which were in mainstream schools. There is a lot being done but we will not suspend the guidelines.

Sentiment score: 0.48

I apologise that I cannot answer Deputy Stanley's question. I cannot tell him when the wind turbine guidelines will be available. However, I am aware from discussions with my colleagues that these are required. I cannot give him an answer. I do not have it. There is no point in me making it up.

Sentiment score: 0.01

We will come back to the Deputy and provide him with information. As regards the guidelines, we cannot ignore the fact that at times 40% of our energy is being provided by wind. Wind is a great success and it is really part of the transfer from fossil fuel to a more appropriate fuel that is at the forefront, wind energy.

Sentiment score: 0.46

The biggest problem I face as Minister for justice is that every elected representative and member of the public I meet wants to see more gardaí in their community. There is a positive story behind that when we reflect upon it. It was great that 20 gardaí went to Limerick city. I do not decide where new recruits coming out of Templemore go. I know everyone wants them. As I said earlier in response to Deputy Bacik, if we can get 200 in each intake into Templemore, and there are four or five intakes per year, at the end of each passing out we will find ourselves with lots of gardaí going around the country and available. That is the policy objective.

Sentiment score: 0.19

I thank Deputy Burke for his question. He highlights an issue that many of us experience in our local communities where there is a delay in major infrastructural residential development because of not getting a connection with Uisce Éireann. There definitely should be a process in place whereby local authorities and Uisce Éireann can engage. I am surprised there is not. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy James Browne, in respect of that matter to see whether anything can be done at departmental level to ensure there is direct contact between local authorities and Uisce Éireann.

Sentiment score: 0.32

As the Deputy said, I was down in Cork before the summer and saw the great work that is done by members of An Garda Síochána in the Cork area. I am aware of the issue in respect of units. I hope the Deputy will forgive me if I do not throw myself into the middle of it. It is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. The last thing I want to do, as Minister for justice, is to start issuing operational diktats to a Commissioner. He is the expert on how to run An Garda Síochána. I set the policy but it is up to him and senior management to dictate what happens in respect of whether units are available to each area or not.

Sentiment score: 0.42

Notwithstanding the fact that the culprits on Eden Quay were using e-scooters and were wearing black clothing, I can assure Deputy McCormack that the strong likelihood is that they will be apprehended. The Garda has great success in apprehending people involved in those types of violent criminal attacks in the city centre. We saw that a suspect was arrested in respect of the injuries sustained by an English tourist on Saturday evening. I will give consideration to what the Deputy said. However, I know from An Garda Síochána that it does seize e-scooters from people under 16 years of age and that needs to be done continuously and repeatedly. I will engage with my colleague in transport, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to see whether he has any proposals in respect of regulating them on a wider basis.

Sentiment score: 0.12

I am conscious that at present, there are two live issues before the courts in respect of that investigation. One of the associates of the late Mr. Fitzgerald has pleaded guilty so there has to be an issue with regard to sentencing in respect of his plea. Second, another individual, I understand, has not yet made a plea so there could be a trial so I am not going to get involved in the detail of that. I would make one point. I have discussed this matter with both the former Commissioner and the current Commissioner. We are lucky in Ireland that we have a low level of firearms in this country. If you look at the injuries sustained from firearms in this country, they have stopped recording them because they are negligible. Part of the reason we have such a low level of firearms in the country is because of the work done by An Garda Síochána stopping weapons from coming in. That has to be a central part of its function.

Sentiment score: -0.03

At the outset, I should say that I have no difficulty meeting the family. I am happy to meet the family. In fact, I was down in Carrick-on-Shannon on 8 September last and Deputy Scanlon asked me to meet the family. I agreed to meet them on 8 September but unfortunately it did not suit them. There is no issue with me meeting them. I am due in front of the justice committee, chaired by the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Carthy, at 3.30 p.m. so it is going to be difficult for me to meet the Farrells today or right now but I have no difficulty meeting them at some convenient time in the future. I saw the "RTÉ Investigates" documentary and I am aware of the case of Mr. Farrell. By the way, I extend my condolences to his son Brendan and all the family. I have discussed it with the former Garda Commissioner and the current Commissioner but rather than give a narrative here as to what I have been apprised of, I am happy to meet with them. I cannot do it today-----

Sentiment score: -0.04

-----unless Deputy Carthy is happy to put back the committee meeting and I will meet the Farrells. I am conscious they are here but if Deputy Carthy cannot, I will not be able to meet them now.

Sentiment score: 0.29

I am conscious that everyone in this House has, to a large extent, contributed to the occupied territories Bill. As the Deputy knows, Deputy Lahart did an excellent job chairing the committee that did pre-legislative scrutiny on that Bill. The report is now being published. That was necessary in order that pre-legislative scrutiny would be done and for it to be progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Notwithstanding the fact that it has not been enacted yet, it still has been extremely impactful in our negotiations with other countries. I know from the Chief Whip that next Tuesday, there are going to be statements on Gaza in the House so that would be an opportune time for the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach to update the Deputy in respect of where and when the Bill will be introduced.

Sentiment score: 0.21

I refer to what I said to Deputy Bacik earlier on in that there was a very informative report published by An Garda Síochána at the end of August, which showed that knife crime is down, knife seizures are up and knife injuries are down. However, that is of cold comfort to the 17-year-old young man who was injured over the weekend and indeed the 11-year-old. This is a more complex problem than simply amending criminal justice legislation. It is an educational issue. The Deputy is correct, regrettably, when she suggests that some young men think it is necessary for defensive purposes to carry knives. If that happens and a knife is produced, there can be cataclysmic consequences not just for the victim but also for the perpetrator, who may not have intended to use it. The antisocial behaviour forum was discussed in the Department by me recently. Work is being done on antisocial behaviour. In regard to where the forum is, there will be further engagement with the stakeholders in respect of it. I do not want to give an absolute commitment as to the outcome but there will be further consultation with the stakeholders.

Sentiment score: -0.13

As Deputy Hearne said, I had the pleasure of being in Ballymun to meet the integration forum there. A huge amount of excellent work is being done. I am alarmed by the statistic that Deputy Hearne has put onto the record of the House. It is frightening that men in Ballymun are 150% more likely to die in the circumstances he has outlined. Deputy Hearne wants more gardaí on the streets in Ballymun, and so do I. The way I need to do that is to recruit more gardaí. Then it is a matter for the Commissioner to decide where they should go. I certainly see the benefits of having more gardaí on the ground doing community policing in places such as Ballymun.

Sentiment score: 0.10