8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [35615/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is very simple: the Department of justice has refused to give the visas needed for children from Palestine to come here and play hurling. That can still be changed. It requires a Government decision to say, "We are going to grant the visas; it is the very least we can do." I urge the Government to act at this late stage. As well as the GAA players being denied entry, we know there have been real issues with medical evacuation of Palestinian children. Over the weekend, I learned that around 20 Palestinian students have applied for visas to attend college in Ireland from September and that only two of them have been approved. There looks to be a pattern here. By way of contrast, any Israeli citizen can travel visa-free to Ireland for up to 90 days. An Israeli child could travel to Ireland and play GAA here with no trouble. Why are we not doing everything we can for these people, to let them play, study and access medical treatment in Ireland?
Sentiment score: 0.11
We can take five minutes off the next group.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Yes.
Sentiment score: 0.40
It is coming from doctors.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It was a doctor who contacted me about it.
Sentiment score: 0.00
14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to report on his discussions with the new Canadian Prime Minister. [35616/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
In June, Ursula von der Leyen agreed a new security and defence partnership between the EU and Canada, which is a member of NATO. This will enable Canada to engage in joint weapons procurement with European countries, including Ireland, those who have signed up to ReArm Europe and the so-called safe instrument. Von der Leyen and Canada announced that NATO remains the cornerstone of their defence and that, "Our aim will be to help deliver on our capability targets, including through our defence industries, more quickly and economically and with enhanced interoperability in ways that deliver mutual benefit and reinforce the European contribution to NATO." Would the Taoiseach agree that this new partnership between Ireland and Canada is part of what our President, Michael D. Higgins, described as a dangerous drift towards NATO that puts us behind the shadows of previous empires within the EU and that this flies in the face of the views of the vast majority of people in this country who want to retain neutrality and who follow James Connolly's line of neither king nor Kaiser? Today, that is neither Washington nor Brussels nor Bejing nor Moscow.
Sentiment score: 0.32
Nor Moscow nor Tehran nor London. I have been against all of these imperialisms consistently. That was Connolly's position.
Sentiment score: 0.00
We are against it.
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We are against CETA, yes.
Sentiment score: 0.40
That has already happened.
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It brings in a parallel justice system for corporations.
Sentiment score: 0.53
You only care about corporations.
Sentiment score: 0.49
I find it extraordinary that you support it.
Sentiment score: 0.40
The EU and Canada have a security agreement.
Sentiment score: 0.68
We are part of the EU.
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Yes.
Sentiment score: 0.40
No, we are part of-----
Sentiment score: -0.30
31. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [35617/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
The tenant in situ scheme is the only thing that lies between thousands of families and homelessness. The Government, by starving councils of funding for it, is, in effect, abolishing the scheme. It is incredible. Dublin City Council's programme is now officially over as it has run out of money. Fingal County Council is the same. Carlow County Council has now run out of money for its scheme. South Dublin County Council is just about to run out of money. I am sure other councils are only a matter of weeks or months away from being in the same place. South Dublin County Council still has 700 expressions of interest from families who are in this situation and for whom there will be no funding to prevent them going into homelessness. Focus Ireland put it correctly in saying, "Government policy favours the vacant-possession sale on the market rather than the protection of the existing tenant". Will the Taoiseach reverse this cruel policy, properly fund the tenant in situ scheme and prevent a new tidal wave of homelessness?
Sentiment score: -0.05
The population has doubled.
Sentiment score: 0.00