The Government and I have made it clear that, as far as we are concerned, Israel is committing a war crime in terms of the weaponisation of humanitarian aid going into Gaza, the blockade and the prevention of the basic necessities of life going into Gaza. We have been proactive from the very beginning. We were the first country in the EU to call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza. We were instrumental in persuading the European Union not to take aid away from UNRWA or rather to increase support for it. We effectively and successfully enabled that to happen. We intervened in the South African case under the Genocide Convention in a comprehensive, impactful way, as opposed to any political showboating of the type people might have advocated for earlier. We were also key in supporting the motions at the United Nations in respect of the advisory opinion that led to the ICJ judgment. Ireland has been very proactive, but in terms of the Bill that is before us,-----
Sentiment score: 0.30
-----the Deputy knows as well it is simply unworkable.
Sentiment score: 0.27
We will not be opposing Labour's motion tomorrow-----
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-----in respect of actions at the United Nations because we are fundamentally multilateralist. We have worked on the Gaza issue with many like-minded states within the United Nations. Many of the votes on the Middle East reflect that approach by Ireland. We have worked with Arab partner states on a peace process in the Middle East. We supported them and helped in respect of formulating a peace plan in the early part of this war. It is unfortunate that it did not get more widespread support from the international community at the time, including the US. That was problematic. We recognised the State of Palestine. Shortly afterwards, the accusation was that that was only symbolic even though everybody in here had asked for it.
Sentiment score: 0.16
The occupied territories Bill will come before the Dáil. That in itself will not change Israel. We need to be realistic.
Sentiment score: 0.00
We need a collective approach. I am cautious about saying it but the EU-Israel association agreement is now under review by the European External Action Service.
Sentiment score: 0.31
For the record, there is no major trade between Ireland and the occupied territories. Let us be clear about that.
Sentiment score: 0.04
There is very little, actually, but that is not the point.
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The point is that it is a symbolic move. That is important in itself. We recognised the State of Palestine with Norway and Spain. As soon as we did that, all of those who had called for it changed their tune a couple of weeks later, saying that it was too little too late and not of much significance. My point is that we have done very practical things. Probably the most impactful has been on the humanitarian side with a very significant increase in funding to UNRWA, notwithstanding Israel's relentless hostility to UNRWA. We also worked on the ICJ judgment. The Attorney General went there and gave an oral submission. If one asks the Palestinian Authority, one will be told it appreciates and acknowledges the consistency of the Irish message on an independent Palestinian state.
Sentiment score: 0.07
Those are the realities.
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My understanding is that the Minister visited Donegal recently and had constructive engagement with all involved. Work is under way now within the Department. I will ask the Minister to maybe revert to the Deputy in respect of specific timelines around the legislation.
Sentiment score: 0.31
First of all, I believe that design is important. Perhaps one of the issues with the new children's hospital - and which was reported in the PwC report - was that it did not have a finalised design prior to the contract issuing. That is one of the conclusions. That is my understanding and I stand to be corrected on that. I would not be against good design for a national children's hospital. That is important. I would also make the point that there is a complexity in terms of a tertiary hospital where very complex surgery will be carried out, where rare diseases will be addressed, where world-class medicine will be deployed, in consultation with children's hospitals around the world and in accordance with established protocols in the paediatric medicine field. The positioning and placement of surgeries, for example, and the interlocking and integration of that with wards and so on-----
Sentiment score: 0.01
No, it is more than that. It is more than just building boxes.
Sentiment score: -0.15
I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. It is something that has been raised in the House and it is an issue that has been causing concern over the past number of months. Regrettably, day services recently ceased due to staffing shortages. That has caused a lot of distress to service users, their families and the Irish Wheelchair Association personnel at local level. The service ceased in April and my understanding is that, in August, the service began resumption on a phased basis following a successful recruitment drive. I will raise this again with the HSE. I understand it was a collaboration between the HSE and the IWA in respect of the business case for long-term support requirements, and that an outcome of this was imminent.
Sentiment score: 0.09
It is a laudable objective to be listed as a UNESCO site. That might not mean the level of investment that the Deputy envisages, however, as it could have other implications in terms of investment. I will talk to the Minister. Is the application under way?
Sentiment score: 0.00
There has not been an application. There are others seeking UNESCO status at the moment. My first advice is to get the process in place to apply. The port has all sorts of historical and literary contexts that are quite unique in themselves. The first process, I think, would be to organise an application. I will talk to the Minister for culture and heritage.
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Victoria's case should not have come to that-----
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----- because very substantial funding was allocated last year and this year, particularly with regard to a case of that priority. It is difficult to understand how that case could not have been accommodated above and beyond any other case.
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I am just making the point. I know the city council can prioritise, too. I know the Minister is engaging with the city council. I do not know the specifics of all cases-----
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Do not tell me the council is not in a position to resolve the case as it is presented now.
Sentiment score: 0.38
Yes. Very.
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Very serious.
Sentiment score: -0.15
First, I thank Deputy Cahill, who has been raising the issue of the UNESCO world heritage site of Sceilg Mhichíl persistently. As he knows, the Office of Public Works conserves and manages the UNESCO site. The boat permit system was originally introduced to improve health and safety on the journey to and during visitation of the island. In December 2024, the OPW advertised a competition via the e-tenders system to award 15 permits for a five-year period. This process concluded in April 2025. Two unsuccessful applicants initiated High Court proceedings challenging the outcome and on 8 May a third unsuccessful applicant launched a further challenge. I would hope common sense would prevail here, the original decisions would be allowed to take their course and people would be allowed to take visitors out to Sceilg Mhichíl. It is very disappointing for visitors to the Iveragh Peninsula, many of whom come to visit Sceilg Mhichíl only to discover they cannot.
Sentiment score: 0.16
I would hope common sense would prevail.
Sentiment score: 0.44
First, the legislation tabled by Sinn Féin is simply unworkable. It has been written in a manner that in no shape or form could ever be made workable. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has a very clear view on this in terms of its workability. It does not oppose any crime in Israel. It does not focus on Israel at all, but on individuals, who five, ten or 15 years ago could have engaged in purchasing financial products, or whatever, connected to Israel. No matter when they were bought, the Bill would make it illegal. There are, therefore, major issues with the legislation in terms of its workability, its legality, essentially-----
Sentiment score: 0.06
We will continue to intervene in other ways.
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The big focus we have now is on the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
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Intervention at the European Union level has far greater influence, if we can get an EU response of this kind.
Sentiment score: 0.76
Does this relate to the forthcoming EU pharmacy regulations?
Sentiment score: 0.00
The fundamental position of Government is in respect of supporting IP and the proper exploitation of intellectual property. We make no apologies for that and I never have. As far as I am concerned, we need to have consistent research in medicine and to facilitate, reward and incentivise investment in medicine. Otherwise, we will reduce the number of companies investing in such critical research. The industry in the European Union has, arguably, declined relative to the US and others because of a failure of investment in the fundamental EU pharmaceutical industry. There are some champions but not enough.
Sentiment score: 0.09
It is always a balance between the price issue and ensuring we have enough and a significant pipeline of medicines that dramatically change disease and improve treatments for disease. The vaccine is the most recent example of it.
Sentiment score: 0.35
There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to municipal authorities in towns over a certain population threshold. I had good time for Brendan Howlin, formerly of this House, on many issues, but he led the charge on this matter and subsequently sort of had regrets. From a democracy perspective, I believe local town councils and town commissioners were important. Very often, they were the first step on the ladder to political participation and representation. I happen, therefore, to believe in this, but, obviously, I will talk to the Minister in terms of the timelines for legislation to give effect to the commitments in the programme for Government.
Sentiment score: 0.12