13. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will rule out any return of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12727/25]
Sentiment score: -0.08
Ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghuí ar an Aire, an Teachta Browne agus an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O’Sullivan. I wish the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, well in their new briefs. In the programme for Government, there is no mention of water charges. However, there was an article in the Irish Independent last week and then a furore was created by the Opposition on social media to the effect that there was in some way an attempt to facilitate the return of water charges. Will the Minister rule out any return of water charges?
Sentiment score: -0.04
That is reassuring. The Opposition spokesperson on housing blew this up on social media, saying that the Government was trying to sneak this in by the back door. The Minister confirmed in the media - he has done so again now - that there is no attempt to reintroduce water charges. It is incredulous that there was an attempt to construe that there was going to be a return to water charges. It is clear that there is no attempt on the Government's part to introduce water charges. This Government has listened to the people. Water charges are not mentioned in the programme for Government.
Sentiment score: -0.12
There is a wider conversation to be had about excess water usage in society. By and large, households are responsible when it comes to use of water. It is great that the Government is committed to not reintroducing any type of water charges or introducing water charges for excess use.
Sentiment score: 0.26
Do not shout at me, Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Cathaoirleach, he is way over time.
Sentiment score: 0.00
127. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the progress of section 50 regulations required to open up and facilitate the transfer of a PSNI officer to the ranks of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12512/25]
Sentiment score: 0.25
We have seen an exceptional Garda recruitment campaign recently in February. I commend the Minister and An Garda Síochána on this. However, there are ready-made police officers and there is a barrier to them becoming gardaí. Can the Minister provide an update on the progress of section 50 regulations required to open up and facilitate the transfer of a PSNI officer to the ranks of An Garda Síochána and will he make a statement on the matter?
Sentiment score: 0.19
While I appreciate that the Minister will be consulting with his counterparts in the UK, at a time when we have an acute shortage of gardaí and require additional officers, there are members of the PSNI who wish to become gardaí. They are living in the Republic and commuting to the North. They are ready-made police officers ready to act. There are many such members. One in particular who I am aware of has been writing to and speaking with the PSNI, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice and the Policing Authority for over ten years seeking a pathway of transfer from the PSNI to An Garda Síochána. We have an invisible border on this island. This is a situation where consultation further down the line is not sufficient for existing members of the PSNI who wish to become members of An Garda Síochána.
Sentiment score: 0.27
I thank the Minister. I appreciate him looking into this matter in more detail. I will work with him outside the House in respect of the case to which I refer. The number involved is not huge. To my knowledge, it is in the teens. These are people who are working in the PSNI. They have spent a lifetime in policing and have a considerable amount of experience that could contribute a great deal to both community and specialised policing in this jurisdiction. I will work with the Minister on the particular case to which I refer. I would appreciate it if he would bring it to the attention of the Garda Commissioner. I would also appreciate it if we could look at a more formalised pathway in the future to allow members of the PSNI transfer to An Garda Síochána and to allow members of An Garda Síochána to move to the PSNI, where appropriate, as well.
Sentiment score: 0.29