Deputy Doherty is not interested in a resolution. In a strange way, he is enjoying this and will keep it going for as long as he possibly can. I have got many letters from the leaders of the Opposition parties. I recall the night I was meant to be elected Taoiseach. We saw what happened then. I remember ringing Deputy Bacik, who had written a letter and told RTÉ, Virgin Media and everybody else that she was desperately seeking a meeting with the leaders of the Government parties. It transpired that Deputy Bacik was out on "Prime Time". When we then rang Deputy McDonald, she was at home.
Sentiment score: 0.06
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste and I were waiting above in the Sycamore room. Where were the leaders of the Opposition parties?
Sentiment score: 0.20
They were nowhere to be seen. They dispatched a letter, told the media they had done so and then went off doing what they were going to do anyway.
Sentiment score: 0.00
This has happened on more than one occasion. The last time I got a phone call from Deputy Bacik, I was at a meeting in Brussels.
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She asked whether we could meet. A half an hour later, on the 9 o'clock news, I heard that Deputy Bacik had written to the Taoiseach seeking an urgent meeting.
Sentiment score: 0.10
This kind of play-acting keeps going on.
Sentiment score: 0.00
To be fair, Deputy Gannon said we are in uncharted waters and we are. We are in uncharted waters across the world, where the most profound and grave challenges are facing people. There are terrible wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Sentiment score: -0.28
There is a terrible war in Sudan and there are very significant economic headwinds coming. Let us be frank; the situation is very serious.
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It is very uncertain and very uncharted. With respect to the Chair, eight minutes on a Wednesday-----
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-----in addition to what was already there and eight minutes on a Thursday, pales into insignificance-----
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-----with what we are facing collectively as a country.
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It is time to cop on here, and have a bit of common sense and proportionality.
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The presentation from the Opposition is very disproportionate.
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Little Angels School is a multidenominational school catering to pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities aged up to 18 years. It is my understanding a new state-of-the-art school building is nearing completion and is due to open in the coming weeks. The new building will offer a range of specialist accommodation including designated classrooms, therapy rooms, quiet rooms, a nurse's room and soft rooms. Concerns have been raised regarding the capacity of the new building, with a number of children on a waiting list to attend from September. I am informed the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, the Department of Education and the NCSE are engaging with the school and families on the issue. The Minister of State has been informed the school is considering converting two rooms in the new school into classrooms which will provide additional capacity.
Sentiment score: 0.06
The Department of Education is engaging with the school on this reconfiguration. The Minister of State has asked the Department officials whether another request from the school to continue to use its former building, which is owned by the HSE, can be considered and is awaiting an urgent update.
Sentiment score: 0.27
Fundamentally, it will be within the spirit of the UN Charter, but we do not want countries like Russia in particular vetoing or having the ultimate decision on whether Ireland should send its military on a peacekeeping mission. It is very simple.
Sentiment score: 0.16
Given the behaviour of Russia over a decade, and in particular in the past three years, it is incomprehensible that we would allow Russia to have a veto.
Sentiment score: 0.23
That is the view. Other aspects of the existing legislation need to change. The figure of 12 should be brought up to 50. There are other missions like the drug narcotics international group, of which we are a member. We cannot send a ship to track down narcotics because of the existing legislation.
Sentiment score: 0.07
The climate action plan will be published in the next number of weeks. The Government is absolutely committed to addressing the issues presented by climate change. We have made significant progress over the past four years. I have referenced the massive population increase in Ireland since 1990, more than 1.5 million people. The economy has grown very strongly since then. The number of cars has increased by 1 million. In other words, despite all of the increased activity which ordinarily gives rise to higher emissions, we have managed to reduce emissions, in particular in recent years.
Sentiment score: 0.32
The Government is very committed to doing that and the big story will be our success and the pace at which we can deliver offshore renewables and solar power, which will be the big game changers.
Sentiment score: 0.73
The Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, met SOSAD before Christmas. My understanding is that there has been ongoing engagement between SOSAD and the HSE mental health services. That will continue. Engagement is continuing with the HSE in Louth-Meath and SOSAD on the steps required to complete a funding application. It is doing very good work. As I said, the Minister met the organisation to outline the steps that need to be taken for any potential funding application under the section 39 process. As the Deputy knows, as per any negotiation between the HSE and a charity organisation, information such as audited accounts, annual reports, governance arrangements and a board of management are required so that the HSE can undertake due diligence as part of its consideration. SOSAD is now working to provide all of that information to the HSE. It is to be hoped we can get this sorted.
Sentiment score: 0.25
I certainly welcome CBS Charleville to Dáil Éireann. I hope they have a fruitful, enjoyable and enlightening day. I wish Maddie a very happy birthday. I presume it is because of her birthday that everyone is here to enjoy themselves. In respect of the defective blocks scheme, the State was anxious to recover some revenue, given the extraordinary outlay involved in the defective concrete blocks scheme. The industry bears some responsibility for what transpired - not everyone in the industry but certain players in the industry do. The State felt there was a necessity to get some back. There are issues, however, and we will continue to keep this scheme under review.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I thank Deputy Lahart for bringing home the reality of our bus services for consumers and users. We are endeavouring to encourage people to use our buses but this is a truly shocking story. I will bring this to the attention of the Minister. We have recently heard quite a number of cases like this.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue regarding school transport. I will certainly talk to the Minister regarding the specific case and bus route the Deputy raised. There are changes under way in respect of the school transport scheme. I do not have the exact timelines but I will talk to the Minister and revert back to the Deputy on this.
Sentiment score: 0.33
I will talk to the Minister in respect of the issue the Deputy has raised and I will ask him to revert back to her with the up-to-date position.
Sentiment score: 0.48
Aontaím leis an Teachta. Is féidir linn cabhair agus tacaíocht a thabhairt d'Fhoras na Gaeilge. Tuigim go bhfuil brú airgeadais ar Fhoras na Gaeilge agus fógra tugtha ag an mbord le déanaí go mbeidh air maoiniú a ghearradh ó chuid dá scéimeanna mar bheart éigeandála, agus is cúis díomá é sin don Rialtas. Tá ceist airgeadais Fhoras na Gaeilge pléite ag roinnt cruinnithe le tamall anuas. Bhí cruinniú ag oifigigh Roinn na Gaeltachta ar an 10 Feabhra leis an Roinn Pobal ó Thuaidh, le Foras na Gaeilge agus le Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise, áit ar pléadh na dúshláin airgeadais atá ag an dá eagraíocht. Bhí cruinniú práinneach ag an Aire Gaeltachta, an Teachta Calleary, le cathaoirleach agus le príomhfheidhmeannach Fhoras na Gaeilge ar an gCéadaoin, an 12 Feabhra, agus mar sin tá an cheist seo á plé go mion ag an Aire agus a chuid oifigeach. Tuigim go raibh cruinniú ag oifigigh Roinn na Gaeltachta freisin le sé cheanneagraíocht Gaeilge agus gur léirigh ceannasaithe na gceanneagraíochtaí sin a n-imní maidir le dúshláin airgeadais an fhorais.
Sentiment score: -0.24
I thank Deputy Boland for raising this matter. The Government is fully committed to delivering high quality, affordable and accessible childcare for all families. It is interesting to point out that investment in early learning and care in school-age childcare has quadrupled in the past decade, increasing from €260 million in 2015 to €1.37 billion in 2025. The number of enrolments has increased year on year from 2021 right up to 2023 and 2024. In 2025, the Government will allocate approximately €1.37 billion for early learning and care and school-aged childcare. That is a €261 million, or 24%, increase on last year's funding. This will support the universal ECCE programme, benefiting more than 107,000 children; the access and inclusion model, enabling approximately 7,800 children with disabilities to access ECCE and wider early learning centres, ELCs, both during and outside of term time; the national childcare scheme with funding for an additional 7,500 children on average per week; and €14 million more in subsidised hours. There is also much more.
Sentiment score: 0.37
I will get back to the Deputy with a more specific answer but I surmise that the legislation will be complex. We will see whether we can accelerate the timeline for it. We are a generous people but I concur with the Minister for Justice that the majority who apply for protection are economic migrants. The work permits system has proved to be very effective in terms of targeting and in creating a lot of opportunities for people from the European Union and beyond to work in Ireland. There are huge challenges across the world that are driving the migration situation, including all the wars, conflicts and authoritarian regimes.
Sentiment score: 0.20
My understanding is that the numbers have grown exponentially. For this school year, the numbers have again increased very significantly in terms of SNAs generally. There are close to 23,500 special needs assistants in our school system right now. These are enormous numbers. The increases have been quite dramatic over the past number of years. I will check in respect of the specifics of the school the Deputy raised.
Sentiment score: 0.20
Four Government Deputies have spoken out of 11 speakers.
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If people want, we can provide more. We can provide four if that could be facilitated. I appreciate Deputy Gannon's generosity in wanting to share time with Government Deputies. That is kind of in line with Government thinking. On Deputy O'Flynn's question, we need to review the regulatory framework governing energy prices, particularly in terms of the user base. It will not be easy but the Government is committed to establishing a group to review the legislative framework. Energy prices are high in Ireland relative to those across Europe. There has been an increase in wholesale prices in recent times. Inflation has come down generally, and has come down dramatically from where it was two years ago, and, so, we will not be in a position to sustain the once-off payments this year. We will try to deal with issues through core budgeting by way of pension increases and so on. On Deputy Gannon's question, I will be having further meetings in respect of funding aspects of the Dublin city task force.
Sentiment score: 0.22