7. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach to report on his plans for new city task forces, and on when the interdepartmental group on the Dublin city task force report will submit its report. [5752/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
I spoke earlier about the awful incidents of knife crime, particularly on South Anne Street, and expressed my sympathies to the family of Quham Babatunde. I do so again, as I do to all those victims of South Anne Street and Stoneybatter. Clearly we need to see the positive aspects in the report of the Dublin city centre task force implemented, particularly where the report called for 1,000 extra gardaí. We need a commitment from the Government that recruitment will be ramped up within An Garda Síochána. We need to see conditions, particularly for trainee gardaí, made more attractive so that we will see more gardaí brought on. This is a crucial issue. In terms of improving the quality of life in the city centre, we saw an announcement today of a new development in Boland's Mills in Barrow Street. This is a discounted rental scheme for key workers that is very welcome. It is a collaboration between Google and Clúid Housing. Again, it is very welcome but why is it that a private company is stepping up to do this? Why are we not seeing more of this sort of positive development for housing in the city centre within the canals and in the Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 area coming from the State? I endorse the questions that others put to the Taoiseach about including local elected representatives on the Cork city task force and seeing more commitment on the Cork events centre. Our councillor Peter Horgan in Cork has fought for years for transparency with regard to this project.
Sentiment score: 0.20
17. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent engagements with the British Prime Minister. [5754/25]
Sentiment score: 0.05
As the US Administration moves to the authoritarian right I think all in this House agree that it is vitally important that we strengthen solidarity across Europe and that we strengthen our links with Britain and between Britain and the EU. Given our unique bilateral relationship with Britain and the fact that we now have a Labour Prime Minister in Britian, we will all agree it is especially important that Ireland strengthens those links with Britian. The Taoiseach said that on 27 January, in his phone call with Keir Starmer, they spoke about Ukraine and Gaza but so much has changed since then. We see the Trump Administration tearing up the international rules-based order, undermining and destroying international human rights protections and environmental accords, pulling out of the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement, sanctioning officials from the International Criminal Court, promoting ethnic cleansing in Gaza and now seeking to negotiate a deal with Russia over the heads of the people of Ukraine and sidelining the EU. My family background is Czech. The Czech people know about what Munich accords can mean and what they can lead to. There is desperate fear and distress across the EU and across Ukraine in particular as we approach the dreadful anniversary of the invasion just three years ago and the appalling devastation we have seen across Ukraine. Does the Taoiseach propose that at the next meeting with Keir Starmer, which I think he said will be in March at the next British-Irish Summit, he will speak to the Prime Minister about how best to ensure that Britain and the EU can stand firm in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and ensure that any negotiations or peace agreement is not done over their heads and without their input or the input of the EU?
Sentiment score: 0.13
We welcome the commitment to investing on an all-island basis and the additional funding to the shared island fund. There are two areas that I would ask to be included. As the Taoiseach did not mention them when he was listing the priorities, I want to ensure they are clearly up on the agenda. The all-island strategic rail review report was published last year and contains really important proposals, including a proposed railway line from Portadown to Derry, with a spur to Letterkenny. Investment in rail is one key priority on an all-island basis. The other issue comes from the SDLP, which made very practical policy proposals last year for developing the all-island economy and North-South co-operation, in particular on renewable energy infrastructure. I ask, again, that this be prioritised.
Sentiment score: 0.29
Yes.
Sentiment score: 0.40