I disagree fundamentally with the Deputy's assertions. Our population has increased dramatically, in contrast to the time when the Constitution was formulated. The range of issues we are dealing with now is far in excess of what would have the case in previous times. We have far greater challenges in respect of climate, biodiversity, the energy agenda and the marine ecosystem across the board, from maritime security to ecotourism to fisheries. That requires a Minister of State. I make no apologies for saying that. The immigration issue is at a level that is having a huge impact on the State and it requires a Minister of State. We are ageing demographically as a people. We need to plan more appropriately for it and it needs a focus. It requires a Minister of State as well.
Sentiment score: 0.10
First, in terms of reading classes within mainstream schools, is the Deputy talking about-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
I introduced the first language classes within mainstream education a long time ago - they have had a great impact - with a view, by the way, to integrating a child back into the mainstream after perhaps a year of very focused work in a language class where a child was experiencing language difficulties. In more recent times, education thinking has moved towards integration, integration, integration and less specificity. I have some views on that. There are requirements for a specialised, focused approach at different times of a child's journey. This is where I am and I will talk to the Minister for Education in relation to the issues the Deputy has raised. On dyslexia, every effort should be made to facilitate children with dyslexia, both in terms of how we assess children with dyslexia and the flexibilities there.
Sentiment score: 0.22
This is a very serious issue and the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, to be fair, is acting promptly on it. He briefed Cabinet in on to this IT project. There are issues in terms of the governance of that project and the eventual outcome. There has been huge expenditure on a product that has not emerged. There is not a new system in place. There are very serious issues. The Comptroller and Auditor General has reported on this, I expect and anticipate that the Committee of Public Accounts will also examine this but it raises very serious issues.
Sentiment score: 0.02
I am not familiar with the background to this but I presume this has been considered for quite some time. It cannot have come as a bolt of out the blue. I will talk to the Minister for Education and alert her that the Deputy has raised this issue in the House today. I am not clear on the rationale as to why it is moving from Donegal town to Letterkenny because education centres are very important in terms of training, service training and a whole range of other development programmes. I will ask the Minister for Education to engage with those who have made this particular decision.
Sentiment score: 0.12
It would be a very boring Cabinet. I do not mean that in any disrespect to diplomats. We are fortunate in Ireland that we have superb diplomats. We have tremendous diplomats who represent us very well, professionally, all over the world, including in the Middle East, United States, Africa and Asia.
Sentiment score: 0.16
We are all elected so you get what you have. We are all elected by the people. We all have different talents, different nuances and different approaches - that is the beauty of political life itself.
Sentiment score: 0.26
Comments get made and comments get retracted. By the way, I am not sure the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, snubbed anybody. I do not know whether he was a Minister or the Taoiseach when the Deputy says he snubbed people.
Sentiment score: -0.36
I thank the Deputy very much for her comprehensive presentation of the issues. I will come back to her with the timeline for the review and I will speak to the Minister on that issue. We intend to pursue it vigorously and in a timely manner.
Sentiment score: 0.22
One thing I do not control is the Business Committee. I can you tell you that.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Do you really want me to control it?
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No.
Sentiment score: -0.30
There is no precedent. I do not think it is appropriate for internal party issues to be Government issues. It is not a Government issue-----
Sentiment score: 0.04
If I could just clarify-----
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The Member of the other House, not this House, that the Deputies refer to-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
Will the Deputy let me finish? He is heckling non-stop. The issue relates to a Member of the other House. It is a matter for the party concerned in terms of its internal disciplinary procedure. He is not an officer of the Government. He is not in office. He is not a member of Government. Under the Constitution, Government is accountable to the House so-----
Sentiment score: 0.05
-----this is all very straightforward by the way but I understand what the Deputy is doing and why she is doing it.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank the Deputy for again very strongly and correctly highlighting an issue that is of huge concern to homeowners in the areas he has mentioned and which he represents. There is a big issue here, particularly where flood relief schemes have been introduced and where remedial measures have happened because of Government intervention and investment. Over the past number of years, we have been involved in significant insurance reform in respect of issues that were raised with us by the industry. I am not so sure we have got the reciprocal response, given the reforms that we have carried out. The industry needs to do more to respond to the initiates that Government has taken. The insurance industry is part of society. It needs to respond more adequately to the issues raised by the Deputy. There is an insurance sub-committee of Cabinet at which I will raise this issue in terms of how we and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance engage with the industry on the very specific topic raised.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I would argue that the scheme the previous Government introduced was extremely comprehensive. It was far better than the scheme Sinn Féin endorsed in 2019. A lot was done by the previous Government to try to dramatically and significantly improve the scheme. Implementation is the key and delivering on the grounds.
Sentiment score: 0.25
It is a fair scheme. We can review aspects of it. The State has committed up €1 billion, maybe €2 billion eventually, to that scheme. That is what is involved. It is a huge commitment by the State, and rightly so because homeowners suffered grievously and in a shocking way in terms of the defective blocks reality and experience so many people have gone through particularly in Donegal, Mayo, Clare and other counties. There is no shortage of commitment. What we really need to do is to get more delivery and get more houses done.
Sentiment score: -0.06
I thank the Deputy. He has been a long-standing advocate for the case of Jimmy Lai. I appreciate his sincere commitment to the issue and to that of human rights more generally. I have met with the foreign minister, Wang Yi, on two previous occasions and we discussed a wide spectrum of issues, including human rights issues. He, and indeed the Chinese Government, would respond fairly strongly in their defence of their system and their approach. However, we will meet with the foreign minister, Wang Yi. I am not sure yet how long that meeting will be but it will again cover a wide range of issues.
Sentiment score: 0.20
I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for Tipperary town and more generally. I think he is correct in his recollections that the then Minister, Eamon Ryan, indicated that he was positively disposed to the bypass and that he preferred bypasses as opposed to lengthy motorways, but progress has not been made so far to the degree people would want. We will certainly be considering this in the context of the national development plan. Our experiences with earlier bypasses such as Macroom bypass environmentally- and sustainability-wise has been huge. It has been just transformative for people in Macroom, Ballyvourney and all that area. It has changed people's lives as well as improving economic connectivity. Broadly speaking, we favour this. The one potential major constraint is the financial framework and so on that we have to govern this but I hear the Deputy loud and clear.
Sentiment score: 0.44
Ar dtús báire, níl an scéim curtha ar ceal ach tá cainteanna ar siúl idir an Aire tithíochta, an Teachta Browne, agus an tAire caiteachais, an Teachta Chambers. Tá súil agam go mbeidh toradh ag teacht go luath anois.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I will just say to the Deputy it is not suspended. There is engagement between the Minister for housing and the Minister for public expenditure-----
Sentiment score: 0.42
There are ongoing discussions between the Ministers in respect of the allocation for 2025. There was an allocation. It is not large enough, so the discussions are around how we can target this scheme for the most needy and particular areas where it makes absolute sense for people who otherwise would be homeless if we did not have the availability of a tenant in situ scheme. Hopefully, I will have news very shortly in respect of this matter.
Sentiment score: 0.20
This is an important and distressing issue for those suffering as a result of this decision. Our main concern is for the employees of BIMM who are affected by these redundancies. It is very difficult for them. Industrial relations mechanisms should be used, particularly to resolve issues between the institute and its staff. It is a private provider of education and not a public provider.
Sentiment score: -0.15
We have a very strong suite of employment rights in this country to protect and support workers in redundancy situations and employers must comply with a number of legal obligations when proposing collective redundancies, including the requirement to consult and provide information to employees and their representatives for a 30-day period before any notice of redundancy can issue. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment must also be notified of the proposals at least 30 days before the dismissal takes place. I ask that the organisation engage with the Workplace Relations Commission.
Sentiment score: 0.40
The Dublin city task force is very important, as is its report. Dublin City Council has a fundamental obligation here as well. Local authorities in general are primarily responsible for their city centres. I say that in good faith. This idea that has emanated from the report that we would simply charge every public body rates is simply another way of getting a grant from the Government. This has been a standard situation for decades all over the country and including other cities too. I am not, therefore, that well disposed to that proposal. I much prefer if there are specific issues on which the State can intervene, through housing, for example. I was at the Coombe hospital outpatients department that was opened recently on O'Connell Street. It is offering a substantial, brilliant service for women and mothers to be and so on, while at the same time creating real and substantial economic activity and footfall in the heart of Dublin city.
Sentiment score: 0.25
The State needs to be involved that way. That is what I would favour, in a difference with the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I pay tribute to the ESB crews who worked night and day. Many of them were exhausted, along with the crews from the various providers across Europe. I refer to the relationships the ESB has with them. This was the most severe storm in living memory and it had an impact to such an extent that 768,000 people were left without power. I accept it has been a long time, but, thankfully, the last of those disconnected have been reconnected. We will reflect on and examine what happened. We have provided humanitarian supports but the reality is that even with the dividends the ESB will have this year, it is a State-owned company so everything it earns goes back into the service.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I am focusing on trying to ensure that we create forestry corridors to prevent this from happening again.
Sentiment score: 0.59
First, I will examine the issue Deputy Clarke raises. It would be appalling if that person was back working in the same profession. I will ask the Ministers to examine that and see what can be done. In terms of what Deputy McAuliffe raised, I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, in respect of that issue. I take on board the significance of it. Deputy McAuliffe says it has worked very well.
Sentiment score: 0.12