On the Sinn Féin strategy, I believe the party did tell journalists that it was going to bring a new aggression in its Oireachtas strategy. I think it has decided to import the total opposition approach which has now become the norm in many parliaments that are dominated by populists.
Sentiment score: 0.06
On the issue raised by Deputy McDonald, we have the largest population in our history. By the way, we have the largest Dáil in our history. We have gone from 160 Teachtaí to 174. I do not see any 14 volunteers who want to resign their Dáil seats. We have a growing agenda and I would argue - I will be clear about it - that the legislation governing Cabinet and Secretary numbers and all of that is out of date. One can either have an honest debate about that-----
Sentiment score: 0.08
-----or not. We have just-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
We have just discussed climate and the storm. The storm is a consequence of climate change. These are issues that were not there when the Constitution was enacted, in terms of the number of Ministers and so on. There is a whole range of new areas: energy, offshore renewable and so on. We need a Minister of State for the marine. We need a Minister of State for migration. Of that there can be no question. Marine is so important in so many aspects now. There are big issues on security and defence which dominated in Europe this week. There is hardly a whisper in here but it is dominating all of Europe-----
Sentiment score: 0.04
-----in terms of security and defence, marine security, subsea cables and cybersecurity.
Sentiment score: 0.64
The issues are growing and the agenda is growing. We either want to be realistic about it or we do not. The larger Dáil reflects a larger population and that has to manifest itself as well in terms of the structures and size of Government. On the storm, my understanding was that agreement had been reached yesterday with regard to arrangements for the storm. I hope I am not now going to begin a new Dáil season where things get agreed in the Business Committee and 24 hours later there are objections to what was agreed. I assure Deputies Whitmore and Collins that there will be ample time for debate on Storm Éowyn, and if we have to take it into next week, we will. We have provided extended opportunities tomorrow for commentary on the storm, which is the most severe we have experienced. We are quite happy to do that. There is no issue there.
Sentiment score: 0.28
The more fundamental reform that is required is to the ratio of costs or the manner in which they are dealt with under our regulatory framework, the role of the CRU and so forth. In our view, that must be reformed. There is no question but that repairs will be necessary. We will then look at how those costs can be apportioned. A more fundamental point is that we are going to need very significant investment in the grid. I gave the Deputy a figure of €5 billion for the five years to 2025. It is estimated that what will be needed from 2025 to 2030 will be of the magnitude of €13 billion. We will examine the degree to which the Exchequer can take some of the burden of that cost. That will have to happen. We need to reform the regulatory framework that is in place. We will gladly take any ideas on that. We have our own ideas. They are in the programme for Government.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Deputy's party put forward a very poor housing programme.
Sentiment score: -0.18
There was no fleshing out of the national State construction agency it proposed. There is no blueprint and no paper. It would have had disastrous results given the length of time it would have taken to establish and how out of touch it is with working practices and the norms within the construction industry today. It was an ill-thought-out and very poor approach. That is why people were not persuaded by it. I answered the question the Deputy has asked in the earlier questions. I will take this opportunity to ask her to withdraw her assertions that this democracy is similar to Belarus or Russia. She has made that assertion twice in the last 48 hours. It is insulting. She did it on Sunday night and she did it again today or yesterday. There are 1,200 political prisoners in Belarus. That is the kind of cheap and superficial commentary that I think is disgraceful.
Sentiment score: -0.20
I am intrigued by what you are saying.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I am absolutely intrigued. By the way, the economic relationship between the US and Ireland is absolutely vital for hundreds of thousands of workers in this country.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I do not take that lightly, which is what you are suggesting.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I am not doing that-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
-----but I just want to make that point because these kind of remarks get thrown out as if they are of no consequence. Our fundamental duty as a State is to protect our people in a turbulent world. We will do that. That means protecting the enterprise economic model we have. We will do that while also maintaining our values, our foreign policy values and our interests as a nation. That is what we are doing. I made the point this morning that the most important thing now in relation to Gaza is to focus on the ceasefire and make sure that the second phase is confirmed, that all hostages are released and that a massive surge in humanitarian aid goes in.
Sentiment score: 0.20
Do you want it done immediately?
Sentiment score: 0.08
The Government has made commitments in the programme for Government in respect of VAT and costs that small- to medium-sized businesses are incurring. We want to consult business because it not just hospitality; the retail sector is feeling the pressures as well. We want to consult and come up with a package that will involve VAT in the context of the next budget. Public expenditure increased last year by 9.5%. That is an enormous increase in any one year. We had the budget. We announced the budget for 2025. It is not our intention to deviate from it. It involves very considerable current and capital expenditure increases. We will have a budget in September. Our plans will be very clear in early summer.
Sentiment score: 0.17
The entire assessment of need process has to be reformed. That may involve and necessitate legislative change. The Government will work on this and will consult the Minister for disability and children on that issue. In addition, we have fairly set targets and objectives in respect of disability across the programme for Government, in particular with regard to developing an education-based approach to therapies in situ, beginning with special schools. I will establish a unit in the Department of An Taoiseach specifically dedicated to the disability question so that we have a whole-of-government approach to disability over the next while. I intend to prioritise it.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I agree with the Deputy. I believe the NTA has a huge agenda. There needs to be stronger engagement with both the Government and the Oireachtas, and maybe much more time could be saved, including in the development of BusConnects, for example. As I have said repeatedly, the scenario seems to involve publishing the worst possible plan, which ignites the greatest degree of opposition from neighbourhoods and residential areas, and then – hey presto – following consultation, a much-diluted plan emerges. All of that is happening in the name of the State. That must not continue, as I have said to the NTA myself. There has to be a different approach, an approach that is more cognisant of people’s needs but also their anxieties. From my experience, too many residents end up in tears when a letter comes in the door stating that half their garden is to be taken, without proper consultation. We need better, streamlined bus services and we need to create the conditions for that. We need to consider a refreshing, new type of approach.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I agree that the tenant in situ scheme is very important in preventing homelessness. It also helps to prevent child poverty. There is a significant crossover. If families end up in homelessness, their risk of poverty increases dramatically. That is an area on which I am particularly focused as Taoiseach. We hope we will have the figures available within the coming weeks.
Sentiment score: 0.13
I thank Deputy Smith for his commentary. One of the most immediate tasks is to ensure we have proper corridors wherever the transmission lines are. West Roscommon and Leitrim have huge issues with forests falling, or whole lines of Sitka spruce falling like dominoes onto the line. That can no longer be tolerated. We have asked the Ministers responsible – there has to be collaboration between Departments – to ensure we nail this once and for all to have clear space in order to prevent this type of thing from recurring. Then we need to go further by ensuring road safety and addressing further danger to power lines. When power lines come down, it is a huge health and safety issue for people.
Sentiment score: 0.34
I accept it is a very serious issue for the people of Cobh, but also more broadly for the region in terms of housing and connectivity. It is a matter that will be evaluated in the context of the updated NDP to ensure sufficient resources are allocated to try to deal with it as a significant road project in its own right. With regard to access to Cobh, it is vital.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I congratulate the Deputy on her election. I also congratulate Deputy Noel McCarthy on his election. Deputy Newsome Drennan probably did not get the opportunity to name the specific service. If she gives me the details on it, I will follow up with the Minister for children.
Sentiment score: 0.17
The broader point is that childcare has evolved quite significantly over recent decades in Ireland whereby we have many community-based and private childcare services, and some State childcare services, albeit in the minority. The taxpayer funds many of the services to get the fees down for parents, which we have done to a significant extent in recent years, to support staff and to create better career pathways and better JLCs. It is not as simple as just creating a new public system overnight.
Sentiment score: 0.39
I thank the Deputy for raising a very important question. I am familiar with the case, and I have read about it. It is extremely traumatic for the family of Joe Drennan to have such a situation unfold. I will talk to the Minister for Justice about it. Obviously, I do not want to comment on cases that might still be live in the sense of a potential appeal, but there are issues in terms of the law and in terms of sentencing. That does need a review.
Sentiment score: 0.04
The Government acknowledges the significant issue in terms of recruitment of GPs. That is why in the last 12 months decisions were taken to dramatically increase the numbers of doctors in training and people doing medicine in our third level colleges. I stand to be corrected but I think I read a figure whereby for every GP retiring, we have two in training. That is subject to correction, however. The Chief Whip tells me I am correct. That is the only way we can effectively get high-quality supply in the pipeline of GPs, particularly to rural Ireland, which is an issue. I appreciate the Deputy raising it.
Sentiment score: 0.19
First of all, I congratulate Deputy Timmins on his election for the first time to Dáil Éireann. The programme for Government is clear in its commitment to roads. Obviously, the updated national development plan will be an opportunity to try to identify our priorities. We understand that with the growth of population in Wicklow and so forth there are huge needs, particularly on the roads side and with the DART. Deputy O'Sullivan is correct when he says that the significant discolouration of water across the north side of the city of Cork has caused much distress to householders. There should be full transparency for all State agencies, including Irish Water. I will take up the matter with Irish Water on the Deputy's behalf.
Sentiment score: 0.26