I join with the Deputy in congratulating and commending Jordan and Cian Adams. They have inspired literally the entire country with 33 marathons across our island. I know many of us look forward to welcoming them to Leinster House later today but, more important or as important, is working with them on the issues around dementia, research and care pathways. I thank them for all they have done. I agree with the Deputy on the point about Séamus Coleman. The Irish players who wear the jersey do so with pride and nobody should put any pressure on them at all. Séamus Coleman captured that very well in his comments yesterday. I would also make the point that the FAI gave its view on this. The FAI was very clear on this. UEFA as the governing body ultimately made that decision and that is the position. It is not a matter for the Government. It is a matter for the governing body, which in this case is UEFA. My views on the genocidal activities of the Government of Israel are very clear and I think this Oireachtas and the people of Ireland are utterly appalled by the genocidal behaviour being undertaken by the Israeli government.
Sentiment score: 0.25
The Friends of the Earth report needs to be read in the round. It does basically put it up to us, as a Government and an Oireachtas, that if we can do more to speed up the move to renewables, under what it calls high renewable growth scenarios, annual average residual demand, including data centres actually falls below zero in the years ahead. In other words, accelerated renewable development is presented in this study as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas as a dispatchable source of energy in the future. As the Deputy acknowledged, there is a genuine economic benefit to data centres but I would dispute the characterisation of the Government's position as an unfettered approach. The CRU's large energy user, LEU, connection policy very much shows how the Government intends to deliver on its renewable energy targets, with data centres above certain thresholds being required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank Deputy Rice for raising this. The Minister for Health and the wider Government expect the agreed terms of any contract to be applied fully and consistently across all hospitals. We expect everybody to comply with the terms of their contract of employment. That is a general basic thing, and just because somebody is a higher paid member of the public service does not mean they can deviate from their contract. If people have issues with their contract, that is a different matter, but actually signing up to a contract and then not adhering to its terms is not a small matter. The Department of Health wrote to the HSE CEO on 18 March setting out concerns regarding the continuation of private practice and seeking full compliance with public-only consultant contracts, but I will ask the Minister to come back to Deputy Rice specifically in relation to her view on the implementation of the contract and how many other hospitals may have similar issues.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. I send my sincere sympathy and solidarity to his constituent and their family for all they have endured. The point Deputy Ward makes about being able to see the detail is an important one. I understand why any homeowner may wish to see a report from an engineer in order to really understand the rationale behind the option being recommended or proposed. That is understandable and logical. My understanding is that the Housing Agency will, upon request, issue the report to homeowners. That would be an important step to take because that would inform the homeowner in question as to the query raised. In addition, and as Deputy Ward will know, there is a requirement in the 2022 Act to undertake a review of the operation of the Act. That review is due to commence shortly and the matter he has raised can also be considered as part of that. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy James Browne's Department note it for that purpose, too.
Sentiment score: 0.21
There are a couple of aspects to that question. In respect of balanced regional development, the new national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a one-off home in rural Ireland will be a help. That is because there are many people finding themselves having to leave their communities due to a too-rigid planning system or at least an inconsistent application of the planning system across counties. That is one thing that can be done. The Deputy will know I am going to continue to say that housing supply is really important, and we need to get 300,000 more homes built by the end of 2030. My Department has produced research in terms of Ireland 2040 and where Ireland will be demographically by 2040. It will be a very different place on the basis of a no-policy change. Therefore, I think of a number of policy changes. The Deputy mentioned the pensions issue. Auto-enrolment is a very important future-proofing step to take now. I would also point out that there are many parts of this country well outside the Dublin area thriving. I spent a lot of time in Galway recently where there are key infrastructural projects we need to deliver, like the ring road and the BusConnects project. Down in Cork, there is the Luas project as well. I do not like the phrase "commuter hell". While there are very serious traffic congestion issues in this country, there are many parts of this country that are thriving and where people are proud of their communities, but they want to see us deliver infrastructure more quickly to help and we intend to do that.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I fully agree with Deputy McGrath in terms of the importance of reopening the application process. I am pleased to tell him that will happen. The Government will be in contact with schools today and the portal will reopen early next week. We have seen an increased number of primary schools, post-primary schools and special schools applying this year. I see that as a good thing in terms of trying to meet the need. The portal will reopen.
Sentiment score: 0.36
I thank Deputy Roche. He did indeed speak with me on this issue yesterday. I am pleased that the Government has decided that the portal will reopen in the coming days to provide a better window for schools to apply. This Government's record on special education and children with additional needs is one of investment and growth. There were 8,767 children benefiting from the summer programme in 2016. Over 70,000 benefited last year. I would be surprised if that number was not higher again this year. When it comes to things like special classes, the roll-out of therapies in special schools and the size of the budget in special education, we have a lot of work to do but it is a priority area, as it should be.
Sentiment score: 0.33
I thank Deputy O'Rourke for highlighting this issue. I also wish to acknowledge the point that he made the point that sometimes delays can be on the side of the company. That is an important point of balance to make. I do not actually have the detail in relation to this but it is important that everybody in the process work in an efficient way so that we at least get a decision and clarity as early as possible. The drugs budget is growing in this country, and quite rightly. I am sure this is a very anxious time for the families impacted and I will certainly convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health.
Sentiment score: 0.39
I thank an Teachta Daly for raising this issue and I will certainly speak directly to the Minister of education on this. There was discussion earlier around the additional budget for education. One of the drivers behind that is the recognition that there will be a need for more special classes now than was even envisaged at budget time. If there is a school ready to assist in that and if there is a need in the community, I know that is something that the Minister will ask the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to look at seriously. I will ask her to come back to the Deputy directly.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I thank Deputy Dempsey for raising this issue, as I know she has on a number of occasions. On foot of her raising this, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy James Browne. I think there is a broad issue in relation to this. I have spoken to the Minister on this and he shares that view. We need to look at better accountability structures for Uisce Éireann to elected Members of this House. It is not about us; it is about the people we represent and the Deputy is clearly vocalising, quite correctly, the frustration on behalf of her constituents. I do not understand. I say it here regularly that Uisce Éireann should have to answer parliamentary questions. If you ask a question to the Minister for Health, she will say it is a matter for the HSE and refer it to the HSE, but you can ask a question and you will get a response. If you ask a question here under the rules of the House at the moment, it gets ruled out of order. There is no logic behind that. I have raised this in the Government and will continue to raise it. We should change it together. Uisce Éireann should be answerable to this House.
Sentiment score: 0.05
On the specific issue the Deputy has raised, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to come back to her.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this important issue and listing a number of the important school projects across Offaly that are in need of progression. Being blunt, quite a lot of schools are at stage 2B. We, collectively as a House, want to see as many of them move on as possible, and the Deputy has obviously advocated strongly for the schools in Offaly. The Minister for education has published what we can call the first tranche of a significant number of school building projects. I want to be very clear that this is not the final word on the matter and the Government will be making further allocations in regard to capital in the time ahead. Even in the medium-term fiscal plan we have published, there is unallocated capital during the lifetime of this Government. We will be considering that across the Government in the time ahead and I will keep in touch with the Deputy on those specific Offaly school projects, too.
Sentiment score: 0.26
I thank Deputy Dolan for raising the issue and the analytical approach he always brings to issues in this House. It is a fair point he is raising. We are obviously increasing our investment in public transport, but the affordability and fairness of public transport across all parts of the country is, of course, a legitimate issue that the Government will consider. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in relation to this. I will also ask him to correspond with Irish Rail and ask it to give consideration to the matter, too.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I thank Deputy Cummins. On foot of her raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to her directly. I take the point she made. It is a very busy time for schools, with lots going on in the school community. However, we have also provided funding certainty to the Department of education and made a decision, which we debated earlier, to quite rightly provide significant additional resources to education this year. From a Government point of view, there is funding certainty for the Department of education. Therefore, we need to make sure that is conveyed to schools, particularly special schools, as a matter of priority. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to look at this and come back to the Deputy urgently.
Sentiment score: 0.22
The Deputy is so right. It is disgusting, despicable racism, and it is not who we are as a people. The people of Galway showed that with the very significant vote Labour's candidate received. I was pleased to meet Helen Ogbu over the weekend and to congratulate her on her campaign. The Deputy's point about the powers of Coimisiún na Meán are valid. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to come back to the Deputy directly but my view on this is that we should take a much more robust legislative approach. We ask social media companies nicely if they would mind doing this or that. It has gone beyond that now. I see huge benefits to social media. I also see the sewer that it can become, with toxicity, division, misinformation and disinformation. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to reflect on the Deputy's points. I am disgusted to hear the abuse that a public representative received.
Sentiment score: 0.05
I thank Deputy Ní Raghallaigh for raising the issue. I truthfully do not know enough about that train station, other than that she makes a compelling case about how population growth needs to be met by improved public transport. Her suggestion that a train station that previously existed could be reopened certainly merits the Minister engaging with her on that. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and ask that he come back to the Deputy with an informed view on the suggestions she made.
Sentiment score: 0.58
I thank Deputy Wall for engaging with the Minister for education on this. He is right that the general direction of travel that all of us in this House want to see is reducing the costs that families face when their children attend school. That is why we have had the hot school meals and the free schoolbooks. It is why we are genuinely trying to work with the CCPC and others on uniform costs. It would be extraordinarily disappointing and counterintuitive if we saw the cost of technology eroding some of that benefit to families. I share the Minister's view that there should not be a cause and effect between leaving certificate reform and the need for that technology. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton.
Sentiment score: 0.20
One sure way to run down supplies is to not allow them in and out when we only had one refinery in the country. I am glad that situation is resolved because at a time of global insecurity regarding energy supply, it is important that we continue to make sure that supply of energy to this country continues. I recently met NORA, not a female but the National Oil Reserve Agency, and was pleased to say that it gave a significant assurance to the Government about our supply of energy, even with the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. On the third point, truthfully, I do not know the answer, although nothing was filled with concrete by former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who served this country. We can agree or disagree with him but he was a good public servant and an honourable man. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy about the specific issues he raised.
Sentiment score: 0.51
In fairness, it is not the first time Deputy Collins has raised the issue with me. It sounds to me like he wants fewer political visitors and more political action on the pier, which is not an unreasonable thing to say. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the relevant Minister to bring together the stakeholders. It sounds to me, from previous engagement we have had on this, that a number of different people are involved but somebody needs to take hold of this rather than saying that is a matter for this group or the other. I will talk to the relevant Minister and ask that he convene relevant stakeholders and come back to Deputy Collins with a plan.
Sentiment score: 0.14