I thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this important matter. I cannot imagine the trauma many families are going through right now as a result of the conclusion of An Coimisiún Pleanála on this file. This was a dark time in our past. Many families were affected by institutions in our State at a time when the State turned a blind eye to vulnerable families - those who needed support at key junctures and crisis points in their lives. The Government can now engage with survivors and people in the vicinity directly affected by this decision. There is a huge body of work in doing that and we have to do it respectfully and with dignity. In terms of the planning authority and the coimisiún, we know these are independent processes and they have to run their course. The coimisiún came forward with its determination, which was announced this morning. This is a 60-acre site on a wider 200-acre site where the estate was originally. The Deputy raised a number of items and, as a Government Minister, I cannot respond with precision about what the State will do about a CPO, which the Deputy has proposed, and collectively in terms of a monument for the future. What I would say is it should be victim-centred. Those who have been affected by this trauma and the families who carry this grief to this day need to be front and centre in the determination of the future of that site. I believe that, having spoken to many families about their experiences of this difficult trauma in many different parts of the country. It was horrific and they live consistently with the scars of it. The Government has done a number of things to try to respond to the challenge of the past - the neglect by the State in the past. We set out in our action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby home institutions a number of actions. In November 2022, the then Minister for housing wrote to local authorities, including Cork City Council, requesting adequate consideration be brought to bear in development plan processes and consideration be given to very sensitive sites such as this one. That is key here. At a time when people are vulnerable, people are being reminded of, and consistently endure, the scars of the past. That needs to be brought to bear and brought to the forefront. The Government needs to give them a compassionate hand and work with them to try to get agreement about the future of the site. Notwithstanding that, two independent processes have taken place but I hope the Government will now engage proactively with the victims. As a father of two young children and as a husband, my heart is absolutely with victims and survivors who had backs turned on them at a hard and dark time in our State. Now we are in a different place. We are a more compassionate Government. We are an understanding Government. We are a Government that wants to hold out the hand of friendship to try to rectify the scars of the past.
Sentiment score: 0.06
This is a time to listen. It is a time to listen to the victims, to understand their trauma, to give them the hand of friendship and to work with them on the future of this site. I do not want to say anything or talk about independent reports or authorities that would exacerbate their trauma. We have to work with victims and survivors. The Government will compassionately engage with survivors in the area. I have not spoken with the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste subsequent to the issuing of the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála. That work will commence across government. The Government has been very much aware of this issue. It is aware of the processes that were going on. It is obviously very difficult to engage when independent institutions are making a determination as part of a legal process. We now have that opportunity. We will engage proactively with victims and survivors. I say that genuinely as someone who really understands the trauma that many families have experienced at the hands of the institutions of this State going back decades.
Sentiment score: 0.04
I thank Deputy Nash for his question on this very important issue. I will say clearly and unambiguously that I share his concerns in relation to ensuring that no product produced in Ireland ends up in the Russian military complex. We are very firm in that belief. Critically, I say that in the context of a Government that has been unwavering in its support for the people of Ukraine. It has provided almost €500 million in aid and supports Ukraine at the coalface when it needs spare parts for its grid or humanitarian aid and support. The Government has fought for Ukraine in every international forum at which we have speaking rights. Critically, Ireland has provided a home for many Ukrainian citizens and provided 14,000 school places for Ukrainian children in the space of a number of months. Irish society really responded to that challenge. In connection with the report my Department is preparing, there are three competent authorities licensed to carry out these investigations: the Central Bank, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department itself. My Department has operational responsibility for policy in relation to the EU, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are preparing this report on foot of that responsibility. I will put one thing very clearly on record in response to something I have heard repeated on a number of occasions. During the negotiations on the 20 sanctions packages introduced since the war in Ukraine began, our Government has never asked for any sanctions not to be imposed on Aughinish Alumina. We have never asked for any leeway. We have never lobbied on the company's behalf. I have heard suggestions in some outlets that the Irish Government was in that company's corner at key European forums. That is not true. The European Commission has brought forward 20 sanctions packages and Ireland has supported them all 100%. It is very important to put that on the record. I expect to have the report within the next ten days. At this point in time, we are working on a number of clarifications with the Ukrainian authorities. I met with the Ukrainian ambassador earlier this week. We have also been engaged with the Swedish authorities in connection with their investigations. We need some clarifications. We have to reach a certain evidential threshold before going to the European Commission. That is very challenging. I have been honest and open about that. It will be challenging to get evidence that meets that threshold. I have also said that the Revenue Commissioners are reassessing their figures because the management of Aughinish Alumina has advised that an error was made in recording the trade flows to the EU versus the trade flows to Russia. As I have pointed out in the House previously, it is my understanding that, in 2025, about 44% of exports went to Russia. I absolutely agree that it is unacceptable for any amount to get into the wrong hands. However, I must also be clear that we have to put the facts on the record. I have to meet an evidential threshold. My Department has to stress-test what is in front of it. I am hopeful that it will come to me with the final results of the investigation within the next ten days.
Sentiment score: 0.12
First of all, I was very clear that any amount of alumina getting into the wrong hands is unacceptable. Second, this is an independent report being carried out by my officials. I am not going to go and tell them, when they tell me they are not finished and that they need more time to stress-test the evidence that is in front of them, that they have to finish that report tomorrow. That is interference and I do not want to interfere or prejudice a report on which they are doing their due diligence. They are a competent authority designated under the European Commission and they are experienced to do that work. That work must be completed and then the report will be presented to me. I and the Government have been very clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering, but we have to get our evidence together. I said that and I was very honest about that. The reporters from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP, were also very honest when they stated in their report that there is no direct evidence that alumina is getting into Russian military items. We are working so hard to get the direct evidence to ascertain that, but it is challenging. I would be dishonest if I were to say this was going to be a simple solution. This is going to be very complex and, critically, the European Commission will have to stand up and take the lead on this. I have said that we will back it. We have backed the European Commission on every single sanctions package that has come forward. Contrary to reports, we have not lobbied on behalf of Aughinish Alumina, nor have I ever done so as a Minister. I mean to support international rules-based order and the vulnerable people in Ukraine.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Absolutely, I concur with the Deputy on the serious nature of femicide and sexual and gender-based violence. That is why the Government does treat this issue with the utmost seriousness. My sympathies go out to any family who have been affected by this. The pain and trauma of victims who have to live with the scars of the actions of others is unimaginable. First, I will put on the record that there is about €80 million under budget 2026 to support this sector. We have really worked to increase the number of domestic violence units, which is up 30% from 2022, and the number of safe houses, which really needs a huge amount of additional work. I would accept that there are a lot of gaps right across the country that we have to fill. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, took a huge leadership role in this area in the previous Government, which is being carried on by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in the current Government. If we look at the actions that have happened, we have our third national zero-tolerance strategy, which now has an implementation group. The implementation group published its report recently. We established Cuan, which is the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency taking leadership and accountability in this area. We have very significant evidence from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, Sexual Violence Survey 2022 and we are planning for a second one next year. We have delivered a huge number of awareness campaigns as well. More importantly, we might look at the legislative change the Government has embarked upon. We have enacted the Family Courts Bill, establishing a dedicated family court to look at very sensitive items for victims. We have introduced an offence for non-fatal strangulation, reflecting the seriousness of the abuse and the stress and harm it causes. The Guardianship of Infants and Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2026 will allow for the removal of guardianship rights from individuals convicted of killing their intimate partner, ensuring stronger protection for children. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025 will strengthen the legislation around consent and the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will restrict the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials and criminalise exploitative practices of sex in lieu of rent. These are key reforms we have embarked upon, as well as the Domestic Violence (Judgments) Register Bill 2026, which will set up a domestic violence register of judgments, ensuring that relevant convictions for serious domestic violence offences are made public as part of the conviction process. That demonstrates a Government that really treats this issue with the utmost seriousness. More resources need to go into this sector - I absolutely appreciate that - with more support for victims, but the work we are doing demonstrates the Government's commitment to this sector.
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I would be careful about comparing such a serious issue with other sectors of the economy that are getting money. This is a really serious issue that deserves the utmost attention of Government. I have demonstrated through three strategies and through the increase in resources to €80 million under budget 2026 the acceleration of the number of refuges for women and of safe houses. I acknowledge we do not have enough.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I am being very honest about that but we are we are putting more resources into it. I also pointed out the legislative reform we have seen, critically increasing maximum sentences for assault causing harm to ten years and defending the rights of children who are left behind in very horrific circumstances through femicide or where someone kills their spouse or partner. Those areas are key parts of our reforms. We are demonstrating that we take this very seriously. We want to support women and that is why Cuan was established working together with Government and the CSO to get the data to establish what we can best do over the years ahead. We have an implementation group for that strategy. We want to be there as a compassionate Government to stand by women and to stand by victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Sentiment score: -0.07
I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for a very important and timely question on the National Rehabilitation Hospital. From our constituency clinics and working in our community, we all know how important a piece in the jigsaw of rehabilitation the National Rehabilitation Hospital is. Critically what really stands out is the work that can be carried out for patients with early intervention after accidents, acquired brain injuries or traumatic experiences. We are all very aware phase 1 was opened three years after construction commenced in October 2017. The facility represented a €129 million investment on behalf of the State. Phase 2 will provide 120 new beds and provide additional outreach to Deputy Fitzmaurice's constituency and other constituencies around the country, which will be very welcome and very much supported. I understand that phase 2 proposals are estimated to cost more than €200 million. A strategic assessment is currently being prepared in accordance with the Government's infrastructure guidelines. The Deputy will know of decisions taken over the past number of weeks to speed up capital infrastructure. We will deliver €175 billion in infrastructure over the next decade. It is critical that the Government can carry out the assessments that underpin that delivery on a timely basis. The assessment is being prepared under the revised infrastructure guidelines. I am not aware that the Department of Health has received the final assessment to give it the go-ahead as of yet. I am very much aware of this and I will bring the Deputy's comments to the Minister for Health. The National Rehabilitation Hospital has been an important a piece in the jigsaw for so many patients who find themselves there as a result of an accident, illness, injury, or physical or cognitive disability. It has been critical in their rehabilitation and in many cases bringing them back to functioning in society again, which is so important. Under the investment plan, the Department of Health has a record capital allocation to deliver a world-class health system, supporting citizens right across the country. We have a lot of work to do and the NRH would be very much to the forefront of my mind. I will make the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, aware of the Deputy's concerns. I hope that under the new revised infrastructure guidelines the report will be delivered in a timely manner and critically that we can get on with delivering phase 2 of this much-needed facility.
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I would see that as a matter of urgency. In tandem, the Department of Health is currently preparing a business case, which has to be done through the infrastructure guidelines. As the Deputy quite rightly points out, the improvements that the facility can make for people with early intervention have been demonstrated. That is critical. I have seen the work the hospital does, particularly for those who have been involved in very traumatic experiences. I will raise the Deputy's concern in relation to outreach in Roscommon with the Minister for Health. I would be confident that this decision will be made quickly. It should not be about funding. We have a very significant war chest of €175 billion over the next decade to deliver public infrastructure. The critical thing - the Government has experienced this - is getting the money spent, getting it into the bricks and mortar and ensuring that we can get it through the process quickly. One thing we have learned over the past number of years is that we have to get a lot better at delivering public infrastructure. We have set the guide rails to do that. We will spend about €19.1 billion this year, an increase of 54% in two years, which demonstrates the real ambition of the Government.
Sentiment score: 0.04