I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It was a horrific incident that happened to the families. I had the pleasure of meeting the Deputy and Deputy Doherty to discuss it last year. I also met with the parents of Leona Harper in December. I want to be straight with the families, because they have suffered a lot. I will not establish a public inquiry until such time as the criminal investigation and the inquest are concluded. The reason I am being blunt about that is because I want the families in Creeslough to get justice. The only way they will get justice is through the criminal process. A file has gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. There may be another file going. I have been kept updated on this issue by An Garda Síochána and others. The only way they will get justice is through the courts. If at the end of that process there are questions remaining, I will very much consider whether a public inquiry is required.
Sentiment score: 0.05
I will answer that-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
I will answer it in due course.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I want to deal with the question from Deputy McDonald that I did not answer. I will keep an open mind in respect of the matter. I will just say, however, that my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, met them. They want a public inquiry. I am being straight with them. I am not going to establish a public inquiry until such time that the criminal process is over. I will come back to the Deputy on this matter, but I do not want to fool people by bringing them up to Dublin and having them come in here-----
Sentiment score: 0.11
In the context of what Deputy Bacik said, people are obviously concerned about the rising cost of fuel. That is why the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other Government Ministers have indicated that measures will probably be taken in response to what is happening with regard to the price of fuel. We are not going to just have a knee-jerk reaction in respect of this; we are going to have a united Government response in the same way that we did in respect of Ukraine. The Deputy will obviously continue to put pressure on the Government, but we need to formulate our response and target it, as I said to Deputy McDonald earlier.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I thank the Deputy. I am well aware of the issue. As he indicated, it happened in Sean Moore Park in my constituency. Gardaí had considerable success identifying the person responsible for it. The criminal justice system must operate in respect of people, even if they are under 18 years of age, who commit arson in playgrounds. Not only are they damaging playgrounds, they are damaging their communities. I do not think the Deputy is suggesting I am responsible for arson attacks or for the increase in such attacks. I assure him that An Garda Síochána is well aware of my interest in this matter and in the ongoing attacks being investigated. Young people need to be made aware of the damage they are inflicting on their communities by engaging in arson.
Sentiment score: 0.15
Unfortunately, I do not have an answer for the Deputy. I will raise it with my colleague the Minister, Deputy James Browne. It might be of assistance if the Deputy were to provide to the Minister details of the two constituents in question in order that he can look at the matter in more detail. At the periphery of every scheme, there is always some flexibility.
Sentiment score: 0.01
Everyone is aware of the impact that the price of fuel is having on families, not just at pumps but also elsewhere. The Deputy is correct that VAT accounts for more than 20% of the cost of fuel. Excise duty accounts for more than 30%. That is something the Government is looking at, particularly in respect of the excise duty. We will not make a knee-jerk reaction just to facilitate the Deputy in getting an answer today. This has to be carefully considered by the Government.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I have spoken to Deputy Crowe previously about this issue and his concern for the gardaí involved. As is obviously the case, they were acquitted. They are not guilty. It is always the case, regrettably, that where people who are prosecuted for offences and acquitted, there are consequences for them deriving from that. There is no mechanism in place to provide any remedy for a person who is prosecuted and then acquitted, and I do not think there would be public support for it. The Deputy has raised an inquiry in respect of the issues. If there is going to be an inquiry, we are into a full quasi-judicial process again and that is not in anyone's interest. We need to move on from this. The gardaí have been vindicated and they need to get back to doing what they do best, which is protecting the community. If there are gardaí who are traumatically affected by it, they need to get help and I urge the Deputy to pass that on to them.
Sentiment score: 0.03
I thank the Deputy very much. I will raise that with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne. Just so the Deputy is aware,the Government has provided a €150 million fund to end long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities under the urban regeneration and development fund. This dedicated €150 million fund allows local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, residential or commercial, and to carry out any associated works needed to derisk or improve the properties. I am sure that the very effective chief executive of Carlow County Council, Coilín O’Reilly, is aware of this and it is probably worth engaging with him to see if any of this funding can be used for the purpose of ending vacancy and dereliction in Carlow.
Sentiment score: 0.38
I thank the Deputy. I regret to say that I am not aware of the detail of the issues he has outlined but I will raise them with my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Naughton and Lawless. I do not know whether the issue is in respect of English language classes but generally there is good funding for ETBs. Obviously, if moneys are being reduced, there must be a reason for it and I will engage with my colleagues in respect of it and ask them to get back to the Deputy on it.
Sentiment score: 0.38
It is the same issue throughout the country. People are extremely concerned about the rising cost of diesel and petrol. The Government is well aware of that. We need a measured, well-thought-out response. The Deputy says everyone is affected by it. That is the case, but not everyone is affected to the same extent by the increase in fuel costs. The Government needs to have a look at this in terms of what is the appropriate response, whether it be in excise duty or elsewhere. It is also needs to give consideration to the targeting, or not, of measures.
Sentiment score: 0.08
I thank the Deputy for bringing the issue in respect of Ballycommon to the attention of myself and the Dáil. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in respect of it. I know that he is bringing forward proposals that will allow a builder to build up to 40 houses for, I believe, fewer than 120 or 150 people and that Uisce Éireann will then be obliged to connect them. I will raise the matter with the Minister. It sounds like it is essential that we get those houses constructed in Ballycommon so that people can live within their community.
Sentiment score: 0.35
The war started on, I think, 28 February. We are 19 days into it. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Government needs to consider what it is doing in respect of a response to the rising fuel costs. As I have indicated, it is being considered by the Government. I believe that there will be a response but it is not appropriate to rush it on the basis that we need to just get it done quickly. Let us get it done right as opposed to quickly.
Sentiment score: 0.03
Accessibility for wheelchair users is fundamental, particularly for children in schools. I will raise the matter with my colleague in the Department of education, the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I will see whether the issue can be reviewed. Perhaps Deputy Cairns could provide the details to me or the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in order that we can pass them on to the Minister.
Sentiment score: 0.01
The Deputy is right that human behaviour is the biggest cause of fatalities and accidents on our roads. I know he is not suggesting otherwise, but people themselves need to recognise that looking at their phones and consuming alcohol or drugs will expose them not just to risk of fatality and car crash, but also to being apprehended by An Garda Síochána. That will result in increased insurance costs and time off the road and make it very difficult for their lives professionally in the future. I have spoken to the Commissioner. There is obviously a requirement for gardaí to devote a certain amount of time to roads policing. The figures the Deputy has given indicate that there is a lot of roads policing ongoing, but it is a balancing act as well. There is much other important work the Garda has to do, so I cannot just ask the Commissioner to devote a majority of resources to roads policing. People have a responsibility as well. I will keep a close eye on the matter.
Sentiment score: -0.01
Local Link is hugely important to people in rural constituencies such as the Deputy's and, indeed, throughout the country. I do not have the details in respect of the Dunmanway-Clonakilty route. I will raise it with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to see if we can get an answer in respect of that and come back to Deputy Collins. I just do not have the specifics of it at present.
Sentiment score: 0.31