It has been, but it is important we are honest with fishermen. I would like to know which fishing representative body does not feel that I showed up or that the Taoiseach showed up, considering I met them, and I was in touch directly with the European Commission. The Taoiseach met them, as did the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries, and the senior Minister, Deputy Heydon. Deputy Doherty is right that this is a devastating blow for fisheries but it is also a devastating blow we should try and work collaboratively on. The Deputy represents a constituency that is very significantly impacted by this, as are other constituencies, but I do acknowledge the particular impact in Donegal. We must and we will examine all options available. We are establishing a Food Vision seafood group for a whole-of-government mechanism to assess what sustainable supports for the sector look like. The Department of Finance will engage constructively with the work as it progresses. We need to look at short-term resilience and long-term sustainability measures in coastal communities. There is also a broader issue involving looking at the European fisheries policy as well. We were talking about qualified majority and minority voting. The Irish text on the Hague preferences did not even make the final compromise text because of a blocking minority led by France, supported by the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Belgium. We will work very closely on this. I am happy to work on a cross-party basis too.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I wish a happy Christmas to the Deputy, her family and her Labour Party colleagues. I too welcome the developments at an EU level this week. I acknowledge the contribution of her party colleague Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. She will also understand why I acknowledge the contribution of Regina Doherty, who is on that committee in the European Parliament. We now have a housing Commissioner and a committee of the Parliament on housing. We do have plans to host an EU housing summit. The jury is still slightly out on whether that will fall to the Cypriot Presidency or the Irish Presidency, but the main thing is that it be held. I would like it to be held during the Irish Presidency if at all possible. The Government would like that as well. We will work on that, and we should work across this Dáil to see how we can use the opportunity of having the EU Presidency to really put a focus on housing. Housing is an emergency in Ireland. That is absolutely the case but it is also very interesting when we all engage at a European level to see that it is also an emergency in many European countries. There is a role for the European Union to play in dealing with the emergency and it is also a very sensible suggestion that we learn from each other as member states.
Sentiment score: 0.24
The rules of the House are one thing but Deputy Hearne is rightly highlighting a very important issue. As a constituency TD, I absolutely do consider this. I also consider it as the Tánaiste. Everybody in this House considers what more we can and must do in relation to child and family homelessness. We have different policy perspectives that we debate in this House. It is not a question of people ignoring each other. I hope it is not. We all need to be better than that. When we had the eviction ban in place, we did still see homelessness rise. As a policy measure, without getting into the legality of the politics, we continue to see homeless numbers rise and that is why we are taking a different approach now in terms of child and family homelessness, social housing allocation and in relation to the scheme the Minister, Deputy Browne, has put in place to acquire larger homes from local authorities and a ring-fenced fund. We will continue to do this work every day and in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Sentiment score: 0.01
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Nobody wants to see anybody on hunger strike or to see anybody get ill arising from that. I note he took the opportunity of the presence of the British ambassador in the House today to raise his concerns in relation to this. I will also relay those concerns to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Sentiment score: 0.08
I thank the Deputy for making the effort today with his Christmas jumper and for injecting a degree of Christmas cheer into this place. I wish him, his family, colleagues and staff a very happy Christmas too. The factual answer in relation to a Dublin allowance is that all of these issues are matters for pay agreements. It is for the unions and the Government side to bring proposals to the table. While I tend not to comment on public pay policy outside of those agreements, I would just say, as a Wicklow TD, that one of the reasons that I often hear pushback is that if one lives on the border of where an allowance is in place, it all of a sudden becomes a lot more attractive to be a teacher in Dublin than in Kildare, for example, represented by the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, or Wicklow. That is just a detail in terms of how we grapple with these things but what we are considering, and what we are committing to, is helping to provide housing for key staff, starting in Dublin. Some work has been done on that. For example, hospitals have land banks and partnering with the likes of the LDA could provide opportunities to assist with housing pressures for key workers, starting with our capital city. Any allowances are a matter for public sector pay talks.
Sentiment score: 0.35
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge that this is something that has been going on for quite a significant period and it is understandable that people want to a resolution to this as quickly as possible. When I leave the Chamber I will ask the Minister for communications for a direct update on the timeline in relation to that and he will make contact with the Deputy on that later today.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I wish the Deputy a happy Christmas too and thank him for raising this very serious issue. It is very timely because when we turn on our radios at the moment, we all hear the very chilling advertisements from emergency department consultants and ICU consultants in children's hospitals reminding us of the law in relation to e-scooters but also, on a purely human level, of the absolute devastation that children and others can experience as a result of accidents involving e-scooters. A report by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland published earlier this month found that e-scooters are now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries to children at Temple Street hospital. That needs to be a stark and worrying reminder for all of us this Christmas. I am particularly conscious of that, as we approach Christmas. The Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Powered Personal Transporters) Regulations 2024 came into operation on 20 May 2024. These regulations give gardaí the power to detain, remove and store powered personal transporters such as e-scooters that are in contravention of road traffic laws. E-scooters can be legally used on public roads only if they meet the technical and usage requirements. The requirements for an e-scooter to be used on public roads include that it has a maximum design speed of 20 km/h, a maximum contentious rated power output of 400W or less and a maximum weight of 25 kg. Since the introduction of the regulations 1,002 fixed-charge notices have been issued for e-scooter-related offences, as of 13 November this year. Gardaí had seized, as of the same date, 744 e-scooters this year as compared to 326 last year. The Garda authorities have confirmed that there were 52 instances in 2024 and 67 instances to date in 2025 where the detention or seizure of an e-scooter was linked to a crime incident other than a road traffic offence. We have the regulations. We need to see enforcement. We also need commonsense here. People need to stop purchasing these for minors.
Sentiment score: -0.19
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue relating the Navan Road schools. I can hear the frustration in his voice on behalf of those schools. I will certainly speak with the Minister, Deputy Naughton about timelines and next steps and ask her to revert to him directly.
Sentiment score: 0.07
I thank Deputy Butterly for raising this issue. I have seen at first hand the benefit of the work that was done by the Drogheda Implementation Board, which formally came to an end on 31 December 2024, having had its term extended. The board produced a very good report, Drogheda: Creating a Bridge to a Better Future, which had 74 recommendations. They were really under two headings: the need for improved interagency co-operation and the need to resource additional services. I am pleased that over the lifetime of the board, 70 posts were created to drive forward implementation. Twenty three of these are permanent posts while others are funded on a long-term basis by a variety of Departments. In addition to this, €31 million of direct funding was committed to support the posts or capital projects. I recall during my time in the Department of higher education, I visited the Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE. There are big plans for expansion there with the apprenticeship centre so lots of good work is happening. The direct answer to the Deputy's question, in terms of driving it forward and continuing to bring the agencies together, is that will now fall to the auspices of the new Louth local community partnership to make sure it builds on that progress. Perhaps in the new year, we could engage and meet with the partnership or relevant State agencies on how to take that forward.
Sentiment score: 0.46
I thank the Deputy and Nollaig shona dó. On the points he made about the Mercosur deal, they are points made by the Taoiseach, myself, the Minister for agriculture and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Farmers in Ireland have expressed very serious views. The Irish Farmers' Journal has revealed concerning information, as the Deputy said, following its trip to Brazil as well. As the Taoiseach said this morning, we now see safeguards have been published. We need to have a greater understanding of them but also of any additionality or further work that can be done about that. There should not be a rush into a quick vote on this. We are continuing to work with like-minded countries that share our significant concerns. We continue to ascertain if a blocking minority exists as well. Our programme for Government commitment remains.
Sentiment score: 0.17
Very respectfully, on three or four occasions in the House today, I have outlined the Government's position as the Taoiseach did this morning as well. The programme for Government is clear. We have significant concerns about the agreement in its current form. We will work with like-minded countries to oppose it in its current form. Those two pieces of work are ongoing. It is not prudent or sensible to have a vote on this in advance of Christmas. I share the position of French on that. I was in the Deputy's constituency very recently and I visited Kylemore Farmhouse. I met a number of farmers, including the chair of Galway IFA, and discussed this with them. I know the concerns of farmers are real and serious about this.
Sentiment score: 0.19
Truthfully, there has not been a change I am aware of but obviously, the Deputy is seeing a reality in the system in terms of the cases he has outlined. I will send a transcript of what Deputy said to the Minister for housing and ask that he looks at it and comes back to the Deputy directly.
Sentiment score: 0.12
If the Deputy could send on those details as well, that would be great.
Sentiment score: 0.74
The Deputy is one of the over 60 TDs who are here for their first Christmas and through their first calendar year as well. I wish her a happy Christmas. Politics aside, I know everybody works very hard in the Oireachtas and it has been a busy first year. I thank the Deputy for bringing the facility on the South Circular Road to my attention. I will raise that directly with the Minister for housing and the Minister of State with responsibility for planning, Deputy John Cummins. The Deputy's point is valid. People are trying to get back on their feet and we have to make sure standards and designs reflect that as well. I will ask either the Minister or the Minister of State to come back to the Deputy directly.
Sentiment score: 0.22
It does.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank the Deputy for raising this. As he said, this is an issue I know affects his constituency and my own, the Minister of State's, Deputy Butler, and a lot of the south east. This is an issue that everybody wants to see resolved. I know it is an evolving situation but it is my understanding that further mediation is scheduled to take place today and it is possibly even happening now. It was scheduled to take place this morning. I am pleased that both Caredoc and the HSE have confirmed their attendance. It is important that everybody puts their shoulder to the wheel to find a resolution here. Everybody, including those on the Government and HSE side, needs to show a bit of common sense in trying to find a way forward. I urge every party to the dispute to work really hard in the hours ahead through mediation to try to resolve this.
Sentiment score: 0.16
I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this serious and important issue. I think we would acknowledge on all sides of the House that this is something that was done for a good reason, which is the idea of trying to get sight of the number of children who would require a special educational needs place earlier because it is not fair, and it is far too stressful to leave it too late. It was the germ of a good idea, and, in fact, it needs to come earlier every year. I have spoken to some of these parents, and I am aware that sometimes there can be a delay for a good reason. People might not be able to get access to certain reports they need or whatever. Life can happen, and there are a number of parents who will require places for their children. The NCSE is giving consideration to it. I am not in a position to comment. It is not for me to make an announcement here, but I certainly think it is inevitable that it will have to be reopened so that a resolution can be found. I will pass on the Deputy's views to the Minister.
Sentiment score: 0.23
As is often the case, Deputy Clendennen has made a valid, logical point that would make a real difference to patients, patient care, congestion and life. It works on a lot of levels. I join with him in saying it is a very significant week for the midlands and for Offaly in relation to the news of Offaly County Council's decision regarding the new hospice facility. We often highlight rightly here the challenges we have as a country. One of the areas in which we have had a lot of success over the last number of years is the provision of hospice facilities through partnership, collaboration and working with communities. This is really good news for the midlands. The Deputy is always rightly on to the next project as well, and there is merit in looking at how we can work in the midlands in terms of elective care. The hospitals in the midlands are noted for the work they are doing. There is a very good hospital in Tullamore. There is little doubt that a bit of work needs to be done in terms of preparing for the future. I am pleased to say the HSE CEO has now confirmed that the Dublin and midlands region of the HSE will conduct an analysis and an action plan to include expressions of interest to see what possibilities there are for newer additional capacity to be provided. This will specifically include the Deputy's suggestion of consideration around elective care. This will advance in quarter 1 of next year.
Sentiment score: 0.36
I thank Deputy McGreehan very much for highlighting this issue as we approach the 50th anniversary. We think of Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters and their families and all those injured and all the families impacted. This is an issue that both the Minister for justice and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade are working on raising at every opportunity, including with the British Government. Indeed, I remember it in my previous posting. We now have the legacy framework, and that has to work in all directions. There is no hierarchy when it comes to victims. There is no hierarchy when it comes to terror. Everybody needs to have answers, truth and justice. Both the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will continue to raise this. I will ask them to update the Deputy accordingly.
Sentiment score: 0.02
I hope it is a good one.
Sentiment score: 0.70
I thank Deputy Farrell for raising this important issue, which was rightly raised in this House today. The British ambassador was present here today, as Deputy Farrell and others have raised this issue. I know the ambassador will convey the depth of feelings and concerns of Members of this House to the British Government. I will also raise the issue with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Government colleagues and, indeed, with our embassy in London on foot of the Deputy raising it today.
Sentiment score: 0.14