The Government did not withdraw anything. There is a need for proper debate on these matters. Everything gets weaponised and simplified and to hell with the consequences or to heal with the truth behind the issue and so on. I refer to the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, statement of last week. This is a bit more complex now than has been articulated by the Deputy's good self and others in the past week up to now. The Minister has engaged with the representative bodies and there will be further discussions but nothing has been withdrawn by the Government. Some pharmacies provided this free for a long time. Some charged minor amounts and others charged the State. Those who charged the State apparently did it under a different heading. All that needs to be worked out. It is not as simple as the Deputy presents it.
Sentiment score: 0.02
Politically it is, of course, because that is what the Deputy is fundamentally about.
Sentiment score: 0.00
There is an obligation on public representatives of all parties-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
-----to get to the truth of these issues and deal with them in a straightforward way.
Sentiment score: 0.32
I certainly will. It is unacceptable. There is no call for broken windows. We have minor works grants and various schemes that can deal with issues of maintenance. In particular, if glass is broken or whatever, you fix the window, for God's sake. I will talk to the Minister and ask her to engage with the Minister for Defence, although it would seem to me that it is primarily an education matter on the capital side. I will certainly follow that up.
Sentiment score: -0.03
Energy efficiency is always something that should be focused on. It should not be just dismissed as the Deputy potentially did there. I recall what supermarkets did during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the terrible crisis we had at the time. They put doors on their fridges, a simple thing that saved massive amounts of energy and was money well spent. Prior to the crisis, it was whatever. What I mean by that is we do have to continue to fund retrofitting and energy efficiency. On the CRU, the regulatory model is what we are examining right now. That is not a simple thing. It does need to be changed and the consumer is bearing the brunt of a lot of the investment. Again, it is the CRU, and the Minister has established an energy affordability task force. It has already published its first report. Some of that manifested in the budget decisions we took and we will be dealing with the overall framework, which is important.
Sentiment score: 0.09
It is a matter for each political party to decide when the whip applies and when it does not. If we changed all our processes, the Deputy would love for us to divide and fragment. That would suit her fine but there is a reason for political parties too. I would argue that we have had a democracy for 100 years because we have had strong cohesive political parties that were stable and able to deliver policies in times of crisis and in good times. That is a comment I would make generally and not in the context of the specific issue raised by the Deputy. The parties will decide individually on that issue and the whip will apply.
Sentiment score: 0.44
We have made good progress on these issues over the past number of years in respect of section 39 in terms of the application and subsequent negotiation in the context of the public pay agreements. Some organisations have been moved out of section 39, particularly hospices, to achieve the pay parity mentioned by the Deputy. It is a very big area with many organisations, some big, some small, so it is complex enough. It is not simple. We have a process in terms of pay determination for section 39 that is much better than what was there in previous years.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I will certainly pursue this matter in terms of additionality and services in primary care. Recruitment has been challenging. I might take the opportunity to engage with the Deputy and the Minister in terms of what we can do to add services, support recruitment and retention and have a better impact into the future.
Sentiment score: 0.57
I thank the Deputy very much indeed for raising this issue. As he said, Merck made the decision last month to wind down operations at its Arklow facility by the end of 2028 following a strategic portfolio product review. Other operations in Ireland are unaffected. The IDA has activated internal processes for responding to the potential and actual job loss situation with the client company. That involves proactive engagement with the site leadership of the company and its parent company. A consultation process is under way between the company and its employee representatives; that normally happens following any announcement. The IDA leads the co-ordinated response by other relevant Departments and agencies. We tend to focus on trying to get alternative work through local enterprise offices and others and on whether there are potential new start-ups, which happens at times when companies close. We have out-placement employment support services and potential training opportunities may be provided, as well as provision of detailed skills profiles for the employees and other recruitment opportunities with other employers. We will work fully to try to help the workers.
Sentiment score: 0.20
I will do that. This is extremely unsatisfactory. Is the Deputy saying that the building is half up?
Sentiment score: 0.00
Heads need to come together from different Departments to make sure something can be done. I will talk to the Minister for Justice, the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and the Minister for Health. I will ask officials in my Department to bring a report to me as quickly as possible. This is not good enough.
Sentiment score: 0.18
The Government will use very lever at its disposal to support the Irish fishing industry. It seems to me that the most effective one we have right now is what we can do nationally to support the industry because of the research outcomes. It is the research outcomes that have the most devastating impact. Let us be clear about that. What is happening with the Hague preferences is wrong and we have pursued that in any way we can. However, we are looking at over 100 million, the vast bulk of which is made up of a 70% reduction in pelagic, 41% in another category and right along. It is devastating because of overfishing by countries outside of the European Union-----
Sentiment score: -0.04
Historically, our Jewish community has made a very significant contribution to the formation of the Irish State during the War of Independence and afterwards for many decades. We have to protect our Jewish community from any violent acts or increase in antisemitism. An Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner are very aware of this, as is the Minister for justice. Across the board, we review all security in respect of all issues. Be in no doubt that this is a matter the gardaí are giving significant attention to.
Sentiment score: 0.13
Again, this is an issue that has to be resolved at the correct level, between the county council and Uisce Éireann. They should resolve it but we will see what we can do to prod it along. These are basic issues on the ground that should be dealt with by the council and Uisce Éireann.
Sentiment score: 0.13
I was in Templemore recently with Deputy O'Meara, who raised the issue of the need for more gardaí in Tipperary more generally. There is good recruitment now. The largest class came in recently and it is really buoyant in Templemore in respect of the investment there and the gardaí coming through. The next stage will be-----
Sentiment score: 0.27
We will try to increase and expand and do what we can with Templemore.
Sentiment score: 0.56
The point is we will get there. I am afraid to say it to the Deputy but there was a big allocation to Cork recently. We are going to do it in stages and Roscrea and Tipperary will get a good allocation.
Sentiment score: 0.15
It is wrong to say it is discrimination. Instead of giving dribs and drabs all over the country, what is happening in terms of-----
Sentiment score: -0.07
-----Dublin is correct. It has worked and is demonstrable. It will be repeated across the country.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I will follow up with the Minister for children and endeavour to ascertain what the current state of play is in that situation and the background to it. I will revert to the Deputy on it.
Sentiment score: 0.17