Dáil debates

Thursday, 18 December 2025

• Prelude (0 speeches)
  Chuaigh an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Mairéad Farrell) i gceannas ar 08:47
• Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions (0 speeches)
  • Childcare Services (7 speeches)
    1. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will carry out a review of the regulations for childminders in Q1 of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
  • Family Resource Centres (7 speeches)
    2. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide additional and multiannual funding for therapeutic and counselling supports, such as play therapy,...
  • Homeless Persons Supports (8 speeches)
    3. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will intervene to prevent the closure of homeless prevention services in an organisation (details supplied) in Cork in...
  • Residential Institutions (7 speeches)
    4. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has completed an equality and human rights impact assessment of her Department's practice of locating people with intellectual...
• Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (0 speeches)
  • Childcare Services (7 speeches)
    7. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied that the number of childminding services registered with Tusla, and the numbers of childminders undertaking the...
  • Disability Services (10 speeches)
    9. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to address the waiting time for assessments of needs, considering there are in excess of 18,000 children waiting for such an...
  • Disability Services (6 speeches)
    12. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she is taking to improve disability services in Kerry. [72874/25]
  • Disability Services (7 speeches)
    14. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her proposals to provide additional respite capacity for adults and children with disabilities in County Monaghan. [72976/25]
  • Child and Family Agency (8 speeches)
    15. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will respond to a HIQA report published following an inspection of Tusla services in Dublin north city; and if she will make a...
  • Child Protection (7 speeches)
    18. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a report by the special rapporteur on child protection will be published; if part of the annual report has been furnished to...
  • Child Protection (8 speeches)
    25. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement there has been with relevant Departments and agencies, including Tusla, following the publication of recommendations...
  • Child Protection (7 speeches)
    32. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeframe for implementation for each of the recommendations made by the national review panel following its examination of the...
  • Disabilities Assessments (11 speeches)
    96. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement there has been with the Department of Education and Youth on the autism protocol to ensure that assessments of need...
• Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (0 speeches)
  • Energy Prices (16 speeches)
    100. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he is taking to enhance the power of the regulator to increase transparency in relation to the retail price...
  • Energy Policy (7 speeches)
    102. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the commitment in the programme for Government to “explore if legislation could be enacted to...
  • Data Centres (9 speeches)
    103. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions from data centres in view of our legal obligations to...
  • Wind Energy Generation (7 speeches)
    104. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding initiatives within his Department that seek to prioritise the fast tracking of offshore wind energy...
• Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (0 speeches)
  • Renewable Energy Generation (7 speeches)
    105. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on capital investment allocations for electricity grid upgrades under the national development plan;...
  • Recycling Policy (8 speeches)
    106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of rPET pellets produced in the State; the amount of this product utilised within the State and the amount...
  • Energy Conservation (8 speeches)
    107. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department plan to make changes to the warmer homes scheme to allow alternative sources of home heating for...
  • Just Transition (25 speeches)
    We are moving on to a grouping of Questions Nos. 108, 112 and 119.
  • Energy Infrastructure (7 speeches)
    110. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to make critical energy infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events; and if he will...
  • Energy Prices (14 speeches)
    113. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has conducted an analysis on the introduction of CBAM on the price of energy; and if he will make a statement on the...
• Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (53 speeches)
  Before we commence Leaders’ Questions, I ask colleagues to join me in extending a warm welcome to H.E. Ms Kara Owen, the British ambassador to Ireland, who has joined us in the...
• Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions (5 speeches)
  Will new consideration be given to the upgrading of the N61 road to a national primary route in view of its strategic importance for Athlone, Roscommon and Boyle and the role such an upgrade...
• Teachtaireacht ón Seanad - Message from Seanad (1 speech)
  Seanad Éireann has passed the Appropriation Bill 2025, without amendment.
• Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (49 speeches)
  The outcome of the recent EU Fisheries Council has landed a devastating blow on Irish fishing families in coastal communities. It is an affront to Ireland's sovereignty over its national...
• Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions (0 speeches)
  • Insurance Industry (9 speeches)
    168. To ask the Minister for Finance the operating profits of motor insurance companies and public and employer liability insurance using a standard definition of operating profits, that is,...
  • Economic Policy (9 speeches)
    169. To ask the Minister for Finance the contents of the Government’s medium-term economic framework; the reasons for the delay in producing the plan; and if he will make a statement on...
  • Inflation Rate (7 speeches)
    170. To ask the Minister for Finance the updated projections from his Department in the wake of recent CSO inflation figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73720/25]
  • Mortgage Interest Rates (12 speeches)
    171. To ask the Minister for Finance the action he is taking to address the banking sector using high mortgage interest rates in order to maintain high profits; and if he will make a statement on...
  • National Asset Management Agency (26 speeches)
    173. To ask the Minister for Finance given that the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, is due to conclude its affairs and wind down operations by the end of 2025, to outline the arrangements...
• Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (0 speeches)
  • Departmental Reports (12 speeches)
    174. To ask the Minister for Finance his long-term strategy for ensuring the sustainability of public finances given the demographic pressures outlined in the Department of Finance's Future...
  • Film Industry (12 speeches)
    175. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that film producer companies in receipt of the section 481 film tax credit or meeting the test for quality employment and fully vindicating...
  • Defective Building Materials (13 speeches)
    176. To ask the Minister for Finance the engagement he has had with other members of the Government in relation to defective concrete block scheme since taking office, including to ensure that...
  • Tax Reliefs (10 speeches)
    177. To ask the Minister for Finance the research carried out by his Department into the potential fiscal and housing market impacts of the new tax reliefs for property developers announced as...
  • Cost of Living Issues (9 speeches)
    178. To ask the Minister for Finance whether his Department has assessed the cumulative impact of rising energy, childcare and housing costs on households that do not qualify for means-tested...
  • Cost of Living Issues (6 speeches)
    180. To ask the Minister for Finance whether, in view of higher inflation than his predecessor predicted prior to the budget, he will bring in an emergency supplementary budget before Christmas...
• Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (20 speeches)
  I move: "That the Bill be read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of colleagues. As Deputies will be aware,...
• Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Referral to Select Committee (1 speech)
  I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1).
• Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (1 speech)
  I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss...
• Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (0 speeches)
  • Psychological Assessments (6 speeches)
    Before I raise my issue, I wish the Ceann Comhaire and her team, including Jill Gray, and every person who works in the Oireachtas a happy Christmas. We are incredibly well looked after....
  • Housing Schemes (5 speeches)
    I also wish happy Christmas to all the staff, the Ceann Comhairle and the Ministers. Nollaig Shona. I look forward to continuing our engagement in the new year. I will refer to one case...
• Report of the Joint Committee on Health: Motion (17 speeches)
  I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Health entitled "Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction)...
• Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (1 speech)
  Before I conclude, I have a number of thank-yous I need to say. Believe it or not I am a year elected to this position today and it has been a huge honour. Again, I want to thank the Chief Whip...