Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The public is outraged by the Government's plan to turn the GPO into mainly shopping units and offices. The GPO is the most iconic site of our country's fight for freedom. It is the place where the Irish Republic was declared and where it was bravely defended during the Easter Rising. It is disgraceful stuff coming from the Government. If that is not enough, the Government refused to name the new national children's hospital after Dr. Kathleen Lynn, a pioneer medic and a heroine of 1916. The Dáil voted unanimously in April to name the hospital after Dr. Lynn, but that was ignored. Instead, €4,500 of taxpayers' money was spent to come up with a name. What did it come up with? Wait for it - the National Children's Hospital Ireland. Is this a joke? In no other country that fought for its freedom would you have a government so blatantly disrespecting and vandalising its hallowed ground and history. I am sure we all remember that the Tánaiste's party and the Government of which he was part wanted us to commemorate the Black and Tans just five years ago. Given what the Government is doing in terms of the GPO and given the disrespect it shows to Dr. Kathleen Lynn, what have Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil got against the heroic men and women of 1916?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy wants to talk about the type of people his party commemorates, here is a photo of his party chair with a member of Hamas. Get over yourself, giving me a history lecture. Here he is - Declan Kearney meeting the leader of Hamas. I think your man from Hamas is dead but Declan Kearney is still here.

The Deputy should not lecture me considering the sort of people his party hangs around with.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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What about the GPO?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We do not need any revisionism from him. It is part of his party's support for terrorist organisations across the world-----

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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The GPO.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----that has stalled the developments of peace and the release of hostages, who we need to see released.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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What will we have? Abrakebabra and Starbucks, is it?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On the GPO, I will first say this. The Deputy's party welcomed the publication of the Dublin city centre task force report, which the recommendation he is now criticising was in. Maybe he should read the documents in future. Second, the GPO is always going to be preserved under this plan as the historic cultural institution it is.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Will we have Starbucks? We can have anything. Perhaps we could have some of the Government's vulture friends.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The GPO is also a massive complex. Let us read the report.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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Shameful.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Shameful.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is not shameful at all.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It is shameful.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In relation to Kathleen Lynn------

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The GPO is where they defended the Republic.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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Fianna Fáil sits by and says nothing.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a Republic that your party worked to undermine. They collected the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe from the gates of a prison. Do not dare present yourself as a defender of the Republic.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Government will invite Starbucks.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are gardaí dead in this country as a result of the actions of the army wing of your party.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You invite your corporates in. You shamefully disrespect-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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You know nothing about defending the Republic-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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No other country in the world that fought for Irish independence would do what the Government is doing-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----and here you all are with your Hamas buddies.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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-----to desecrate the GPO, where Pádraig Pearse stood, where James Connolly fought and where the men and women of 1916 defended the Republic.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Jean McConville. Jerry McCabe.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It is shameful. They fought an empire.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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You had a party for the people who collected the killers of Jerry McCabe-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Government is inviting multinational corporations to sell their wares. Shame on you. Nowhere else would it happen.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----and you should apologise.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You should apologise to the Irish people-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are gardaí in their graves-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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-----for what you are trying to do.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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-----because of your IRA movement.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You are desecrating hallowed ground.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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Fianna Fáil stands by.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ask Jerry McCabe's family about your defence of the Republic. Give me a break.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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That is all eating into all of our time. It eats into the time of all of us who are coming behind. I intend to use only one minute of my time.

Public transport is under huge pressure in our city and surrounding areas. BusConnects, where we desperately need it in north County Dublin, in Donabate and Portrane, has been delayed yet again until autumn 2026. A service there, the 33B, is provided by Go-Ahead Ireland. In May, there were cancellations on 18 of 31 days. This is not a regular bus. It only runs once an hour. Cancellations mean that people miss caring appointments and doctors' appointments. They are late for connections because the service only goes as far as Swords. It is desperate. It is a microcosm of what is happening all over Dublin and the surrounding areas. Public transport is under huge stress, and we are getting no sense whatsoever that the Government is getting a handle on it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue about BusConnects. I will ask the Minister for Transport to engage with him directly. Perhaps I could also arrange through my office for the National Transport Authority, NTA, to engage and sit down with the Deputies for the area, including Deputy Smith. I am conscious, particularly in his part of Dublin, of how reliant people are on public transport. There has been very significant population growth in that area. I will arrange for the NTA to meet the Deputy and others on the issue.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on Deputy Rice, I want to reply to Deputy Smith. When we have an exchange such as that which eats into the time available, I assure the House that the time of the Deputies who follow will not be cut. They have the right to speak in this House regardless of what happens.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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People have previously been rushed towards the end of their contributions.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I will not be rushing. I never do.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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Tens of thousands of people will march through the streets of Dublin this weekend for Dublin Pride, a celebration of love, diversity and liberation. However, Pride is more than a party. It is a protest.

Ten years on from marriage equality, progress has slowed. Hate crimes are rising and there is no plan to bring down the numbers. The gaps in family law have not been closed, conversion therapy has not been banned and Ireland has the worst trans healthcare in the EU.

The Government's sexual health strategy, published yesterday, does not provide me with confidence that things will change anytime soon. There has not even been a discussion here of intersex people. I am disappointed we did not get Dáil statements on Pride this year but I am even more disappointed with the stalled progress. Do not take my word for it; look at the international rankings. Ireland is stuck at 14th in Europe for LGBTQI human rights. Rainbow flags outside Government Buildings are nice but LGBTQI people want enhanced human rights and better policy protections.

Will the Government join the growing call for Ireland to set the target of being the best place in Europe in which to be LGBTQI+? Will it ensure full implementation of existing commitments? Will the Tánaiste tell us what meaningful actions the Government will take this year to enhance LGBTQI+ human rights and policy protections?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Yes, we will. I am not aware of the background as to why statements did not take place. They should have taken place and it is important that they do. I genuinely take the Deputy's point about symbolism and flags and accept it. However, this year more than ever, at a time when people across the world are speaking in more hushed tones about inclusion, it is important that this weekend Ireland march proudly in support of Pride, love being love and marriage equality. We have made progress but it is ongoing, as the Deputy said, and in some areas it is under threat. I accept that.

We should arrange an engagement on this issue between relevant Ministers, me and others. I will talk to the Taoiseach about how best the Government might take that forward so that, within this relatively new Oireachtas, we can together mark out how we intend to make progress on this.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Last night, the "Natasha" documentary on RTÉ charted what happened to Natasha O'Brien. It was a valuable documentary. I want the Tánaiste to take seriously the case of a woman who has spoken to me and who was abused by an Army member. He used his Army position, military surveillance, Army guns and even a grenade to threaten her and her family. He told this woman that he was untouchable. I am talking about sexual assault and very serious abuse. She reported him to the Defence Forces for sending pictures of guns to her in November 2022. She made statements to the military police. She still has not had an outcome to that case.

She was told last July, when she pressed again, by the victim liaison officer of the Defence Forces that the investigation was complete and she would be sent the results. In response to a parliamentary question I put to the Tánaiste in April, I was told that an investigation was ongoing and had been referred to the Garda. Which is it? This woman has been given two different stories.

I believe the Defence Forces member in question is on special leave with full pay. How long can it continue that the taxpayer is providing full pay for someone who may or may not have committed offences? Another woman has made allegations against the same person. Will the Tánaiste look into this case on behalf of this woman? It is unacceptable. She has been traumatised for years since all of this happened.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I absolutely will look into it. Will the Deputy send me the specific details today? I am conscious that I have answered a parliamentary question on the case, but if the Deputy could send me the specific details, I will personally look into the matter today.

We are planning changes in one of the forthcoming defence Bills. There are powers available to the Garda Commissioner that I believe the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces needs. Where allegations are made against somebody, the Chief of Staff needs to be able to take action in terms of his or her service in the here and now. There are other arrangements in place in the interim, but I would like that to be on a statutory basis. I will come back to the Deputy directly on the matter.

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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Last week, An Bord Pleanála overturned a decision by Mayo County Council to grant permission for 92 homes in Ballina, north Mayo. An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision and rejected this development. The site was dezoned in recent years. It is located just 2 km from the town centre and has all the necessary services, including water, wastewater, telecommunications, footpaths, etc. There is a huge demand for housing in Ballina. The board cited preserving agricultural land and housing targets in its decision. The board has chosen bureaucratic rigidity over people. It has chosen policy over people, preferring cows to couples in search of a home. It is incredible that this development was refused on the basis of potentially exceeding housing targets when housing delivery is on the floor in Ballina and across Mayo.

The rhetoric of the Government in terms of urgency and delivery is not felt on the ground. Will the Tánaiste come to Ballina? Will he engage with the planners at Mayo County Council, the developer and the engineer to see what is happening on the ground? There is no urgency in housing delivery across State agencies.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will understand that I cannot comment on a decision of An Bord Pleanála because of its quasi-judicial nature and where things may go next. I do not want to comment on the specifics. On the broader point about housing in Ballina, I will certainly ask the Minister for housing to engage with Mayo County Council and the people the Deputy mentioned.

Housing is in an emergency situation. We need to deliver 300,000 homes over the next five years. I will make it my business on my next visit to Mayo to inquire specifically about Ballina.

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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This weekend, a tractor run at Ballybrit in my constituency will see over 200 tractors and drivers of all ages take part. For over a decade, the Road Safety Authority has referenced a tractor driving framework and testing for young drivers but there is currently a void of uncertainty.

Farmers and contractors are committed to safety and open to initiatives that will enhance it, including for young people operating heavy machinery. Can the Tánaiste provide an update on the status of the tractor driving framework? Importantly, can he reassure farmers and contractors that any such initiative will not limit access to labour during peak times or cut off a vital stream of income for young drivers, especially over the summer months? We must prioritise safety while protecting access to labour, income opportunities and community events like tractor runs.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Clendennen very much for raising this issue. I have just been talking to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who also has responsibilities in this area. I wish everybody well in Ballybritt with the tractor run. I also assure the Deputy there are no plans to do anything that would discommode our farmers or farming community in relation to this issue. As part of the Government's road safety strategy, we are looking at the issue of how we can support farmers in the safety of their tractors. This should be done from a position of wanting to be supportive rather than causing any difficulty, challenge or unnecessary bureaucracy. I know the Minister of State will be eager to keep the Deputy up to date on this matter.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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As an aside on the GPO issue, the GPO has always been a hub of business transactions for well over a century. I am really excited by the Government's plans and the cultural and historical aspects. The GPO was always a hub of business and business transactions.

My question relates to a serious backlog in HSE dental check-ups for primary school children. Constituents have contacted me about their son who is now finishing fourth class. He missed out on this check-up because of Covid when he was in second class and he will not now be seen until sixth class, which will be in 2027. This child missed vital months of early education during Covid and is now being denied access to essential dental care. Could there be a catch-up programme for children who missed their second-class assessments? Could the Department consider reimbursement for tax relief purposes for those parents who had to seek private care to ensure their children's dental health was looked after? Could the Minister confirm that no cohort would be skipped in the school dental programme, in the interests of fairness, equity and restoring trust in public services?

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The area of dental services is a particular concern of mine. We are trying to expand the number of training places for more dentists. We also have a difficulty in the number of dentists offering services on the public side, which is impacting. We are trying to find a range of different innovative ways to get dental services to schools more easily and to make it easier for schools, children and parents to get to dental services. I note the particular point made by the Deputy and the intersection around the particular timing there. I might look for a little more detail from him directly and I will try to find a way to make sure this is not left out.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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I bring to the Tánaiste's attention proposals for the development of Portumna Forest Park in County Galway being led by Coillte. This is a natural and public resource for the local community. The Protect Portumna Forest Park Community Group has carried out an extensive survey in the local community. The results show clear opposition to the idea of building tourist accommodation in the forest park and strong support for protecting and enhancing the park's natural and recreational value, yet Coillte is failing to meaningfully engage with the group and is actually excluding it from the consultation process. Bordering the park is the site of the derelict former Shannon Oaks hotel. The question that local people have is why this is not the focus for the development of tourist accommodation and why it is not included in the development plan for the site. How can the owners of the hotel, the Comer brothers, be allowed to leave this hotel, which is an eyesore and a safety hazard, in this condition indefinitely and not be held accountable? I ask the Tánaiste to look into this issue, to engage with Galway County Council and Coillte and to ensure a commonsense solution is found. I also ask him to ensure that the owners of long-term derelict properties are finally held accountable.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Hara. My understanding regarding Portumna Forest Park is that this is something at the very early stages and that there will be extensive engagement. I will take his feedback in relation to Coillte and its need to engage and listen. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has also updated me on this matter. Regarding the former Shannon Oaks hotel, I have heard about it directly in relation to Galway East. I do know it is an eyesore and a source of great frustration, and I will certainly engage with the local authority. We do now have powers concerning derelict sites. I think there is a significant question regarding those powers and where their enforcement lies. I expect this is something the Government will consider in the coming weeks and months.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise an urgent and deeply concerning issue regarding a DEIS school in my constituency, Scoil Saidhbhín in Cahersiveen, County Kerry. It has just had its appeal against a cut of two mainstream teachers and one English as an additional language, EAL, post rejected. This is despite an ongoing surge in enrolment, including more than 40 Ukrainian pupils and recent IPAS admissions. This school, already stretched to capacity, now faces class sizes of up to 40 children, many with complex emotional, linguistic and educational needs. These are children dealing with trauma, ASD diagnoses and language barriers, and now they are being asked to learn in classrooms that are bursting at the seams. The staff in this school have gone above and beyond the call of duty through Covid, emergency enrolments and increasing levels of need, yet the Department's response is a reduction in support. It is not only unfair but unsustainable. I call on the Tánaiste to engage with the Minister for education and for the Government to reverse this decision, listen to those working on the ground and support DEIS schools trying to deliver inclusive education in some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Cahill very much for raising this issue. It sounds like a very stressful situation for the school principal, the teachers and the parents and students involved. I will certainly ask the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, who has special responsibility for special education needs, to engage with the Deputy directly and to look into the issues raised in relation to how we better support that school. I will ask the Minister and the Minister of State to revert to the Deputy.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Forty per cent of the post office network will potentially close unless Government funding is increased. Increasing this funding to €15 million annually over five years will ensure the viability of many of the 845 post offices nationwide, more than 500 of which are in areas without any financial institution. I acknowledge the extraordinary work of our postmasters and postmistresses around the country, in particular those in my constituency of Tipperary South, and the extent to which they remain such a positive force within our communities. Notwithstanding the crucial role the rural post office plays in our communities, there is a much bigger issue here, with social cohesion at its heart. Will the Tánaiste commit to this funding and to standing up for rural post offices? Will he ensure social cohesion by committing to this increased funding?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this issue. Indeed, I was talking to the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, who has responsibility in this area. Let nobody be in any doubt: this Government remains fully committed to a sustainable An Post and to a sustainable post office network as a key component of our economic and social infrastructure right across the country. The programme for Government is clear in our commitments. I am proud the previous Government agreed an amount of €10 million per annum would be provided for a three-year fixed term to An Post and that that funding was dispersed across the post office network. That has made a very big and significant difference. Our new programme for Government states we will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with the funding needed to ensure its sustainability and the value they bring to local communities. The relevant officials in the Department are now working under the leadership of the Minister of State to deliver on this and are engaging with relevant stakeholders in relation to funding. I would just make one point. Any such funding is going to be to provide space for An Post to continue its own transformation journey. It is a semi-State commercial company and we do need to see that journey of transformation continued.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I again raise the issue of Private Michael McNeela from Dundalk, who as a 21-year-old member of the Defence Forces made the ultimate sacrifice while peacekeeping in Lebanon. His mother, Kathleen, received an allowance or pension. Sadly, she died last year and Michael's father, John, was not able to receive this payment. We are talking about €342 per month. I have had a number of engagements with the Tánaiste and officials on this. I know the Department of Social Protection was dealing with the Department of Defence. I am not very hopeful of that process providing a solution, although I am very glad it happened. I see the only solution being that the Army Pensions Act would be updated and that this would happen as soon as possible. John McNeela is 84 years of age. We are talking about a very small number of families, but families who have made a huge sacrifice for this country, so they should be looked after. As long as it takes to get that legislation right, in the short term we need to find an administrative solution, an interim solution, because the situation now is unfair.

It is mean-spirited and wrong. The Tánaiste has said that he is sympathetic and supportive and that there is a legitimate policy question here.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I sincerely thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this case on a number of occasions and for the positive engagement that we have had. I want to put on record today my sympathies to the McNeela family and, in particular, to John McNeela on the loss of his wife, Kathleen, and, indeed, their son, Michael, who died while on peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. He served the State with distinction and I want to thank him for his service and acknowledge that as well.

This is a hard case and it relates to a request to transfer a dependant's allowance. I have been convinced, though, that the current system is unfair. It is mean-spirited and we need to fix it. I am pleased today to tell the Dáil and to tell Deputy Ó Murchú that, following an meeting with my officials yesterday, I have now directed them to prepare legislative change so that this pension allowance can be paid in the case of a dependant.

It will require legislative change. I have to be honest about that. I will look for the appropriate vehicle, whichever is the quickest vehicle, to bring it in. We have two defence Bills likely in the coming period of time. I see Deputy Conway-Walsh is here and I am sure we will work constructively on trying to make progress in getting this through as well. I am happy to keep in close contact with the Deputy on it.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Earlier this month, the Public Accounts Committee of the UK House of Commons published a report on the Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria. The report suggests that the Sellafield nuclear waste reprocessing plant is basically falling apart. The site contains one building called the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo - a dramatic name. The Public Accounts Committee inquiry heard that this silo is, and I quote from the inquiry report, "the most hazardous building in the UK".

Is the Government aware of this new report? It was published at the start of June. Does the Tánaiste agree that a visit by our Environmental Protection Agency to the site in Sellafield, as has happened in the past, would be good now to ascertain the potential risks to Ireland from continuously deteriorating physical condition of the buildings at Sellafield?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Gorman. I do not want to bluff; I have not read that report but I will make myself aware of it now that the Deputy has brought my attention to it. I will also discuss the matter with the Minister for the environment. The Deputy's suggestion is a constructive one. On foot of the Deputy raising it today, I will ask the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to consider that request that it would visit and I will come back to the Deputy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I will return to the issue of the GPO and the Government's plans, as outlined a couple of days ago, to turn it into a cultural space with retail units and office space. Does that plan not lack ambition? On O'Connell Street and the surrounding streets, we have retail space. We have office space aplenty. Of course, the GPO has historical significance. It also provides a huge opportunity for the city and for the country to have a proper civic museum with a monument to everything that happened there. What the Government plans lacks ambition. It could be so much more, in terms of using that space for a civic museum - something profound for the city. My frustration is that I think we can do more with that space.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We do not disagree on this, because it is possible to do quite a number of things. As Deputy Gannon will be aware, and I will not tell him about his own constituency, the GPO is a massive site. Many people, when they walk down O'Connell Street, see the GPO as the historic piece and as the post office. The GPO site goes significantly far back.

This recommendation flows from the Dublin city centre task force, which outlines a number of suggestions. I absolutely believe there has to be a cultural civic element to this. I heard bizarre comments about Abrakebabra and all this sort of stuff being made, although not from Deputy Gannon. Let us get real here. There is a suggestion here of how one best utilises that space and Dublin City Council will be in the driving seat on this. The special purpose vehicle will be under the remit of Dublin City Council and it will be about the city councillors and the directly-elected representatives of the people of Dublin city leading on this project. I am happy to ask that the officials involved engage with the Deputy directly.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste will not be surprised that I rise to speak today to mention the illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains. In mentioning them, I immediately thank the Tánaiste and his official for the speed with which they moved in the earlier part of this year to deal with the several illegal encampments which were established. The Tánaiste's alacrity contrasts with the way in which the problem was dealt with in previous years.

What has been happening on the Curragh with these illegal encampments, with visitors coming from Britain and France as well as across Ireland, could not even be imagined in the Phoenix Park because the Phoenix Park is a national resource that is perfectly well managed. It is happening on the Curragh because the Curragh is ineffectively and ineffectually managed. The programme for Government commits to a new management system. When will we see that management system put in place so that there can be an end to these expensive, unnecessary and damaging incursions?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for keeping in touch with me on this.

Let me say to anyone who wishes to illegally camp on the Curragh Plains that it will not be tolerated. We went to the High Court this week in relation to the situation. The Garda has been there. Bailiffs have been there. If you come there illegally, you will be moved on. That is absolutely crystal clear. I thank my officials, the Defence Forces, the Garda and everybody else who are making sure that the laws of this land get upheld.

Of course, Deputy Ó Fearghaíl is correct. This is a national resource. It is an incredible resource, not only for the people of Kildare but for the people of Ireland. The programme for Government does give that commitment. There has been good work done. I and the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, are in advanced discussions. I would hope, certainly, I believe, within a matter of weeks, we will be able to bring forward a plan on a way forward that better manages and points out the future direction of how we manage the Curragh Plains.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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This week's report from Women's Aid on domestic violence and abuse is very concerning. Women's Aid front-line teams heard over 46,000 disclosures of incidents of domestic abuse and violence. That is up 17% on last year. There were increased reports of all forms of abuse against women, with sexual abuse reports up 30%.

One third of those women in contact with Women's Aid were being subjected to domestic abuse from their ex-partner confirming their lived experience that while they may have ended the relationship, the abuse continues.

The programme for Government commits to increased funding to sexual assault treatment units across the country. I understand that there are still only six units across the country, which seems inadequate. Is there a commitment to expand those units as part of our zero tolerance of abuse strategy 2026-2030?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ó Muirí for raising this matter. The Deputy is so right too because one of the big findings that emerged yesterday from the Women's Aid report - I thank it for the great work it does - is the stark need here to act on the domestic violence register and what is often called "Jennie's law". I had the honour of meeting Jason Poole, an incredible man, in relation to his sister, Jennie.

The programme for Government commits to working with An Garda Síochána to ensure that a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of a serious risk to them where a new partner has a history of domestic violence. The Minister for justice has requested his officials to examine proposals to establish a register or mechanism which would allow for the disclosure of this information. That is an important step.

We are also absolutely committed to expanding both the sexual assault treatment unit, SATU, facilities and, indeed, women's refuge spaces across the country. The programme for Government is clear on that and on supporting the work of Cuan. We established for the first time ever in Ireland, under the Minister, Deputy McEntee's leadership, the first domestic, sexual and gender-based violence statutory agency to co-ordinate our work on this.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Today marks a full year since the announcement of the appointment of Ms Bríd O'Flaherty as chairperson of the inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing age. It is almost six years since the then Minister for Health announced the inquiry in November 2020. Why is the inquiry yet to commence?

Thousands of women in Ireland were prescribed Epilim despite emerging evidence of its harmful effects during pregnancy. In France, a redress scheme has been established. In Britain, an inquiry has been held and the government there has committed to a redress scheme. Why is the Government here so reluctant to do the right thing by women in Ireland? When will the Minister for Health reply to the Organisation for Anti-Convulsant, OACS, which has requested a meeting? This inquiry needs to get up and running. I understand the need for robust regulations and terms of reference but it is wholly unacceptable that this taking so long.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to meet with the group. This is something that I have worked with Epilepsy Ireland on in the past. I am familiar with the issues. I will very happily meet the group.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Six years on; it has to get started.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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When Russia invaded Ukraine, schools organised shows of solidarity with Ukraine but when it comes to Israel's genocide in Gaza, some teachers are being silenced and their clothing choices are being policed. I contacted the Minister recently about Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School where members of staff have been told not to wear their Keffiyeh scarves.

Keffiyehs are simple patterned fabric from the Middle East, which many wear in solidarity with Palestine. Zionist pressure groups are pushing schools to ban this simple item of clothing and at least that school appears to have given in. Two staff members felt so harassed by a small number of parents and pressured by school management that they resigned. Does the Tánaiste agree that a very high bar would have to be met to justify any interference with the right of staff to choose their clothes? Does he agree it must be urgently clarified for schools, perhaps in a departmental circular, to make clear that no member of staff should be victimised for wearing a Keffiyeh?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The depth of feeling there quite rightly is around this country about the genocidal activity by Israel and support for the Palestinian people is real, guttural and heartfelt. There should always be a very high bar before interfering on anybody’s clothing. In the first instance, these are always matters for boards of management. In light of the Deputy bringing this information to my attention, let me discuss the matter with the Minister for education.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I attended a public meeting on Monday night in Ballymackey outside Nenagh organised by a biogas concern group. I also met groups here a week earlier. Despite the issue of the location of the plan possibly being unsuitable, which road networks alone would dictate, we are committed as a country to achieving certain renewable goals in this area by 2030. It is proposed that there would be over 200 of these plants. There is no regulatory process for how these plants will be put in place. There are no planning guidelines. All county development plans say something different when it comes to this area. When will we have a regulatory framework for this? When will we have planning guidelines for this to give some guidance to local authorities when it comes to the mass of applications for this? When will a tariff be confirmed in relation to their construction? We are all in favour of renewables but we are way behind and it is unfair on communities across Ireland to be left in this situation.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I do not have much detailed information before me so I will have to get the relevant Minister to come back to him. I will arrange for that to happen. My understanding is there are two priority deliverables under the strategy for this, 5f and 5g. The first is the development of planning guidelines to support the local authorities, as the Deputy suggested, when assessing the plans for planning applications and the second is the review of the resourcing requirements for key Government agencies in relation to the development of the industry in an appropriate way. I will ask the relevant Minister to come back to the Deputy with timelines for both.