Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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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 resources. Irish fishermen now face catastrophic losses. Jobs are at risk in my own county and elsewhere. Local economies are going to be stripped of hundreds of millions of euro and families who have worked the sea for generations are being told that their livelihoods may no longer survive. This is all happening at a time vast wealth continues to be extracted from Irish waters for the benefit of powerful interests based elsewhere. Safeguards such as the Hague preferences, designed to recognise Ireland's preferable position and underdeveloped fleet, were blocked and stripped away, leaving Irish fishermen exposed in their own waters. Serious questions have been raised about the influence of large EU-based corporate actors in shaping these outcomes. It is not just a policy failure; it is a failure of political will. Unlike other EU leaders, the Taoiseach failed to show up on this issue, as did the Tánaiste. Does the Government have a battle plan for Ireland's seafood industry? "Yes" or "No". Will it include immediate action, including legal action to defend Irish fishing livelihoods, which have been devastated as a result of this deal?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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As we close out the year, I thank those who keep the Houses running every day, including the ushers, administrative, catering and maintenance staff, and I express solidarity with the Oireachtas broadcast staff in particular. We appreciate all of their great professionalism and patience.

I want to end the year by raising an issue I have raised throughout 2025, which is housing – the civil rights issue of this generation. I want to raise it at an EU level. This week the first EU housing plan was published, which I welcome. It puts housing firmly on the European agenda, giving the EU real proposals to act to deliver affordable homes. I commend the immense contribution of my colleague, our MEP, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and his S and D Group colleagues who delivered the first ever EU Commissioner for housing. Without them, this report would not exist. We all acknowledge that housing is not just a serious and vital national issue; it is a European one.

When food security was threatened, the EU responded with the Common Agricultural Policy. Now the EU must act to guarantee housing security for all. There are welcome proposals in the report but we need more ambition from the Commission, governments,and the entire EU.

As Ireland will host the European Presidency next year, will the Tánaiste commit to hosting an EU housing summit in Ireland? Will he make housing a central theme of the Presidency and action on this report a central purpose and goal of our Presidency?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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A record 5,274 children are homeless along with their families. It is equivalent to a shocking 222 primary school classes of children. These children will spend Christmas in homelessness without a Christmas tree and without a dinner table that they can sit around with their families on Christmas Day. They will wonder if Santa will even find them. Each week we come in here, we put forward solutions and we feel the Government is ignoring them. Why will the Government not implement a temporary eviction ban to stop thousands more children and families being made homeless?

Does the Tánaiste really consider what life is like for the 5,274 children living in emergency accommodation and how damaging and traumatising it is to them? I have a piece of art for the Tánaiste today made by the artist, Asbestos, which sets out that 5,274 children are homeless.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Hearne-----

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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The lettering is from the Proclamation, in which the State committed to cherish all children equally. We are not doing that. I call on the Tánaiste to take emergency action on that.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Hearne is out of order.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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There are rules in the House and while Deputy Hearne is making a very valid point - I do not dispute his right to do that - he should reflect on waving flags during the course of making that point.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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It is not a flag.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is a prop.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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By the time we come back in January, unless there is a change of approach by the British State, hunger strikers will again have died in British prisons. They will have been killed by an injustice system that arms, supports and funds genocide. Eight young people are currently on hunger strike in Britain. They are people who have been held without trial or bail for more than a year for protesting against British support for genocide. Qesser Zuhrah is on day 47 of her hunger strike. In 1981, Martin Hurson died after 46 days, another victim of the British injustice system. Yesterday, she was hospitalised only after significant protests by Zarah Sultana and others demanding that the prison allow in an ambulance. Their demands are extremely reasonable. They include an end to the censorship of their communications, their right to a fair trial and the granting of immediate bail. There appears to be a conspiracy of silence on this matter in the British media. I appeal to the Tánaiste to contact his British counterpart to express our concern about what is happening and to demand that basic civil liberties are upheld.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I would like to thank all of the staff in the Oireachtas for their outstanding work throughout the year. I also wish the Tánaiste, the Leas Ceann Comhairle and all of our colleagues a very happy Christmas and peaceful, prosperous new year.

This Christmas some people will be lucky enough to get visits from relatives flying in but many will not and will just have to make do with video calls from Australia, Dubai, Canada and so on. Given staff shortages in Dublin hospitals, Garda stations and schools, why do we not have a Dublin allowance for key workers? Nurses, teachers and gardaí are struggling under the weight of rent and living costs that are far higher here than elsewhere in the country. That is why they go abroad and stay abroad. London has recognised this reality with a weighting allowance and it has been shown to work. We could have a modest enough Dublin allowance, with discounted rent schemes and an expanded, specific affordable housing scheme for essential workers. Why has this not been done yet? When will the Government act to keep some of our best and brightest at home, not just for Christmas but throughout the year?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I join previous speakers in thanking everybody associated with the House for their hard and diligent work throughout 2025 and I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

The issue I want to raise relates to An Post. Management and the trustees of the An Post pension scheme have agreed an increase for An Post pensioners and those pensioners are very anxious that the Minister and the Department would sign off on this increase. They are waiting for him do so. An Post pensioners in my own constituency of Dublin Bay North have been in touch with me to ask that this agreement be approved as soon as possible. Can the House be updated on when this agreement will be approved?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I join others in wishing Christmas cheer to everyone here and while we are on the topic of Christmas, I want to raise the issue of e-scooters and e-bikes. There is a lot of talk about them being bought as Christmas presents for people but there is a great need for the regulation of these vehicles on our roads. In the past few months we have seen stories of scooters come and go. We have read about the accidents and the damage being done to people. I witnessed the unfortunate aftermath of such an accident when a young child was badly injured outside Leixlip GAA club one evening when I was coaching there. I understand the impact of these vehicles.

I raised this issue with the Taoiseach back in July and he said that he would refer it to the Minister for justice and ask that it be discussed by the Oireachtas committee. How has that progressed? What can we do to bring in proper regulation across the country on this important issue?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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I am speaking today on behalf of St. John Bosco's junior and senior boy's schools and Mary, Help of Christians girl's school on the Navan Road in Dublin 7. I received a letter, which states: "Our community school has been waiting years for progress and despite repeated assurances from the Department, including a clear commitment that a stage 2a review would be completed in the quarter 1 of 2025, we have been informed of yet another delay." I sent that letter to the Department of Education, which responded to the effect that in early June 2025 a further meeting was held with the wider design team, the school authorities and the Department. I have since discovered that although that meeting happened in June, the documentation that should have been submitted subsequently was not submitted until four months late. The Department claims that it received the documentation on 31 October 2025. There was a delay of at least four months, despite the fact that this had been promised. Is the Minister for Education and Youth aware that the Department has had little meaningful communication with the schools and has not responded to the design team's proposals? It stated that a Department official will carry out a review addendum report but says it is not possible at present to provide a timeframe for the completion of that review. The schools were told that this would be done in the first quarter of 2025, which is nearly a year ago at this stage. We discovered that there was another delay in October and a four-month gap where nothing was done, effectively. Surely there is something amiss in the planning section of the Department. The Tánaiste spoke earlier about planning for housing but there is a big job to be done in terms of planning for schools. We get these issues raised with us constantly with regard to the planning section of the Department of education. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this with the Minister to see if we can get a resolution so that the school can be built.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Drogheda has experienced deep and persistent challenges linked to intergenerational addiction, domestic abuse and violence, particularly in communities that have faced long-term social and economic disadvantage. The Drogheda Implementation Board was a welcome and necessary intervention. It brought additional resources and enhanced policing. However, as that implementation phase has concluded, there is serious concern locally about what happens next, especially for the children and families living with the long-term consequences of trauma, addiction and violence. Intergenerational harm does not end when a plan ends. What specific steps is the Department taking to address intergenerational addiction, abuse and violence in Drogheda following the conclusion of the Drogheda Implementation Board? How is the Department ensuring that Tusla family support services, youth services, addiction services such as the Red Door, and domestic violence support services continue to work in an integrated and properly resourced way in the town?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I join with others in extending every good wish for Christmas and the new year to all staff and Members of the Oireachtas. In the context of the proposed Mercosur deal, I again raise the detailed report from the IFA and the Irish Farmers' Journal on their recent fact-finding mission to Brazil. That report again outlined very clearly how much inferior food production is in Brazil and elsewhere in South America in comparison to the standards in this country and throughout the European Union. We should continually highlight that for decades, this State has invested very heavily, as has the farming community, in building successfully a world-class agrifood industry. Day in, day out, our farmers and processors work extremely hard on maintaining our food production systems to exceptionally high standards. There is a cost on the farming community in maintaining those standards, including high welfare and biosecurity standards and traceability.

Our beef and poultry sectors are extremely concerned about the potential for totally unfair competition if inferior product is allowed into the European Union. The proposed safeguarding regulations need to be substantially strengthened. Our agrifood sector's concerns about this proposed trade deal must be robustly and vigorously outlined and advanced in all discussions by Government at EU level.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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The proposed Mercosur trade agreement is a bad deal for Irish farmers and consumers. I held a public meeting in Athenry earlier this week and there is serious concern about this deal and the impact it would have on our beef industry and family farms. The Government should be doing everything in its power to stop this deal but it is not. For weeks, the Tánaiste and his colleagues have dodged answering the simple question of whether they will vote against this deal. The Taoiseach is in Brussels today. He was unable to answer what way the Government would vote. It is unacceptable that at such a critical moment for Irish agriculture, the Government is unable to set out its position.

I have one simple question for the Tánaiste: will the Government vote yes or no to Mercosur?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I have a query. Has there been a change to the rental accommodation scheme, RAS? I have been contacted by a few people who bought a house and they wanted to sell it. They went through all the procedures 100% correctly, gave proper notice and everything. It appears to be happening with Galway City Council a lot. The council went through all the procedures and there is a timeline of eight or ten months. It has gone on for a year and now the council will not answer emails. The owner of the house does not know what is happening because they wanted to sell their house and the council will not respond to them, which is an usual situation. We have heard this a few times and I am wondering is there some change in thinking or legislation that would have affected RAS?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I can send on details.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy could send on those details as well, that would be great.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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I wish everybody here and throughout the House a very happy Christmas and thank them for what has been my first year and how welcoming they have been. I have been very delighted to see the Taoiseach has given clearance for Santa Claus to come.

I wish to raise an issue on the South Circular Road in my constituency, where a number of people are housed in a homeless hostel. Unfortunately, there seems to be an issue with overcrowding there which is spilling out onto the streets and causing antisocial behaviour. That is not welcoming for anybody.

My concern and the concern of the people living on that road is because there are so many people living there, it is a fire hazard. A total of 75% of the people who live there are working. They are trying to get back on their feet but they are living in a situation where they are so crammed together, they of course have to go outside. Can anything be done to ensure that when buildings are being repurposed, we are protecting people's privacy and a right to dignity to not live in an absolutely overcrowded situation in bunk beds? When people are trying to get back on their feet, it is very difficult. That has a knock-on effect, not only for them but also for the people who work in that hostel and the people who live in that area.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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Today, around 270 workers at Caredoc, the GP out-of-hours service in Wexford - I think it covers part of the Tánaiste's own constituency or-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It does.

George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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-----county - have gone on strike. The INMO and SIPTU have said they are seeking implementation of a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement that was agreed for section 39 organisations. They are specifically seeking the 8% increase that is due to their members working in Caredoc. This is the first of a number of planned strikes that will have a significant impact on GP's out-of-hours services. Last week, 14 ambulances were stacked up at Wexford hospital. It was chaotic and this will only add to that.

Can I ask if there can be any intervention? I appreciate there are industrial relations mechanisms but these workers are asking for something that was agreed in 2023, which was an 8% increase. Can I ask we do our utmost to ensure this series of strikes, which will have a chaotic impact in the likes of my county of Wexford, is averted as best we can?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Given the clear State obligation to provide an appropriate school place for every child with additional needs, can the Tánaiste explain why parents who applied after the NCSE's 1 October deadline are being excluded from the process of securing a school place for next September? There is silence from the line Ministers and a standard response from the NCSE telling parents who applied after the 1 October deadline: "The NCSE is no longer in a position to issue letters of eligibility." This is simply unacceptable. Every child with additional needs has a right to an appropriate school place.

Nothing less will do. Will the Tánaiste instruct the NCSE to reopen the portal and start issuing letters of eligibility again? Will he ensure that every child has an appropriate school place for next September?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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This week, Offaly County Council unanimously supported new hospice care for Offaly, clearly demonstrating an appetite for further healthcare provision in the county and in the region. Meanwhile, we need the same ambition now in elective surgery. We see people sitting in congestion on trains and in cars, while too many are also on waiting lists. We really need ambition now to ensure we increase that capacity. Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise has a proven track record in emergency care, but it is at the expense of elective surgery. We really need to see this delivered. I ask the Tánaiste to make sure the Government prioritises additional capacity for elective surgery in the midlands. It should bring the care to the midlands rather than patients going all over the country for it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I join my fellow colleagues in wishing everyone a very happy Christmas. I thank everyone for their collegiality, co-operation and friendship over the year. I also thank our staff of Leinster House who keep the show rolling all year.

Tomorrow marks 50 years since the Dundalk bombing that claimed the lives of Jack Rooney and Hugh Watters. Many more were injured. Half a century later, their families still wait not just for justice but for basic answers. Investigations remain but let us be honest: as the Tánaiste knows, this has led nowhere, no one has been charged and we are no further on. The Denton report has highlighted that investigations were not adequate. Garda files were disorganised, chaotic and incomplete. What will the Government do under the joint legacy framework with the Irish and UK Governments to improve the situation? We rightly call on the Government to release all files and be honest about its role in the perpetuating the Troubles. I want guarantees that this State will do everything to ensure justice for the victims of the Dundalk bombing.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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This is the last question of 2025 under Questions on Policy or Legislation. I call Deputy Farrell.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I hope it is a good one.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Forty-five years ago today, my aunt was on her 17th day of hunger strike in Armagh Gaol. We know what followed the following year when ten men died on hunger strike in Long Kesh. I understand that today in Britain, six people held in pre-trial detention are presently on hunger strike following their arrests for trying to stop the genocide. It should not be a crime to stop war crimes. Qesser Zuhrah is on her 47th day on this strike and has been transferred to hospital. Urgent action is clearly needed. Will the Tánaiste use his influence with the British Government to see this hunger strike come to an end before this ends in tragedy?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Tánaiste.