Results 561-580 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I apologise that I cannot answer Deputy Stanley's question. I cannot tell him when the wind turbine guidelines will be available. However, I am aware from discussions with my colleagues that these are required. I cannot give him an answer. I do not have it. There is no point in me making it up.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will come back to the Deputy and provide him with information. As regards the guidelines, we cannot ignore the fact that at times 40% of our energy is being provided by wind. Wind is a great success and it is really part of the transfer from fossil fuel to a more appropriate fuel that is at the forefront, wind energy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for her questions and, like her, I extend my condolences to those who knew and loved Daniel Aruebose. As the Deputy will be aware, there is an ongoing Garda investigation in respect of that matter. The Garda deserves to be commended for the work it has done to date. It was a very difficult search but, ultimately, the Garda tragically found the remains of the young boy....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will talk to the Minister for housing who has responsibility for this matter. I will raise with him the issues the Deputy has identified. The Deputy stated that there is unethical engineering ongoing in Donegal. If that is the case, there are mechanisms in place to report engineers who are acting unethically. I urge people who believe they are the victims of unethical engineering to use...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We can influence it but we cannot dictate it. She can see what has happened over those horrific 700 days, that people and other countries are gradually coming around to recognising the Irish Government's position is the correct position.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Ward very much. I will try to be as succinct in my answers as his questions were. His first was whether or not the Government would use the Public Service Management Act. The answer to the question is "No". The Government will not use it because the defective concrete block grant scheme operates under its own primary legislation and in November 2024, following the receipt...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: What is happening in Gaza is horrific slaughter. It is not just me, the Deputy and every other Member of this House saying that. We saw recently that a United Nations independent commission has ruled that what Israel is doing in Gaza is committing genocide. Many people in Ireland feel a sense of helplessness in the context of what can be done in response to it. My view is that this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is in priority legislation and will be enacted and certainly introduced into the Oireachtas this term. I wish to make one important point that is sometimes not emphasised enough. The entity responsible for the genocide in Gaza is the Israeli Government. We all need to point that out and state it repeatedly. Rather than criticising the Irish Government for narrow domestic political...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As I said to Deputy McDonald, when the Labour Party produces its budget proposals, we will take them into account and the Government will give them consideration. I have no doubt that will happen in respect of that matter. On what the Deputy said about the tenant in situ scheme, she should be aware that on 4 March last, the Government decided on a total of €325 million for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Bacik for her question. Obviously, child poverty is an enormous issue in this country and an enormous one that the Government wishes to respond to. The Deputy will have heard the Taoiseach, and indeed the Tánaiste, say that child poverty will be at the centre of the budget that is forthcoming and will be announced two weeks from now. I can understand why the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----and alleviate the issue in respect of housing. We have repeatedly stated that the most effective way of getting people off the homelessness and housing lists is to ensure a greater supply of housing in our society, and available housing. Although the Deputy can criticise the Government for the amount, we have stated that this is our commitment. When you look at the figures...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When we add the housing assistance payment and rental accommodation scheme data, we see that 2,712 housing supports were delivered in quarter 1 of 2025. The Deputy also mentioned the tenant in situ scheme. That scheme has worked. It has worked throughout the country. I note there will sometimes be issues in respect of Dublin, but the measure------

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----has been important in the prevention of homelessness since its introduction in 2023. The Government is providing €325 million in 2025 for local authorities to buy second-hand properties.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am the Minister for justice. I am not the Minister for Finance or the Minister for public expenditure.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not announce the budget terms two weeks before the budget is announced. We will all have the opportunity to hear the budget two weeks from now when it is announced by the Ministers for Finance and public expenditure. On hard-pressed families, the Deputy has not responded to the issues I have raised about the measures we have taken in the past.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: They cannot just be ignored.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy cannot ignore the past.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy cannot ignore what we have done in the past and now try to claim credit for what we did previously in circumstances-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----when Sinn Féin did not support those measures at the time we announced them on a previous budget day. Let us consider the VAT rate on energy costs. We have retained the 9% rate. That will be dealt with on budget day and we will wait to hear what will be announced. I am not going to pre-announce the budget. What I will do, and what I assure the Deputy that the Ministers,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy McDonald for the question. At the outset, can I say that she does not have a monopoly on empathy or compassion for householders-----