Jack Chambers
Dublin West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We have been clear about the absolute necessity to protect the huge ecosystem of digital and infrastructure investment in Ireland over the past ten to 20 years. Part of that has been the wider and ongoing discussion on the security of subsea cables.”
“Progress in achieving balanced regional development and detailing the delivery of the NDP is monitored through regular updates on the capital investment tracker and the MyProjectIreland interactive map viewer.”
“The tax strategy group examines the different options that are available to the Government during the summer. That informs the respective tax package that will advance. We have to honest about the measures we take in terms of taxation. They have to be sustainable and affordable in the long term. USC brings in about €5.5 billion per year.”
“I am not privy to the interaction the Deputy had with the Minister for housing on this, but the Local Government Fund distributes the respective funding across different local authorities, and Galway County Council and Galway City Council would receive allocations through that. I was clear in my initial response to Deputy O'Hara.”
“My Department has taken a proactive and co-ordinated approach to supporting the responsible and effective adoption of AI across the public service.”
“More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the national planning framework, which sets out the wider spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,309 lines we hold for Jack Chambers, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 22 of 27.
“The new task force is seeking to accelerate delivery of the basic infrastructure that is lacking in parts of our country. It is looking at impediments, at why projects are taking too long in terms of the design and concept phases and at how project lifecycles can be shortened in order to drive delivery. That will improve the basic infrastructure in the Deputy’s constituency and many other parts of the country.”
“The construction sector group has a distinct and separate mandate. It continues to do excellent work. We have identified, and the Deputy will have seen this in her broad engagement with people in south Conamara or, indeed, with stakeholders across the economy, that there are many barriers impeding delivery. The task force’s central mandate is to have a short period to identify these barriers, develop significant reforms to cut through some of the processes involved and the barriers to delivery and ensure that we oversee the implementation. That is responding to the genuine concerns around the level and pace of delivery. That has not been the central focus of the construction sector group, which, as stated, has a distinct and separate mandate.”
“Thereafter, the focus will be on identifying actions that can overcome these barriers, seeking Government approval of these actions and ensuring they are implemented.”
“There are 12 members of the task force. Six are independent experts experienced in infrastructure delivery and the other six are ex-officio members taken from commercial semi-State entities at the front line of infrastructure development and the local government sector. I will chair meetings of the task force. I anticipate that it will meet monthly. The first task my Department is progressing, and, hence, the first task the task force will oversee, is a systematic assessment of the barriers impeding the development of critical infrastructure. This task will be undertaken through a combination of research work, direct stakeholder engagement and a process of public engagement which will be launched shortly. I expect to bring a report on these barriers to Government in July, incorporating feedback from the task force.”
“These specifically set out that the role of the task force is to: provide strategic guidance and expert input to policy proposals to speed up infrastructure delivery; provide guidance and advice to officials to ensure that barriers to infrastructure delivery are identified accurately and represent the most significant barriers that are impeding timely and effective delivery; provide guidance and advice on the development of a small number of high-impact reform actions that are robust, achievable and timebound that will be rigorously focused on addressing the challenges identified - these actions will be brought to Government for approval; and oversee the subsequent implementation of these reform actions, supported by the Department’s infrastructure division and the Departments and agencies responsible for implementation.”
“This focus has been adopted because all three of these elements are required to underpin the development of all economic and social infrastructure, whether in healthcare, housing or childcare, and to support our economy's competitiveness. As noted, the terms of reference for the task force have been established and agreed with the members.”
“I launched the new accelerating infrastructure task force on Friday 16 May. At the task force's first meeting, the terms of reference were agreed and there was a discussion of the work plan of the Department's newly established infrastructure division over the coming months. Primarily, the role of the task force is to provide its members' expertise and guidance to assist my Department's work programme of identifying and addressing barriers to the delivery of infrastructure in order to accelerate the development of critical infrastructure. This work programme focuses on the energy, transport and water sectors.”
“I thank the Deputy. I know from being in Youghal with him on many occasions the importance of different State infrastructure and the services and activities it provides in the context of the local community and the other resources that are attached to the courthouse he has referenced. I will ask the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, to respond directly to the Deputy on his concerns and his request for the provision of continued court services and the courthouse in Youghal, and to reflect on the concerns the Deputy has raised regarding its retention.”
“There is very strong reference in the programme for Government to making progress across the disability area. In each budget, we want to make incremental progress over a five-year period. That will involve the consideration of social protection payments and indeed means-tested payments like the disability allowance, as well as other areas on which we were very clear in the election regarding the means test, and other issues which will have to be considered by the Minister for Social Protection in the context of what is available for budget 2026. We welcome the engagement on that particular issue and will try to make progress for people with disabilities in each budget. That is a central focus of Government.”
“I spoke on this earlier in response to Deputy Lowry. I offer my condolences to the family of Luke Hyde. What happened in the aftermath of this was shocking. That there were people who were more interested in recording the incident than helping is absolutely shocking. I mentioned earlier that the view of the Department of Justice is that this may be captured by an existing provision. I will ask the Minister for Justice to respond to the Deputy’s points. I know how upset the family is and indeed anyone else recorded in a similar incident. I would raise the role of Coimisiún na Meán in the context of the oversight of particular social media companies too. I will ask both Ministers to respond to the Deputy’s concerns.”
“I acknowledge the waiting time for driver testing is too long. The RSA has a service level agreement of a ten-week target which is not being met. It is increasing testing capacity and trying to improve the overall delivery by increasing the permanent sanction of testers to 200. That should help support a reduction in the wait time. I will ask the Minister for Transport to respond directly on the driver test site in Tallaght or where that may or may not be. I do not have that particular information. We acknowledge that many people are waiting too long. That is why the recruitment process is under way to try to accelerate a reduction in the wait times for many people across the country which are just too long.”
“I acknowledge the road safety considerations the Deputy raised. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, should examine the balance here and the appropriateness in the context of some of the speeds reached. It is an important part of the e-mobility strategy that there is an acceleration of e-bikes – not in terms of their speed but in the provision of e-bikes across cities and urban areas as we have seen in parts of Europe and elsewhere. I acknowledge the road safety issue the Deputy raised as well as some of the anti-social behaviour issues we have seen in parts of Dublin in particular. There is a serious issue which has been reflected by An Garda Síochána and others where in many instances these e-bikes or other vehicles have replaced scramblers. Achieving the balance is important.”
“I thank Deputy Gogarty. My understanding is that work on that is continuing, but I will ask the Minister for Justice to respond to the Deputy directly on the timeframe of the group. There are existing systems and processes in place that are very much upholding best practice around child protection, and those concerned are considering whether repeat vetting is required or whether vetting is not required again where someone has been vetted on one occasion. However, it is important that this be managed with care, obviously with child protection at the core. I will ask the Minister for Justice to try to provide a timeframe for the Deputy on any changes that arise.”
“I acknowledge the ongoing issue of high energy prices across our economy, and that is why the outgoing Government, including through budget 2025, sought to support families through the electricity credit scheme. In the context of budget 2025, we will be specifically targeting any type of support that could be made available to individuals or families through the social protection system. We have been clear that we are going to move away from universal measures in the context of any support for families. Specifically relating to what the Deputy referred to, I will ask the relevant Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to respond on the specific allocation made in the time of the previous Government and on what was introduced then. I will ask him to provide the Deputy with the factual information.”
“It is not only an affront to decency and to international law; history tells us it offers no solution. Today, Ireland, along with five other countries, issued a joint statement expressing our grave concern about the report that Israel plans to expand its operations. We call on the Israeli authorities to show restraint.”
“Like the Deputy, I strongly condemn the continuing Israeli military operation, which has brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza. The images we are seeing are truly horrific. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic; it is hell on earth. It has been over 50 days since food, medicines and other essential supplies have been allowed to enter Gaza. Israel’s continuing humanitarian blockade is pushing Gaza closer to a hunger crisis. As the Taoiseach said yesterday, it is wrong in principle and law to inflict hunger and suffering on a civilian population, whatever the circumstances, and this behaviour clearly constitutes a war crime. It is also wholly unacceptable to contemplate the mass displacement of people in Gaza or to talk about a permanent occupation.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The programme for Government includes a commitment to facilitate faster data releases from the national claims information database, NCID, to further enhance transparency and accountability. This report helps to deliver that commitment. In 2018, the average earned premium was €702. It is now 18% lower, at €575. That speaks to some of the reforms that were introduced. Insurance reform, including increasing affordability and accessibility of insurance, remains a key priority for the Government. After considerable progress in this area to bring down premiums over that trend of years, we need to redouble our efforts.”
“I am aware, as the Deputy referenced, relating to the announcement that the data protection commissioner found TikTok infringed the GDPR regarding its transfers of EEA user data to China as well as its transparency requirements. I note the decision was also reached in consultation with its peer regulators across Europe, as required under the GDPR and no objections were raised to this decision. Government is conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and privacy rights in the context of the DPC's role in the EU.”
“The Data Protection Commission, DPC, plays a critical role as one of the largest EU data protection authorities and the Government acknowledges its strong track record in carrying out its duties. As the lead supervising authority across many cross-border cases, Ireland is generally the first point of response for new and emerging data protection issues across the EU. By law, it is entirely independent of the Department of Justice and Government. It leads the EU on the quantum of monetary fines imposed on draft decisions and the number of corrective measures enforced against online platforms. Its decisions have been approved by fellow data protection authorities in more than 90% of cases.”
“Regarding the broader legislative matter of online videos or images that may be put up, the criminal nature of this is a policy matter within the Department of Justice and depending on the nature of such an incident, it may already constitute a criminal offence, for example, a harassment offence under the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. Online social media platforms have an important role to play in removing this content as soon as possible. The longer this material stays online, the greater its reach, the more it can spread and grow and the more harm it causes.”
“As provided for under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, an coimisiún adopted and applied the new online safety code for designated video platforms established in Ireland, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. The code sets out what the platforms must do to protect users. In particular, they are obliged to put measures in place to protect children from harmful online content, have age assurance measures where appropriate, and provide parental controls and user-friendly, transparent reporting and flagging mechanisms. On resources, significant Exchequer funding was provided to support this and an coimisiún has expanded from approximately 40 staff to 200 at present.”
“Images captured by the media depicting accidents and their immediate aftermath, typically intended for news purposes, seldom include depictions of bodies to tell their stories. We routinely hear of An Garda Síochána asking that footage of incidents, particularly tragic accidents, not be circulated. I think we can all support that message. As the Deputy has said, the online media platforms have a role to play in removing the content as quickly as possible. A new, powerful regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, was established by the last Government to enforce accountability in the sector. Platforms are required to assess content and decide whether it is illegal or in breach of a platform's terms and conditions. If the platform fails to apply its terms and conditions, Coimisiún na Meán may review its actions and take action as appropriate.”
“I thank the Deputy. I start by expressing my condolences to the family of Luke Hyde. It is deeply concerning that the first instinct of some of those present when he tragically lost his life was not to help but to take out their phones and stream the incident. It is a failure of basic human decency to take the view that social media clout is more important than the dignity and privacy of someone in extreme distress in their last moments. When this sort of content is posted, very real harm is done. The trauma of loss that families experience is compounded. There is a real risk that someone close to a victim of a serious accident could find out through online content. These videos are not news.”
“With regard to the pay and numbers strategy, a significant increase in the health budget was agreed last July between the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and the then Minister, Stephen Donnelly, which gave multiannual two-year certainty to the HSE to manage its overall pay and numbers in the context of a two-year framework. That was welcomed at the time by the HSE and the hospitals within it, in particular tertiary hospitals and others, so that they could accelerate recruitment over that window of time. That has provided a benefit to the HSE in terms of managing increased clinical workload.”
“One of the main areas of focus for the new Minister for Health has been the need to address work time during the evenings and over weekends. The Minister has been proactive in managing that over the past number of weeks, in particular, to ensure we have a greater presence of senior consultants and others across the hospital system in order to try to accelerate discharge and provide senior oversight in the clinical environment over the weekend period. We are seeing the positive outworking of that in the ongoing management and work between the Minister for Health and the HSE.”
“If appropriate procedures have not been followed, there has to be full follow through from the HSE. All dimensions of the respective financial frameworks regarding insourcing and outsourcing should be followed by anyone working in the HSE. I have tried to provide some clarity on the matter today.”
“An internal audit referenced by the Deputy on insourcing in UHL found that consultants carried out insourcing in the hospital. The audit found that consultants set up private companies and referred patients to their own companies, and that tender processes were not appropriately followed. The CEO of the HSE has instigated a review of insourcing across the HSE, as I said, not just because of the audit i have mentioned but also due to broader concerns about how it operates and value for money considerations. On the instruction to pause work where existing staff are hired or engaged by a separate entity to work on initiatives in their own place, it is examining all arrangements and contractual agreements in an effort to pause this work as quickly as possible. I appreciate, having been made aware of this issue, that it is serious.”
“I understand that at the request of the Minister for Health, the CEO of the HSE has initiated a detailed survey of all insourcing activity in the HSE which will be assigned by finance, internal audit, HR and access integration functions. The CEO has also issued an instruction that all insourcing where existing staff are hired, engaged or paid by a separate entity to work on initiatives in their own place or type of work must now be paused. Only insourcing where the HSE directly engages its staff through payroll can continue until this survey has been completed. The ultimate aim of the work is to move beyond the dependence the Deputy referenced on insourcing or outsourcing in favour of planned and stabilised rostering of all staff.”
“The matters the Deputy has raised are very serious and need to be properly and thoroughly followed through by the HSE. There are references there to conflicts of interest and value-for-money concerns, which are extremely concerning. Under initiatives to reduce waiting lists, the HSE can outsource to private hospitals under the surgical services framework and the private provider framework. The HSE looks internally within and across hospital sites to deliver insourcing pathways. As part of the waiting list action plan, there is a focus on deploying additional weekend, evening and out-of-hours activity to reduce overall waiting lists.”
“-----which need to be managed very carefully and actively. Having a structure in government to do that and to force that will help to yield greater housing supply which people should welcome. It would be much better for the Deputy to provide constructive input into actually supporting that office with the Minister for housing. It would make a big difference.”
“If the Deputy engages with anyone who is developing housing or is trying to increase the provision and supply of housing across our economy, whether it is an approved housing body or indeed in the private sector, they will all tell her that there are co-ordination issues-----”
“Of course the Minister for housing will be taking responsibility for the wider delivery of social and affordable homes across the economy. If there is an engagement or a meeting, it is important to have a structure in the Department of housing to ensure there is follow through, to ensure there are no delays and to ensure the respective utilities are actually following through on the plans the Government would seek to fund. In identifying strategic land banks, like the one the Deputy referenced in Fingal County Council and those in other local authorities, we need to try to force co-ordination by the respective utility companies and local authorities to increase the provision of social and affordable homes.”
“This is about prioritising clear areas to focus on the supply of homes, so that we support local authorities with strategic land banks, such as Fingal County Council that Deputy Coppinger referenced, to enable the delivery of additional homes. There are probably ten or 11 other local authorities that have the ability to deliver homes at scale. That is why the strategic housing activation office will play a clear role, working with the respective utility companies to try to accelerate the delivery of more homes, including social and affordable homes, complemented by additionality that we will bring in the context of the NDP review. That is what this Government is seeking to do. It is what the Minister, Deputy Browne, is seeking to do through the establishment of the strategic housing activation office.”
“We know we have to do more, not only specifically for voted allocation for housing itself, but also to the respective utilities that have been raised here today. That is why enabling the infrastructural agencies such as Irish Water, and the respective needs in terms of the grid infrastructure, will be central to increasing the supply of homes. For that reason, in the review of the national development plan, we have identified the strategic priorities that will receive much greater additionality as part of the multi-annual programme we will agree. Housing, energy, water and transport are all central to that. We will not have a national development plan like we have had in previous iterations where there was a general disbursal across government.”
“Deputy Coppinger references the example of Fingal County Council, which can be a central local authority for the increased provision of social and affordable homes, but to deliver at scale, we need to ensure co-ordination across the respective utilities - in water, the ESB, and the local authorities themselves - to have the enabling infrastructure to deliver homes at scale. What the Minister, Deputy Browne, is seeking to do is to have a structure within the Department of housing, which brings co-ordination to strategic sites that can deliver homes at scale. That is what he is doing in the context of the strategic housing activation office that he is establishing. In response to Deputy Coppinger's question on funding, we have seen record levels of funding by this Government, with more than €6 billion of capital investment planned for 2025.”
“Based on what you say, a Cheann Comhairle, I am not going to respond to the specific query Deputy Coppinger raises relating to the article in The Ditch . It is a matter for the individual to respond. I do not have the factual position on that case and I do not think it would be appropriate to make any assertions or allegations connected to it. We must respect the ruling of the House. The named individual the Deputy references is not here to defend himself. The new housing activation office the Deputy continues to criticise is being established by the Minister, Deputy Browne, to ensure we bring that radical step to the delivery of homes across our economy.”
“A significant proportion of the homes delivered last year were through the direct contribution of the State. The Deputy will see, through the national development plan, a serious uplift in the context of those four areas that will support infrastructure delivery to increase the supply of homes.”
“He is working through the details. He is stepping up the office itself and will provide leadership when it comes to the actual person who may be appointed in time around that particular office. It is to co-ordinate delivery in the provision of an increased supply of homes across our economy. We acknowledge that there is an infrastructure deficit and that there is a need for additionality across water, energy, transport and housing. That is why we are taking a strategic approach, having an early review of the national development plan and prioritising key areas in those four sectors I have referenced, all with the central focus of increasing the supply of homes across our economy. We have historic increases in the provision of direct support for social and affordable housing.”
“That is why we have been clear that water investment will be central to the allocation that will be received in the national development plan in July and why it is a strategic area of priority for the Government. Irish Water has the multi-annual funding to accelerate delivery where there is a significant deficit across the State.”
“He indicated the support and responsiveness of the Department had been genuinely helpful and he appreciated the time and attention given to clarifying the funding available for Uisce Éireann for 2025 and the use allocation of the additional €1 billion capital investment. A few days after the correspondence the Deputy referenced, therefore, the Minister clarified the matter. That was acknowledged by the chair of Irish Water at the time. I acknowledge the need, however, particularly in the context of water infrastructure, for additionality to accelerate the delivery of additional wastewater treatment and to provide for additional connections for new homes.”
“When it comes to the Deputy’s question with respect to Irish Water, as I set out on budget day, a €1 billion equity investment was provided for in budget 2025 following the sale of the bank shares. This was in addition to the voted Exchequer allocation provided as part of the funding mix. The Deputy referenced the correspondence from the chair of Irish Water, who is an excellent chair and also the chair of Dublin Port. He reflected the need for clarity and expressed concerns that were responded to at the time by the Minister for housing. In further correspondence from the chair, he acknowledged the appreciation of the Uisce Éireann executive and board for the commitment of the Department, the Minister at the time and the Government.”
“In the interim, staff are being deployed from the Department of housing into that office, as well as respective experts from utilities being seconded, to try to address some of the blockages that exist at a local level. I am also stepping up an infrastructure division in the Department of public expenditure to respond to the absolute need to accelerate infrastructure delivery across our economy. In parallel with that, we are developing a programme of reform to try to address and narrow a lot of the timelines, which are too long and elongated in delivering housing and infrastructure across our State. It is all about trying to synchronise delivery between water, energy, utility providers and the respective delivery agents that need to deliver more across our economy.”
“Everyone across this House acknowledges that the State has to play a central role in the future of infrastructure delivery and the provision of housing in our economy. That has been acknowledged in the context of what we are going to do and how we will strategically invest more than €20 billion from the Apple escrow fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to prioritise housing, energy, water and transport infrastructure. They are all critical growth-enabling areas in which we need to invest to protect and progress Ireland’s future. Deputy Bacik is critical of the housing activation office and what the Minister, Deputy Browne, has sought to do.”
“That is a contractual matter, as the Deputy will respect, between the employer and the respective employee. I do not think it appropriate that the Deputy is raising a particular contractual matter of a particular employee----”
“I completely reject what the Deputy said. She asked me a question relating to the legislation and I gave her an answer that reflects the factual position in a general scheme that was presented. The draft general scheme states very clearly that discussions are ongoing with the NTMA and it may be the case that no provision is needed in this Bill to facilitate staff transfers. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, yesterday set out very clearly that the resolution unit would not require a CEO. It is going to be a much smaller unit, managing the remaining assets that exist within the NTMA and in that particular unit. That is why the NTMA, as an employer, for staff who are not already made redundant after the dissolution, will engage with the respective staff relating to their future contractual position within the agency.”
“We are stepping up the housing activation office and it will make a difference in the provision of housing supply, and we should all support that.”
“The purpose of having an individual leading that is that we have someone with the appropriate level of expertise and leadership to really drive change and accelerate delivery in this area. The appointment of a head of office with an in-depth understanding will be critical to having the impact the office needs to have. In the interim, staff will be deployed from the Department of housing to step up the office. It will also involve seconding individuals from across the commercial State sector to accelerate delivery in the provision of infrastructure. I have clarified the matter relating to the legislation. It was a general scheme. The legislation has yet to be published on that matter, and it may not require that provision as the NTMA works through the relative conditions with respect to people that exist in NAMA.”
“It will be an important office to address some of the constraints and barriers at local level. We should all take that cross-party approach to addressing the constraints that impede the supply of housing at a local level. This is a proactive response from the Minister for housing to address the barriers and difficulties in some local authorities to try to synchronise and co-ordinate the delivery of local infrastructure. The strategic housing office will work and co-ordinate with the infrastructure division that I have established in my own Department so that we really accelerate and step up the ability to deliver infrastructure and housing supply across our economy.”
“The general scheme sets out clearly that this provision is not complete, that discussions are "ongoing with the NTMA and it may be the case that no provision is needed in this Bill to facilitate staff transfers". The Government has not yet published the final legislation on this matter. On the Deputy’s question on the housing activation office, it will be a really important office when it comes to addressing the barriers and constraints that exist at local level, for example. Yes, the nominated individual to whom she referred is not proceeding with that role. As such, the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne will come back to the Government about who it might be and what the appropriate expertise will involve in the context of the establishment of that office.”
“This was included in the general scheme in case it was required, which is specified in this to apply to the transfer of a small number of staff from NAMA to a resolution unit in the NTMA to be established to manage any residual activity following the dissolution of NAMA. No decision has been made, as the Minister for Finance said yesterday, about who these individuals might be and discussions are ongoing with the NTMA. It is clear that the resolution unit will be much smaller in scale than NAMA was and, as such, it is not expected that the unit will require the transfer of the CEO role as it is currently constituted. Where staff who are not going to be in the resolution unit and who are not already made redundant by NAMA prior to the dissolution date are concerned, it is a matter for the NTMA as their particular employer.”