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DÁIL ÉIREANN · FORMER

Naoise Ó Muirí

Dublin Bay North · Fine Gael · Ireland

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

I will segue a little into Deputy Tóibín's contribution in relation to an Ghaeilge. I was reared in Cois Fharraige, Connemara, in the Gaeltacht. The change in attitude towards the Irish language in Cois Fharraige and the Gaeltacht is nothing less than transformational. When I went to school, an Ghaeilge was not cool.

SITTING OF 2026-07-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

Tiocfaidh mé ar ais go SÍOL ar feadh nóiméid. I welcome SÍOL. As the Minister has said, síol is the Irish word for seed. It is very positive. It can make a huge difference, if funded properly, to those communities the Minister mentioned in terms of disadvantage. I understand it provides capital and project funding?

SITTING OF 2026-07-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

This register should provide confidence and reassurance, not create uncertainty where the relevant convictions may have disappeared from view after a relatively short period. I have some concerns regarding the extent to which publication rests on the discretion of the trial judge.

SITTING OF 2026-07-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

Without clear guidance, there is a risk of inconsistency between cases and between courts, undermining confidence in the very law we seek to implement.

SITTING OF 2026-07-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

While this legislation focuses on protecting potential future victims, we must also address some of the factors upstream that contribute to abusive behaviour in the first place. Violent pornography is definitely part of that. We cannot avoid it. We have to square up with it to deal with it for current and future generations.

SITTING OF 2026-07-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

A concerning anomaly is that an offender who has received a custodial sentence may apply for removal three years after their release, potentially becoming eligible for removal earlier than someone who has received a non-custodial sentence.

SITTING OF 2026-07-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

The complete record

Every one of 353 lines we hold for Naoise Ó Muirí, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 8.

  1. It is good to hear that the pilot across the 15 schools is progressing well. It is also a good idea that we trial a system like this with schools and learn across a few different areas before we do it nationally. Families, and parents in particular, know how difficult it is to secure a school place for their children, especially those seeking special education places. This is going to be particularly relevant and important in that area. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, mentioned earlier the amount of work being done with the NCSE on placements across the education system. I have a constituent who has a child looking for a special place in second level, who has applied to 16 different schools across Dublin - from Rush to Kilnamanagh.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-12 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  2. Mar a dúirt Teachtaí eile, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as ucht a poist nua. Go n-eirí léi. Tá muid ag súil go mbeidh muid ag oibriú le chéile chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. I want to get an update from the Minister on the pilot single application system for post-primary school admissions.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-12 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  3. To reinforce what Deputy Hayes said, we have had this issue in Clontarf. The River Wad flooded in 2023. The city council got on with a scheme - the protection of the Wad phase 2 funded by the OPW. Work is more and less complete. It successively went into operation just before Storm Chandra, but there is a big question mark as to whether the insurers will come to the table and start insuring those areas again with the works done. I endorse what Deputy Hayes said. I encourage the Minister of State to proceed with this.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-10 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  4. I see one year as a fair limit for spousal reunification, recognising that having a family member here gives a person the ability to integrate and find work and provides a vital social connection when they are here. Last year, 153 spouses were granted permission to come to Ireland under family reunification arrangements for holders of international protection. To place this in context, more than 123,000 people entered Ireland in the same period, so that is just 0.12% of that total. However, their presence plays a crucial part in helping those who get protection restore a sense of normality and security in their lives when they are here. The Minister stated that he has an open mind in the context of amending the family reunification provisions on Committee Stage. I will be writing to him in that regard.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-10 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  5. In particular, I am concerned about the clause that prevents adults who are beneficiaries of protection from seeking family reunification for a period of three years following the granting of such protection. While I recognise that the current system is under significant strain and requires reform, it is essential that we find a balance between improving efficiency and upholding the rights of applicants and, in line with our own history, that we take a humane approach to this issue. It is an incredibly sensitive issue for many people. Many aspects of this Bill are positive, but we have to look at that three-year limit. There must be a balance between bringing our own laws into line with those of our EU counterparts and recognising that some of the most vulnerable people who would be beneficiaries of protection deserve our support.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-10 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  6. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I support the overall objectives and the thrust of the Bill, namely providing a fair, sustainable and more efficient system that is consistent with how these laws are operating and will operate across the European Union. I support efforts to provide clearer and shorter timelines in respect of asylum decisions. The Bill will put in place a new framework to manage migration and asylum for the long term and ensure that Ireland's policy aligns with other EU countries. While reform in this area is much needed and overdue and while a more efficient decision-making system is a positive goal, there are some aspects of the legislation which require further scrutiny.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-10 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  7. My sister also travels this same route and this week alone experienced: Tuesday - 1 hour and 15 minutes wait; Wednesday – 30 minutes wait; Thursday – 20 minutes wait and a broken-down bus; Today – broken down bus again. As a fare-paying customer, I expect a basic level of punctuality and reliability that is currently not being met by this service. They are just two examples of the many contacts Councillor Singh and I have received. I welcome the response of the NTA in terms of additional capacity. I also welcome what it is talking about doing, but the NTA needs to up its game in this situation because the 15 above many other routes in the city, goes from Clongriffin, which is growing, all the way into the city centre. It is a vital route. It is a workhorse of a route for the area.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  8. I will read an email verbatim: There are now so many cancellations of the 15 because Dublin Bus fear getting a fine from the NTA for being outside the timetable and allowed tolerance re:arriving late/arriving early, that you are lucky if you see two or three in an hour, a long way off the published timetable, which at this stage is but a work of fiction. From the 01st Jan to 30 Sep 2025 there were 2950 cancellations of the 15 route making it the 4th most cancelled bus route in the city. That is one example. I will give just one other from 30 January. This morning, I waited 50 minutes before a bus showed up (8am to 8.50am) – screen said 4 minutes for the duration of that time.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  9. I thank the Minister of State. It is good to hear about the revised schedule in terms of the additional peak trip and the morning peak capacity trips from 2 November. To be honest, I do not want to come in here and raise issues about specific bus services because it is a matter for the NTA, but in a situation whereby residents are finding that the service is deteriorating and the NTA is not responding, then I am obliged to do it here. Like the Minister of State or any other Member of this House, we are obliged to raise the issues that matter to our constituents. I am going to give two examples. The first is from 17 December.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  10. I want the NTA to improve and to up its game, to step up and play ball. It must do better. If we are serious about meeting climate targets and if we want to encourage people to make the famous modal shift whereby they get out of their car and onto a bus or a bike or they walk or take the train. We have to make sure that public transport is not only available but that it works for people. It must come on time, arrive when it says it will and when it is meant to, and leave on time so that we can go to work on it and come home on it. Public transport must be reliable and work. I would appreciate the Minister of State's views on this issue.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  11. My colleague, Councillor Supriya Singh, whom I mentioned previously, has raised these issues on a few occasions with the NTA, but the responses, to be honest, have been unsatisfactory. We get these responses to many Deputies in this House - that congestion is causing buses to miss return journeys; there are driver shortages and operational issues such as breakdowns or incidents in service. We all want good services. We want to fight for good services for our constituents. A service like this is very important and it is frustrating as a public representative, representing our constituents, that there appears to be so little progress in addressing the underlying problems. We should not accept the level of service that people have come to tolerate on some of these routes. I do not accept the level of service.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  12. People are experiencing frequent no-shows, last-minute cancellations, long gaps between buses and, of course, the so-called ghost bus services that appear as due on the TFI Live app but never arrive. It is a particular problem at stop 6320 on the Hole in The Wall road where commuters travel towards the city centre. They can experience two or even three consecutive buses failing to show and wait times of 30-40 minutes, often in heavy rain and poor weather and without a structure at the stop to protect them. That makes it even harder. These delays are causing problems. People are missing work. They are missing educational opportunities. They are missing school. They are missing medical appointments and childcare commitments. It is made worse, as I mentioned, by the lack of that shelter.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  13. The No. 15 bus from Clongriffin to Ballycullen Road has served the people of the northside of Dublin for more than a decade. It is a great service and a crucial service going into the city for a lot of commuters and has become even more important as Clongriffin has continued to expand with LDA work and other projects there. Since the route went to 24-hours in 2019 it has also become a vital option for students, shift workers and others travelling late at night who still wish to rely on public transport and, in fact, it may be their only option in and out of the city. However, in recent months my Fine Gael colleague, Councillor Supriya Singh, and I have received a steady stream of complaints from local residents about the deterioration of that service.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  14. While I understand the Department is going to look at issues around the fair deal scheme in this regard, we need to ensure that families with similar, effectively private, arrangements outside that scheme will also be protected in this way. I ask that the Minister urgently examine these issues over the coming days and weeks, recognising that these changes are intended to come into effect urgently from next month and that many families are understandably concerned. We have to get this right, not just for tenants, but for the long-term stability and viability of the rental sector as a whole.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  15. Small landlords are a core component of our housing system, whether some like it or not. There are over 240,000 private tenancies on the housing register, with almost half of those associated with small landlords. Five as a level is probably a good place at which to set that distinction. I understand it has to be set somewhere but it has to be set very carefully. We have to be careful in terms of striking that balance. Another concern raised with me relates to families where a relative has entered long-term care. In particular, there does not seem to be an exception under the legislation that would allow a tenancy to be terminated following the death of a landlord whose family home had been rented out, effectively, to provide for the cost of care.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  16. This proposes that the distinction between large and small landlords should be reconsidered to account for the number of properties owned rather than the number of tenancies held. According to that data most recently published by the RTB, over half of landlords are currently associated with five or fewer tenancies. They are not large corporate entities. In many cases, they are self-employed workers or PAYE employees who have invested their own money in a property as an alternative to a pension, using rental income for deposits and committing to mortgages spanning 20 to 30 years. I would go further than the committee's recommendation. It does not make sense that a small- or medium-sized landlord with four or five tenancies should be treated the same way as a corporate landlord.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  17. I welcome the legislation before the House and I commend the Minister and the Minister of State on their work in progressing it. The need for reform in the sector itself is clear. The legislation, as my colleagues said, seeks to strike a balance between strengthening protections for tenants while also ensuring landlords stay in the rental market. However, there are a few issues I believe must be addressed before this legislation is enacted. I welcome the report laid before the Dáil by my colleague, Deputy Micheál Carrigy, Cathaoirleach of the housing committee. I believe the recommendations in this report need to be thoroughly considered by the Department. Recommendation number seven is particularly important.

    SITTING OF 2026-02-04 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  18. My question is about a persistent problem with driving test waiting times in Dublin Bay North. While it is welcome that they are coming down pretty consistently across the country, it is not happening everywhere. Raheny and Killester in Dublin Bay North remain well above the national average, at 19 weeks and 14 weeks, respectively. For young folks in particular, this is not necessarily just an inconvenience. It can mean the difference between taking up a new job, getting to college on time or just having that bit of independence they need. People are being left behind at a critical stage in their lives, potentially. It will get worse if it is not dealt with. What can be done in relation to driver test waiting times in areas like Dublin Bay North?

    SITTING OF 2026-01-29 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  19. I know there will inevitably be issues with various actions but as long as they are managed and the overall thrust of this excellent piece of work is delivered, then we will make great progress in the next few years. I ask the Minister of State to make sure that feet are kept to the fire when it comes to those actions so that they happen in the way that it is laid out.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-28 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  20. I want to say something very briefly about this report, which I really welcome. I have only been here a year, and the Minister of State is here a little bit longer, but it is the only one I have seen in a year that has an action plan with dates. There is a very clear statement on what has to be done. On page 71 of the original report are 30 actions adopted with a clear timeline, the responsibility in terms of a Department on each and oversight and accountability clearly laid out. Often, we do not get to see that in the public service. It is really positive that the report is laid out. Now the Government has to keep toes and feet to the fire in the various Departments and groups that are laid out with responsibility for those actions.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-28 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  21. Going back to e-scooters for a minute, I support their use. Number one, they are economical for those who use them. Number two, they are environmentally friendly as a means of going around the city. However, they have to be regulated because they have to be used safely. The challenge is getting people to use them safely. All the rules are in place in terms of age limits, speed limits of 20 km/h, safety gear - we could do more there - and passengers. People have to be on their own on an e-scooter. It is about enforcement, technology and empowering An Garda Síochána to keep up the good work they did last year and roll it out as far and wide as we can so that, eventually, e-scooters are being used safely.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-27 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  22. The Garda Síochána's own statistics show there was a big uptick in serious accidents involving e-scooters in late 2025. I appreciate ongoing support in that area.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-27 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  23. I join the Minister in offering my condolences to Grace Lynch's family on a tragic situation in Finglas. I thank the Minister for the information. There has been quite a bit of interest in what the Garda was doing. Issuing 958 fixed-penalty notices and seizing 817 e-scooters represent good progress. I support the roll-out of the technology further afield. Recent RSA research shows e-scooters are now perceived as the most dangerous mode of transport in Ireland, more dangerous than motorbikes in fact. CHI statistics from Temple Street show that, since May of last year, 25 children were admitted with an e-scooter-related traumatic brain injury. The issues that e-scooters bring are very serious and very real for young people.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-27 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  24. I have raised the issue of e-scooters here before. I ask the Minister the number of e-scooters tests that have been done in the Dublin metropolitan region since the Garda got the ability to do it in July 2025, and if he will make a statement on it.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-27 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  25. I thank Deputy Bennett for raising the question and commend the Minister for his work in this area. It is a difficult area, most of all for the women dealing with issues. I want to ask a question. I have heard from people working with women that Cuan seems in the main to work within a 12-week window. Many of the issues women are dealing with, including difficult situations at home, require more than 12 weeks to work out. I am familiar with a facility in Killester where women were for a year or more trying to resolve issues and getting the help they so badly needed. Could the Minister comment on the strategy of Cuan? How is it meant to work?

    SITTING OF 2026-01-27 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  26. I ask that the Tánaiste help public representatives and the community to get the NTA officials around the table for dialogue so we can try to resolve some of these issues.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-22 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  27. I want to raise again on the floor of the Dáil the issue of the much-loved 123 bus service, now the 73, that runs from the city centre to Marino. It was restructured by the NTA under BusConnects without consultation. It was moved away from O’Connell Street without consultation and given to Go-Ahead to operate without consultation. From the growing number of complaints I have heard from local residents, it is not working. At the best of times, it is difficult for punters to raise an issue with the NTA but the NTA needs to read our collective lips. This service is not working. At a time when we talk about increased congestion and the importance of bus services to deal with congestion and move people out of cars, we have a service that is clearly struggling and under pressure.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-22 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  28. She made observations and I will be delighted to hear about them here. I look forward to that. I also mention the staff of Northside Home Care Services. I know two things. They do not want to be on strike, and there are vulnerable patients across the northside who are not getting care services because of this. I ask Government to knock heads together, whatever heads need to be knocked together, to see if we can get this resolved so those patients can get the care they need and these people can get back to work.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-22 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  29. I echo Deputy Heneghan's comments about Beaumont Hospital and thank him for raising it here. The Minister visited Beaumont Hospital with me recently. It is a workhorse hospital for the northside. Huge numbers of patients go through it. It has great staff, including great doctors, great nurses, great clinicians and great general staff but it is a hospital under pressure as the Minister saw. It is not just a local, workhorse hospital but it is a national centre for renal care and neuroscience. I heard Professor Arnold Hill talk about leading out on robotic brain surgery. A huge amount is going on in Beaumont Hospital and sometimes its staff are their own worst enemies. They do not tell people what they are doing or make people aware of all these expertise. I was delighted the Minister visited and saw it first hand.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-22 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  30. It is in Clonshaugh in my constituency and it is vital for dealing with sewage for at least 300,000 new houses, again, not just in the city but in the greater Dublin region, including Meath and other counties. Its importance to the region is vital to getting sewage treatment transformed. As I said, these projects are vital. We cannot afford a repeat of the delays of the past. If we fail to deliver these projects, the two big ones I mentioned in particular, we risk jeopardising housing delivery and economic growth in this region for generations to come.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-21 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  31. One big incident in the Liffey and our raw water supply would be knocked out, with potentially catastrophic consequences for Dublin and the wider region. It is a huge risk and one we have to grapple with. Uisce Éireann has been clear in recent years that the delivery of new homes and businesses is already being delayed and is at serious risk of even being abandoned at this stage. The company projects that we require 34% more uisce in the eastern and midlands region by 2044 than is available today. This speaks volumes about the growth expected in the region and the importance of continuing to support and invest in Uisce Éireann. Hand in hand with that, we have sewage treatment. It is great to see that the legal challenge to the greater Dublin drainage project has been withdrawn. I hope that project can now progress.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-21 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  32. I start by agreeing with Deputy O'Sullivan about developer-led infrastructure. That is a good, positive development by the Minister, Deputy Browne, which is to be welcomed. More of that, please. There are two important projects on the northside of Dublin coming down the line, which are really important for infrastructure and the development of the wider region. The first is the Shannon to Dublin water project, which shows the scale of the challenge and what ambition is needed now. It is a pipeline over 170 km long, costing a minimum of €5 billion, but it has the potential to meet up to half of Ireland's overall water needs to 2050 and beyond for the next generation and generation after that. In the greater Dublin region, not just the city, 85% of the water comes from the River Liffey. This is a huge number by international standards.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-21 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  33. Ultimately, it is vitally important that all operators of piped LPG distribution networks are regulated with respect to safety so that the general public - the punters - and, in particular, end customers - our families, friends and neighbours - are protected. As a colleague rightly pointed out in this Chamber earlier, regulation without enforcement is not regulation at all. I believe this legislation is a fundamental step in achieving this goal, and I look forward to engaging constructively with the Minister of State over the coming months as it makes its way through this House.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  34. Subsequent inspections showed that a fair number of these sites required immediate intervention to address pretty fundamental safety concerns. This Bill responds in a measured way to this by introducing a more comprehensive regime that would bring these operators under the gas safety regulatory framework. Under these changes, a two-class system for LPG safety licences will be established, replacing the existing LPG safety licences. Additionally, there is also a requirement now for LPG and natural gas undertakings to prepare their own safety cases for submission to the CRU and for consideration by it.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  35. I welcome the opportunity to contribute this evening. I am going to concentrate on the Bill itself and its substance. It is by any measure a technical Bill - a little bit technical, perhaps unexciting, but very important because it deals with something incredibly important, that is, the safety of our citizens in their own homes. When gas safety regulations are not upheld, the consequences are severe, immediate and catastrophic in some cases. That reality should highlight just how necessary it is for the powers of the CRU to be expanded under this legislation to further protect customers. From my reading of the Bill, it is clear that there is a notable gap in the current legislation. That gap was exposed nearly a decade ago when the regulator became aware of unlicensed LPG networks serving housing developments and apartment complexes.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-14 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  36. Regarding a sectoral approach to those investments, does the Department make those decisions or is it left to Enterprise Ireland to decide how to allocate the funding? Who has that expertise, because an element of expertise is required? Reference was made earlier to the geographical distribution of investment. I know it is difficult because we are reliant on small businesses looking for these funds. Can anything be done to make sure that there is some level of geographical distribution of that investment? I do not know the correct way to do that, but it would be interesting to know whether anything can be done in that regard.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  37. I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the commitment of €250 million. In effect, it is venture capital provided by the State. From dealing with private venture capital funds, I know they extract their pound's worth. They look for an annual return of anything from 30% to 35% and try to get out of the business after two or three years, which does not provide the sort of space, investment and continuity required for fledgling businesses to succeed, as well as what they need in terms of building up markets, products, etc. Typically, the jobs are pretty high value. In fairness to Enterprise Ireland, it has a good track record in identifying and nurturing those companies and putting the right agreements in place to be able to invest in them. It also gives those companies the space to make their own mistakes and develop and learn as they go.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  38. My question relates to the future of a very important scheme that supports indigenous businesses around the country, namely, the seed and venture capital scheme. Will the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment provide an update on the uptake of the scheme, when commitments will be made by Enterprise Ireland, and will he make a statement on the matter?

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  39. The progress Ireland has made in preventing smoking among new generations is at real risk of being reversed by these toxic and wasteful products unless we take the action.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  40. These include heavy metals like mercury, lead and bromide along with battery acid and, as I mentioned, lithium. Lithium is a combustible component of batteries. Some e-cigarettes contain such high levels of hazardous waste chemicals that they should actually be classified as hazardous waste. If we are serious about reducing waste and protecting the environment in Ireland, we simply cannot justify selling single-use electronic devices like these on an ongoing basis. I commend the Minister of State, and the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, for advancing this legislation and recognising the scale of the challenge, for young people in particular, that we now face. We cannot ignore the growing evidence of harm that vaping poses for young people. We have to step into this, lean into it and deal with it.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  41. The environmental damage is the other side and it is equally alarming. A typical disposable vape contains a battery of approximately 550 milliamp hours. As these batteries are built into tightly sealed, single-use devices, getting them out of these devices safely and recovering the metals inside is nigh impossible. At the waste-to-energy facility in Poolbeg, I have seen the potential risk of even small lithium batteries. They get into the fire chamber, explode and cause all sorts of issues. There are millions of small batteries now being disposed of, often incorrectly, representing not only a big waste of materials but also putting a lot of pressure on recycling infrastructure in the city and down the country in dealing with that waste. When they are thrown away, they can leak toxic substances into the environment.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  42. While the sale of vapes to those under 18 has been banned since 2023, more than one in five vape shops have been found to be in breach of the law in this regard. They are profiting directly from the addiction of young people to substances that have been increasingly linked to serious negative health outcomes. I understand that many have found vaping to be a useful tool for getting away from smoking. It is clear now that this is a minority of those who purchase vapes on an ongoing basis. The 2024 Irish report of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, ESPAD, indicated that more than three quarters of e-cigarette users had never smoked traditional cigarettes in their lives and just 0.6% used them as a means of stopping, getting away or transitioning from smoking.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  43. I echo the concerns raised by my colleagues across the House today. The sales of single-use vapes to minors and their use of these vapes have reached epidemic levels in Ireland. The vaping industry has deliberately exploited this reality. The figures are incredible. WEEE Ireland found that vapes accounted for 33% of all electronic devices sold in 2024. That is a huge percentage. These brightly coloured, sweetly flavoured products are targeting vulnerable young people in particular who are unaware of the serious long-term dangers that they pose. As the Taoiseach rightly said, vapes are the revenge of the tobacco industry and they have the potential to bring another generation back into addiction. We have all seen it at first hand throughout the city. You cannot walk around Dublin without seeing several young people vaping.

    SITTING OF 2026-01-13 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  44. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that we are being pushed around by larger member states into accepting outcomes that favour larger fishing nations. The Minister of State has my full support and my colleagues' full support to continue to fight the cause on this issue for the communities that we represent. I encourage him again to bring that memo to Cabinet so we can support communities.

    SITTING OF 2025-12-17 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  45. I welcome the Minister of State's indication that he will bring a memo to Cabinet to start to try to address the fallout of this discussion while we continue to fight the case abroad. The significant support that we provide to farmers and to the agrifood sector must be replicated for fisheries. There is no choice. We have to do it. Fisheries are vital to the future of the country and to the communities that rely on them for their livelihood in so many different ways. Trust seems to have disintegrated between Ireland and the EU on fisheries policies. It looks like some of the larger member states have effectively prioritised their Mediterranean fleets and activities and failed to honour that protection mechanism that has been fundamental to the Atlantic-facing Irish fishing industry for so long.

    SITTING OF 2025-12-17 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  46. I know, as does the Minister of State, just how important fishing is for our coastal communities. The Minister of State visited Howth harbour, in my constituency, with me and he was welcome there. He is always welcome to come out. It demonstrates the role this sector plays in sustaining the vibrancy of small but well-defined coastal communities. Howth is one of six big fisheries, as the Minister of State knows. I thank him for his visit. He saw the thriving local economy, supported by the harbour. Everything that happens around the harbour, commercial businesses, the activity in the harbour itself, seafood restaurants and tourism, leisure and all the other activities, are supported by the harbour itself. Communities like Howth will need meaningful supports over the coming months to respond appropriately to these challenges.

    SITTING OF 2025-12-17 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  47. I know that catch limits have consistently exceeded levels recommended by conservationists and action has to be taken to replenish mackerel stocks in particular. However, it is not Irish coastal communities that have caused this devastating reduction. According to NAPA's figures recently, in one week alone in 2023, Norwegian vessels caught over 40,000 tonnes of mackerel. They caught over 40,000 tonnes of mackerel in one week alone. That single week's haul is worth more than Ireland's total allowable catch for all of 2025 and almost four times the recommended quota for 2026 under this deal. Very big numbers are being taken by other states. Ireland will undoubtedly be hit harder by these charges than these other states, yet it is Ireland that pays the price for their unsustainable fishing practices.

    SITTING OF 2025-12-17 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  48. I join colleagues in expressing my deep disappointment at the decision taken by a group of EU member states to block that deployment of the Hague preferences for higher proportional quotas. That decision has left Ireland uniquely exposed to nearly 70% loss in the allowable catch for mackerel in this country, a reduction that would have been mitigated by this long-standing and agreed protection mechanism for Ireland. Mackerel is Ireland's most valuable catch, worth €94 million in exports last year to premium European and Asian markets. This reduction in quota will slash that figure by a huge amount - €82 million plus in one year - with combined losses to the wider economy in terms of processing and other activities being considerably higher.

    SITTING OF 2025-12-17 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  49. I want to raise the issue of lithium batteries which are everywhere now. Lithium is in rechargeable batteries, disposable vape battery packs and mobile phones. I think the Minister has a background in chemistry so he will know that lithium is highly reactive. I visited a waste to energy facility in Dublin recently and learned that lithium batteries are a huge problem because they end up in the waste stream and can explode in the chambers, causing a lot of damage. What progress is the Government making to support proper recycling and processing of these lithium batteries? What is being done to make their disposal and recycling safe, where possible?

    SITTING OF 2025-12-11 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT

  50. I know he has put a lot of time and effort into its delivery. The proof will be in the pudding in the delivery and its implementation.

    SITTING OF 2025-12-11 · READ THE OFFICIAL REPORT