Peter Burke
Longford-Westmeath · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this important matter. I cannot imagine the trauma many families are going through right now as a result of the conclusion of An Coimisiún Pleanála on this file. This was a dark time in our past.”
“I thank Deputy Nash for his question on this very important issue. I will say clearly and unambiguously that I share his concerns in relation to ensuring that no product produced in Ireland ends up in the Russian military complex. We are very firm in that belief.”
“I have heard suggestions in some outlets that the Irish Government was in that company's corner at key European forums. That is not true. The European Commission has brought forward 20 sanctions packages and Ireland has supported them all 100%. It is very important to put that on the record.”
“I thank Deputy Wall for his very important intervention. I heard part of the interview this morning, which was exceptional and very courageous, showing leadership in an area which affects so many people in our society. I know the Minister for Health is supportive of the Deputy's initiative and remains so.”
“We have enacted the Family Courts Bill, establishing a dedicated family court to look at very sensitive items for victims. We have introduced an offence for non-fatal strangulation, reflecting the seriousness of the abuse and the stress and harm it causes.”
“I thank Deputy Murphy for being proactive and bringing forward a solution to try to operationalise a group of the Oireachtas and showing leadership to do that for Tipperary. I will absolutely bring that to the attention of the Minister for justice, particularly considering the cross-party aspect.”
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“The Government wants to ensure that any further increases in the national minimum wage are managed in a sustainable way, and in a way that does not threaten employment or competitiveness. That is why Government has agreed to adjust the implementation timeline for the living wage to 2029. This was done as part of a suite of measures to bolster business resilience and support competitiveness during these uncertain times. This decision should be considered in the context of the recent significant increases in the minimum wage which show Government’s continuing commitment to fair wages across the economy.”
“In 2024, there was a significant uplift of 12%, or €1.40, in the minimum wage, and this year the minimum wage increased by 80 cent, an increase of over 6%. Both of these increases were well ahead of inflation and projected wage growth, and have brought about substantial and real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy. The Low Pay Commission has estimated that the “bite” of the minimum wage, that is, the national minimum wage as a percentage of the median wage, has increased from 50% in 2022 to 55% in 2024, calculated using the CSO’s labour force survey data, or from 54% in 2022 to 59% in 2024, using the CSO’s structure of earnings statistics data.”
“I thank the Deputy for his very important question. I acknowledge and thank the 2.8 million workers going to work today on what is International Workers' Day. I look forward to addressing the House in that respect later. I am committed to improving the pay of low-paid workers and the Government’s track record on this is beyond question. Since 2020, the national minimum wage has increased by 33.7%, from €10.10 to today’s rate of €13.50 an hour. The Deputy will agree that this is a substantial increase, and I fully expect the national minimum wage to increase further over the coming years. Our current rate of €13.50 an hour means that Ireland now has the second highest minimum wage in the EU, second only to Luxembourg. When adjusted for purchasing power standards, we have the fifth highest minimum wage in the EU.”
“In one respect, it is fine to say the IDA is not doing enough to market the site, but it is also important to acknowledge that the consistent policies of the current and previous Governments have made us a very agile country, where we have 300,000 jobs in our economy in the FDI sector. Critically, that eco-cycle is joined with our SMEs and family businesses, where we have seen exceptional growth over the past number of years, in a context where Enterprise Ireland has targeted €50 billion of exports to 2029.”
“To be absolutely clear, the figures I gave for the IDA's marketing in the mid-west region are for Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, which are categorised together. The Deputy will see the results I pointed out. There are 27,000 jobs in that sector. There is also a very significant investment in the capital fund, where we have our advanced factory units, and where the IDA part the Deputy referenced is seeing the opportunity of that investment as it goes through the planning process. We have to appreciate that bringing multinational investment into our country is very competitive. Those who so often criticise the IDA for not doing enough also go against the key policies that bring that foreign direct investment into our country and allow it to sustain and grow.”
“As I said in my contribution, the amount that comes from existing clients, notwithstanding new clients coming into the economy is very significant. We will be working very hard on that. As Minister for enterprise, I will ensure that high-quality jobs are coming right across our region. Specifically, the new strategy calls for 55% of all new jobs to go to regional Ireland.”
“I will point out that we have seen a significant increase in IDA activity and employment in the mid-west region - approximately 16% over the past five years. The Deputy will know of very important client companies in his region, including Boston Scientific and Waystone, where there has been a new investment of 100 jobs. Working very closely with my colleague, Michael Murphy, we are doing a huge amount of work on delivering infrastructure to the region that will support the growth of employment. That is why we see 5,589 people, which means 5,589 families, who go to work every single day in IDA client companies in County Tipperary. There are approximately 27,968 such jobs in the mid-west region. That is why the IDA strategy out to 2029 focuses on delivering on the investment that is currently there.”
“I am advised that there were eight visits to County Tipperary in 2023, two in 2024 and one, to date, this year. I should indicate, however, that site visits are only one measure of a company’s interest in a particular location and may not necessarily be a true measure of the overall level of FDI activity in a region or county. For example, 70% of FDI won for Ireland by the IDA in 2024 came from its existing client base rather than new companies. Potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. Also, the figures that represent individual visits are not necessarily indicative of the number of companies that have been visited. I also remind the Deputy that the final decision on where to locate an investment is always made by the client company and not by the IDA.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. The IDA has a landholding of 20 ha at Ballingarrane science and technology park in Clonmel, County Tipperary, and, in partnership with Tipperary County Council, has lodged a planning application for a 10,000 sq. m advanced building solution on a site area of approximately 3.4 ha. This application is currently proceeding through the planning process. IDA Ireland continues to work to market the site and proposed planning permission at Ballingarrane to potential new and existing investors through the agency’s network of overseas and regional offices. In this regard, the IDA, together with Tipperary County Council, has prepared and shared marketing materials, including a brochure and a promotional video, via the IDA Ireland website. On site visits, data is only available on a county basis.”
“The small business unit will yield significant results as well. The Deputy is quite right about energy. We have to face up to the fact that in the next decade we will need more investment in our grid than we have since its creation. This will be very significant in the context of the review of the national development plan. AI and generative AI requires about 2% of worldwide energy production. It is a huge energy user. As an economy, Ireland has to ensure that it has the infrastructure to support and underwrite the level of employment and the high-quality jobs in the economy that the Deputy is quite rightly fighting for.”
“I thank Deputy Neville. He is quite right to point out those key areas. As a Government, we are very committed to unblocking so many of the challenges to infrastructure delivery. The Deputy will see the decisions made by Cabinet in that regard. Commencing the planning Act will be key and central to delivering that pipeline. There are huge opportunities here, as I mentioned, through the Draghi report and the European Commission's competitive compass. For many companies, regulation is a problem. We are bringing through the response to the Omnibus Proposal and the corporate sustainability reporting directive, CSRD, which will take about 80% of smaller companies outside of the scope. It is important in terms of a regulatory response that we have proportionate regulation for many of our SMEs.”
“As the Deputy quite rightly pointed out, it is so important we get our competitive action plan right to the heart of Government by July. We have now established a small-business unit in the Department to make sure we are protecting family businesses, with which I know the Deputy has worked closely in his profession as an accountant. We are very focused on reducing costs, sustaining businesses to keep them viable and keeping good conditions for workers.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. He has been to the forefront in engaging with me in connection with Intel and it being significant in his locality. While I note comments by its chief executive, Intel’s Fab 24 is the most advanced manufacturing facility in Europe. We in Ireland are proud to have Intel here. As a Government, we will do everything we can to support it into the future. The new 7 nanometer, nm, chip it manufactures there is the lowest chip in Europe. In the wider context, at this point, we have only 8% of the market share in semiconductors. If we look at our economy advancing across products like fridges, phones and electric vehicles silicon chips are everywhere. I see a very bright future for Intel and we will work very closely with it.”
“We need to ensure our family businesses are operating at the lowest cost base possible and also bring the Draghi report to the heart of government in a European context where we see the new competitive compass which provides a huge amount of opportunity to cement industries here in our economy.”
“Given the heightened level of international uncertainty, the overarching objective of the action plan will be to focus on matters within our control by way of policy changes that can make the domestic economy more competitive and resilient to shocks. That is one of the critical issues we were, as a Government, very much aware of. We are the most competitive economy in the eurozone and fourth under the Yearbook of International Organizations but our infrastructure offering is coming under pressure. We need significant investment in energy capacity in the future.”
“This plan will cover industrial policy, reducing the cost and regulatory burden on business, investing in infrastructure, digital regulation and reform, energy reform, international trade and research and development and innovation. Over the coming weeks, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council will finalise and submit its Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2025 report to Government. This work will feed into the development of the action plan. Alongside this, my Department is undertaking consultation with stakeholders, including other Government Departments, to ensure that the action plan is evidence based and reflects the issues impacting Ireland’s competitiveness.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. Ireland is currently a strong competitive global economy. This performance is reflected in our exceptionally strong economic performance in recent years. However, the international context is rapidly changing and we recognise, as do many businesses, where our indigenous and foreign direct investment, FDI, sector are concerned, that they are facing increased challenges. In recognition of these challenges facing Ireland, the current programme for Government committed to the publication of a new whole-of-government action plan for competitiveness and productivity by January 2026. The Government has, however, accelerated this timeline, with a draft of the plan to be considered by Ministers at a competitiveness summit in July.”
“In an economy at full employment, there are always pressure points. We look at the risk profiles, which are so important to us. This is one thing on which I challenge the IDA regularly. We need to foresee the problems in the next six, eight, ten months or two years and try to see what we can do now to embed that employment into our economy. We are very much to the forefront in doing that and the next strategy really sets that out. I particularly wish to mention the €7.5 billion in research and development investment by the IDA over the next five years, which will mean a 400% increase in research and development investment over the past decade.”
“In respect of Carelon Global Solutions, we are working closely with the company. There is an established protocol in the Department for any company that is encountering difficulty or making announcements. We are the first responders in there working with them, providing skills and ensuring they have the pathway to further training and redeployment. That is a big challenge in some of the at-risk sectors. IDA Ireland is very clear on doing a risk profile. We try to get investment into such companies early and foresee the pressures that are coming. Research and development grants we have provided to a number of companies really cement the next product line and embed the next level of patents and IPs. That will be critical for our future. We have done that on a number of occasions.”
“The IDA strategy to 2029 specifically highlights the areas of digitalisation and semiconductor activity. Those areas will be key to sustaining our employment levels into the future. We are doing a number of measures, such as our action plan for competitiveness and our new semiconductor strategy. We updated our AI strategy last November, which is important, in partnership with industry. We have many significant research partners in tertiary education that are yielding significant results we can see on the landscape”
“In all the sectors the Deputy referenced, we are absolutely responding with significant policy interventions, particularly our action plan on competitiveness. While there was a huge increase in growth in the technological sector of approximately 15% or more during the pandemic period, we have seen a recalibration in some areas. While it is difficult for families to face news of uncertainty, the critical thing is there are huge opportunities. The sector is growing globally, which is incredible in an Irish context, with so many new companies, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and generative AI. There are huge opportunities in this regard for Ireland as a world leader, particularly in a European context. We have a strong basis for growth.”
“Working with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, our objective is to sustain and create further employment in the technology sector. The programme for Government sets out a range of commitments, including sectoral strategies that will support the sector. To this end, I will launch the national semiconductor strategy this month, which will be a clear signal of Government support for this economically and strategically vital sector. As part of the development of the strategy, my Department undertook a comprehensive mapping exercise to identify Ireland’s key semiconductor market actors, both indigenous and multinational, which will further inform our engagements with the sector, both domestic and multinational.”
“Where job losses are announced by any IDA Ireland client company based here, our first concern is for staff members and their families impacted by such decisions. My Department’s main aim, with the support of our enterprise development agencies, is to assist, where possible, in helping those impacted to find alternative employment through a number of measures, including: the provision of a detailed skills profile for the employees that can be shared with other potential employers; identification and connection with employers who may be hiring across the locality or a wider region; information sessions by the Department of Social Protection's Intreo office on social welfare services and employment support services; identification and provision of training and further opportunities for employees; and exploring opportunities for people to start their own business through local enterprises offices, LEOs, and Enterprise Ireland.”
“I thank the Deputy for her question. Although the technology sector has undergone a period of sustained growth for more than 20 years, modest contractions have occurred recently. Possible US trade actions on semiconductors and other challenges have also created a moment of international uncertainty in the sector. In response to these geopolitical and trade challenges, the Government has agreed to expedite its action plan for competitiveness and productivity. Furthermore, several short-term measures, such as enhancing international trade promotion, addressing business costs and improving energy infrastructure will bolster the resilience of technology firms and support their competitiveness.”
“We will focus on leveraging our competitive strengths while bolstering areas that will open up new opportunities in a challenging economic landscape. Working together, we can emerge from this period stronger, more agile, more competitive and more resilient.”
“However, we have also heard today about the resilience and innovation of Irish businesses, opportunities for market diversification and tools and supports in place to enable Irish workers and businesses to adapt and pivot as needed through the challenges ahead. We are not alone in this. We are part of the EU, which stands together in defence of fair trade. We are in contact with like-minded partners and supporters of the multilateral trading system from which we derive so much value. We are engaged with the US Administration to emphasise the importance of our mutually beneficial trading relationship. The Government will continue to speak up for Irish workers and businesses, defend the integrity of our supply chains and push for a trading system that is fair, transparent and just.”
“Specifically, the area of efficient and timely infrastructure delivery is one in which we have much work to do. The focus of the plan will be on matters within our national control by way of policy changes that make the Irish economy more competitive and resilient to economic shocks. Emphasis will be placed on concrete and actionable recommendations that Departments and agencies can implement over the next 12 months. During these testing times, it is important that we use opportunities such as today's debate to take stock. Yes, we are facing mounting international trade challenges. Yes, there are risks to the Irish economy, Irish workers and businesses.”
“We know we are the most competitive economy in the eurozone and ranked fourth out of 67 countries measured by the IMD world competitiveness ranking but we can never afford to be complacent and must strive where we are lagging behind our competitors. Competitiveness is of particular importance when we face economic challenges. The success of the Irish economy over the past number of decades and since the last recession reflects the strength of our highly skilled labour force. These factors do not change overnight despite the introduction of tariffs. In this environment, we must look to and trust in our competitiveness strengths to succeed. The Government will continue to invest in areas that have delivered our success while also seeking to address our weaknesses. We can do better.”
“The action plan will be finalised soon and is supported by formal consultations with Ministers and stakeholder engagement led by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and underpinned by research and analysis. I am determined to drive this process forward and ensure we have a comprehensive plan that pulls together supports from across government. There are a number of areas where we can take action and I want to see real movement on these before the summer. This will send a very strong signal to the enterprise sector here and abroad that we are very serious about bolstering our global competitiveness.”
“A market discovery fund is already open and will be topped up when demand is met. I will also proactively engage with businesses to make them aware of these supports and to ensure they are accessed at scale. An expansive trade mission programme plan is in place. The ever-evolving situation will be closely monitored. The Government will not be found wanting when it comes to resourcing and supporting Irish SMEs, which are the backbone of our economy. Alongside these measures, and given the rapidly changing international economic environment, I propose to accelerate the timeline to agree a new action plan on competitiveness and productivity.”
“Enterprise Ireland has 42 overseas offices, with specialist staff in place to grow businesses and explore new opportunities. A total of 190 overseas market advisers are employed by the Government through Enterprise Ireland, of which 156 are outside the US. The Government does not underestimate the challenge of tariffs with regard to a significant export market like the US. However, there remain significant opportunities for Irish firms in other overseas markets. Enterprise Ireland is actively assisting firms with diversification efforts. It has set up a dedicated unit to engage with and advise Irish SMEs involved in trading with the US, with over 300 one-to-one meetings held in the past fortnight alone and further webinars scheduled. We also have dedicated schemes and grants, including a strategic consultancy grant for expert advice.”
“This company has selected Galway as the location for its global development centre, bringing with it 125 high-quality jobs. Continued investment like this demonstrates that Ireland remains an attractive location for businesses. My Department is working with our dedicated agencies to support Irish businesses. Enterprise Ireland has established a bespoke team that is engaging with SMEs, supporting businesses around tariffs and mitigation measures as well as offering advice and support on diversification measures. One-to-one meetings have been held with over 300 companies exporting to the US, with further meetings planned. We continue to urge all businesses exporting to the US to engage directly with Enterprise Ireland. Market diversification remains a key priority, as it has been for decades. It has seen significant success.”
“These cargos need to arrive by 12 a.m. on 27 May to avoid 20% duty. The Government is working along two main streams in terms of the response to support firms amid these challenges. First, we are working to put in place a suite of immediate supports to advise firms. This will be followed by an action plan on competitiveness and productivity. I have instructed my officials that I want this plan to be finalised and published as soon as is practicable. I emphasise that Ireland remains an attractive location for firms internationally to locate and do business in. IDA Ireland continues to support existing clients here while also attracting new inward investment, emphasising our talent base and strong institutions, which create significant investment here. Last week, I was in Datavant in Galway.”
“This deeply integrated relationship supports millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic and it is crucial to strengthen this partnership, not disrupt it with tariffs that risk diverting trade, increasing inflation and causing significant economic harm. Increased protectionism is not beneficial for citizens or businesses. The Government appreciates that this is a very worrying time for many businesses, particularly those with goods at sea, with the ultimate impact of the US decision to impose tariffs on imports from the EU remaining unclear. However, we have received an update with regard to the grace period for shipments. A US Customs and Border Protection notification has advised me that there is a 51-day grace period for cargo loaded onto vessels or planes and in transit to the US before 12 o'clock on Saturday, 5 April.”
“This afternoon the European Commission will seek agreement of EU member states to impose countermeasures related to US steel and aluminium tariffs. We understand that spirit and dairy products have been removed from the list of EU countermeasures. This is welcome. The Government had conveyed our sensitivities in this regard to the European Commission. An escalation in trade tensions would be to the detriment of both the EU and US economies. The EU remains dedicated to fostering a stable, balanced and predictable economic partnership with the US and I believe this will be evident in its response. The EU-US trade and investment relationship is the biggest in the world. More than €4.2 billion of goods and services are traded between the EU and the US daily.”
“It is because of these threats that we must work to protect the gains we have made as a country firmly embedded in the rules-based multilateral trading system. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, highlighted this in his opening remarks. We remain committed to the principles of free and open trade by which we have underpinned our economic success. Open trade brings undoubted economic opportunities, creates well-paid jobs and fosters innovation. It builds economic resilience. Today we discussed different ways to respond to the threats we are facing. It is the Government's firm belief that any response from the EU to the US tariffs should be fair and proportionate and should carefully consider impacts on Ireland.”
“I thank the Deputies for their engagement this afternoon. It is abundantly clear from today's debates that we are living through precarious times, with unprecedented threats to the international trading environment and resulting impacts on relations with trading partners, on the Irish economy and of course on Irish businesses. Deputies have raised a number of recurring themes throughout the interventions today and these are questions about the possibility of a global recession, concerns for the future of the multilateral trading system, fears about sectoral vulnerabilities and legitimate anxiety about what these developments might mean for jobs, investment and growth. There is no doubt that the introduction of tariffs by the US Administration on imports from the EU presents a significant economic challenge for Ireland.”
“Section 10 makes it an offence for an employer to retire an employee having failed to provide a written reasoned reply in response to the employee’s written notification. In summary, this Bill aims to achieve a number of things. It will facilitate employees who wish to continue working beyond the normal retirement age of 65. It will bridge the income gap for those workers who may experience a significant drop in their income when they are forced to retire before they can access the State pension. It will improve adequacy and predictability of income for older workers. This Bill will further encourage and support longer and fuller working lives and facilitate older peoples’ engagement in economic and social life. I commend this Bill to the House.”
“Where a complaint is well founded, the WRC may require the employer to take a specific course of action, including reinstatement or re-engagement. The WRC can also award compensation, with an upper limit equal to the greater of 104 weeks’ remuneration or €40,000. Section 7 makes technical changes to the Workplace Relations Act 2015 to provide for this complaint mechanism. Part 4 of the Bill relates to penalisation and offences. Section 8 of the Bill protects employees from penalisation for exercising, or proposing to exercise, their entitlements. Section 9 of the Bill states that employees’ existing rights under employment equality legislation are retained but redress cannot be granted by the WRC under both pieces of legislation.”
“This fact was recognised by the pensions commission in its report. I will make an important point here. The employer must be capable of justifying the retirement age for the individual worker as distinct from a general class of worker. The threshold to be met is therefore higher than is provided for in the employment equality Acts, which will continue to have effect more generally. Part 3 sets out how an employee can enforce their rights under this Bill. Section 6 of the Bill sets out the complaints procedure, which is in line with other employment rights legislation. Employees will be able to refer a complaint and seek redress through the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, if their rights provided for in this Bill are breached.”
“An employer’s handbook may require a longer minimum notice period, but this cannot be more than six months. An employee also has the right to change their mind. They can choose to withdraw this notification and retire. However, they must give the employer notice in accordance with their contract or minimum notice legislation, whichever is the shorter. When an employer receives this notification, they cannot enforce the retirement age except in limited circumstances. If the employer does want to enforce the contractual retirement age, they must give the employee a written reply which sets out an objective and reasonable justification for applying the retirement age to that individual employee. This exemption recognises that there may be limited circumstances where it is necessary that a retirement age below the age of 66 applies.”
“Sections 1 and 2 set out the Short Title of the Bill and commencement provisions and necessary definitions. Section 3 provides that the Bill applies to employees with a contractual retirement age which is below the State pension age and who have completed their probation. This section also excludes employees with a retirement age set out in law, such as gardaí or members of the Defence Forces, from the Bill’s effect. Section 4 is a standard provision relating to expenses incurred in the Bill’s administration. Part 2 of the Bill sets out how the new employment right operates. Section 5 provides that an employee may give notice to their employer that they do not consent to retire at a contractual retirement age below the State pension age. This notice period must be a minimum of three months but not greater than one year.”
“Ultimately, its final recommendation was to align contractual retirement ages with the pensionable age. Complete abolition of any mandatory retirement age would impose a potentially substantial burden on employers. It would restrict their ability to plan their workforces, including succession planning and providing promotional opportunities. It would also run counter to recent case law. The Bill implements the pensions commission’s carefully considered recommendation on this topic. I believe it represents a fair balance between the needs of employers and those of employees. I will now outline the main provisions of the Bill. The Bill consists of ten sections, divided into four Parts. An explanatory memorandum has been published and provides a summary of the provisions. Part 1 of the Bill deals with preliminary and general matters.”
“This element of consent reflects the fact that many employees may want to retire at the contractual retirement age. The Bill will implement that recommendation. It will create a new employment right for employees who are subject to a contractual retirement age which is below the pensionable age. It will particularly benefit employees who do not have an occupational pension scheme, or those who have a modest supplementary pension, and who may experience a significant drop in their income if they retire before reaching pensionable age. I am aware that while there is broad support for the measure, there have been some calls for a complete abolition of retirement ages. This option, among others, was examined by the pensions commission in its extensive deliberations.”
“In its terms of reference, the pensions commission was also asked to consider the issue of retirement ages in private employment contracts that are set below the State pension age. Currently an employer is permitted to set a retirement age for a worker. However, employment equality legislation provides that this can only be done where it is objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary. Following its extensive deliberations, the pensions commission’s final recommendation on this issue was for the introduction of measures that allow, but do not compel, an employee to stay in employment until the pensionable age; that is, the age at which people may normally first access the State pension, which is 66.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025. Before I go through the main provisions of the Bill, I will first give some background and context to the legislation. The Bill implements one of the commitments included in the Government’s response to the pensions commission recommendations and implementation plan. The majority of the Government’s commitments relate to significant reform of the State pension system and are being led by my colleague, Deputy Calleary, the Minister for Social Protection. The overarching objective is to ensure that the pensions system is sustainable in the face of demographic change, and that people relying on the State pension will have an adequate income in retirement.”
“Well, let us resolve one thing today: that this House will not be suspended again. Let us ensure we get on with our work and are delivering for the Irish people what we were sent here to do by our communities.”
“-----about eight minutes every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. That is what we are at here, while there are so many significant challenges to our economy. It is time we got back to a functioning Dáil and let Members in this House play their part on the various committees on which they need to represent our interests and the people's interests. We have seen unprecedented disorder in this House in recent months. We have seen video-recording, name-calling and chanting that one would expect to see at a far-right protest. Now we have to get back to respecting this national Parliament with the dignity and respect with which our communities sent us here to ensure we discharge our responsibilities as best we can. There has been a significant opportunity cost over recent months. No foreign affairs and trade committee-----”
“I rise to support the Government motion of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle and her right as a democratically elected constitutional officer to impartially adjudicate over the Thirty-fourth Dáil. In the context of a significant announcement due in hours from the Trump Administration that has the capacity to really impact so many livelihoods right across this country and pose a threat to so many jobs, we in this House are not debating a motion as regards the tariffs could be imposed in the coming hours. We are not debating a motion on what the European response may be to that significant threat.”
“The actions that I have listed are being undertaken by my Department in alignment with the trade objective of diversifying supply chains and advancing Irish trade through the existing EU framework for free trade agreements. The goal of all this work by my Department and me is to stand as a pillar in the overall strategy, as laid out by the Tánaiste, in navigating the complex geopolitical environment that we as a country are responding to. I look forward to engaging with the House today and hearing the views of all the Deputies in these turbulent times in international security and trade.”