Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [1549/26]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Paul Murphy
Question:2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [1552/26]
Martin Daly
Question:3. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to China. [14276/26]
Malcolm Byrne
Question:4. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach to report on his visit to China on 4 to 8 January 2026. [14277/26]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:5. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [14464/26]
Liam Quaide
Question:6. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [18161/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:7. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [18508/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:8. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to China. [22078/26]
Ruth Coppinger
Question:9. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to China. [23833/26]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:10. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent visit to China. [24951/26]
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:11. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to China. [26748/26]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together.
I travelled to Beijing and Shanghai in early January, the first official visit by a Taoiseach since 2012. While there, I met with key political figures and Chinese leaders in a variety of fields, including business, tourism and education, with the aim of strengthening our political, economic and cultural links. Ireland’s economic and trading relationship with China is informed by our support for accelerating the market diversification agenda as a means to encourage competitiveness and resilience. The latest available data from 2024 shows that Ireland's goods exports to China were valued at €10 billion and goods imports at €11.8 billion. Services exports to China in 2024 are valued at €12.7 billion and services imports €4.7 billion. My programme in Beijing included meetings with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People’s Congress, Zhao Leji. In my bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, we discussed the strong political, economic and cultural relationships between Ireland and China. We discussed EU-China relations, particularly our trade relationship and Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the EU in the second half of this year. We agreed the importance of international rules and open dialogue, as well as constructive and predictable relations on trade. We also discussed global issues and conflicts, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.
I also had a bilateral meeting and a working dinner with Premier Li Qiang, during which we discussed ways to improve collaboration between Ireland and China through our membership of multilateral organisations. I stressed the importance of a strong multilateral system to promote peace and security and to ensure a fair global trading environment. We also discussed political, economic and bilateral relations, including exploring the potential for increased collaboration in areas such as education, tourism and culture.
In all of my meetings, I raised a number of human rights issues, including Jimmy Lai’s sentencing, the situation of minorities in Xinjiang, and the human rights situation in Tibet. My meeting with the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, was similarly positive.
While in Shanghai, I met with Mayor Gong Zheng, discussing economic developments in the region and links between Cork and Shanghai, which recently celebrated 20 years of being twinned. We also explored the potential for further co-operation between Ireland and China in a range of areas, including connectivity and transport. While in China, I also had meetings with state agency clients in the tourism, research and innovation, pharmaceutical, and food and beverages sectors. I attended an education showcase where several partnership agreements between Irish and Chinese higher education institutions were signed. These agreements will expand our education collaboration with China, benefiting both Irish and Chinese students. My visit was an important opportunity to strengthen our bilateral relations with China, and I hope these will be built on in the coming period.
The Chinese regime has condemned Trump and Israel's bloody war against Iran as irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. That is something coming from that regime. Deputy Geoghegan was talking about zero tolerance against blockades. China has that. For example, in 1989, when students blockaded and demanded democracy, it sent the tanks in. It sent the army in and mowed students down with tanks. It persecutes people in Hong Kong fighting for democracy, people in Tibet, the Uyghurs, the Falun Gong. You name it, they get crushed in China. I would be interested to know what China had to say about its human rights record, but frankly it looks like a pussycat compared to threats to destroy civilisations coming from Donald Trump and what Israel is doing in Lebanon. I have just come from a protest outside for Lelia Doolan coming from Shannon on her march, a woman in her 90s marching saying the Irish Government should not be facilitating Trump's warmongering by allowing the US military through Shannon Airport. Given what Trump is doing to people in this country, in the Middle East and in Palestine, does the Taoiseach agree with Lelia Doolan?
The backdrop to the wars, the genocides and the interventions we have seen over the past number of years is the rivalry between the declining power of the US and the emerging power of China. That is the context in which the Government has tried very vigorously to draw Ireland more and more openly into the US-led NATO camp. We can see now in terms of the war crimes being committed in Iran what that means. It is why the vast majority of people defend our neutrality, want to protect our triple lock and do not want to see us involved in US-led wars. It is why people will be on the streets at 1 o'clock on Saturday demanding the protection of our neutrality.
The rubber hits the road when it comes to the question of Shannon Airport. The Taoiseach said, when he was in the US, that there was no strong evidence that Trump was using Shannon Airport to pursue the war in Iran. What does he mean by that? Has he inspected any of the planes? Has he evidence? Every single day, there are US military plans going through Shannon. Where does the Taoiseach think they are going? They may not be going directly to Iran. They are going to the Ramstein air base in Germany and then on from there into the Middle East.
It is time to follow the example of other European countries, some of which are even NATO members, and stop allowing the US to use our airports.
Deputy Mark Daly.
I welcome-----
Apologies, Deputy Martin Daly.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. He is a good man. I welcome the Taoiseach's visit to China. It is an extremely important visit strategically and economically for Ireland in an increasingly uncertain international climate. It is absolutely clear that there are, as has been pointed out, two superpowers in this world at the moment but that the European Union and other like-minded trading nations need to keep their options open and develop new trade and new ties based on international rules of trade and politics.
It is clear that, as a small trading nation, we must keep our options open at all times and develop new markets for our industries that we grow here. In addition to that, with the growth of more indigenous industries we need to create links to China, which is a huge market. I am also happy the Taoiseach has taken the opportunity to point out the deficiency in human rights in China because that is extremely important and something that would be expected by the Irish people of our Taoiseach in visiting China.
The Taoiseach said he had conversations in relation to multilateralism and, obviously, questions in relation to economics. I understand this was very early on in January and, with Donald Trump's regime, we are not entirely sure what the future holds other than it goes from terrible to even worse. We have since had an illegal war with Iran, we have the fact that the Israelis are continuing with their genocide in Palestine and what they are doing in Lebanon is utterly unacceptable in any way, shape or form.
Many of us were outside the gates of Leinster House with Lelia Doolan and would commend her for what she has done. I would like to think I will make it to 91 years of age and still be fit to do half of what she is doing. She has to be commended. It is about how there has never been more need for us to maintain international law and an independent foreign policy. That is why people will be on the streets with the Irish Neutrality League on Saturday. It is a matter of us not falling into the issues that exist now in this age of empires and where might is right. We must do our part to stand against that, given our history of anti-colonialism.
It is often said that in the past century the global economy has lifted billions of people out of poverty. China's economic prosperity was responsible for more than 60% of that figure and it has been based on very different models to the ones we have here in Europe. While, of course, we must condemn human rights abuses in China, it is also true that China now has more renewable energy than Europe, is a leader in electric vehicles and has built more homes for its people. The question of energy security is of particular interest, given the current geopolitical instability. China has managed to insulate itself relative to the EU and others.
Did the Taoiseach's recent visit to China cause any reflection on the improvements to energy policy we might see here in Ireland, particularly in terms of developing renewables as our best chance of securing a domestic supply, insulating ourselves in a similar way and for how the State can be more actively involved, as is the case in China?
I would like to ask the Taoiseach about the consistency of his approach to world leaders and dictators. While the Taoiseach was in China, which was some time ago, the attack on Venezuela took place. The Taoiseach condemned the terrible regime in Venezuela while he was actually in China, which I did think was somewhat ironic. China is not a democracy and there is severe repression.
The Taoiseach mentioned the solicitor representing Jimmy Lai being targeted. Were Irish journalists who were part of the Taoiseach's delegation prevented from filming while he was there? Is that the case? This is an example of the Taoiseach staying silent on human rights issues when he is in front of global powers, as he did with Trump. Would the Taoiseach agree that, when comparing world leaders, the most dangerous leader in the world right now is clearly the US leader? The psychopathic tendencies in Trump have accelerated since the Taoiseach visited on St. Patrick's Day and the dangers for the world are just incredibly pronounced.
I thank all the Members for their comments. With respect to Deputy Boyd Barrett and others, in terms of the human rights issues, we do raise them. China has no issue with foreign leaders raising human rights issues. Deputy Martin Daly emphasised the importance of raising them. However, one gets a robust response. They defend their position on the Jimmy Lai case. It was quite a lengthy conversation with the Premier in respect of that case and in respect of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. They invited us to go down, which they do with all ambassadors in particular. It is my understanding that our ambassador was going to go down. Some ask if one can have freedom to move around and so on. However, our ambassador indicated to me that he would go down in terms of having an assessment of the situation as best one can given that it is, as Deputy Hayes said, a different model in terms of how it works as a society and as a system. We have expressed very strong concerns. I asked that he be released, even on humanitarian grounds, given his age and so on but there was quite a robust response, to be honest, and they defended it strongly. Our embassy is following that very strongly. We have a consulate general in Hong Kong. We also raised the issue of Tibet. We do that at the UN, in our work with the European Union and so on.
In terms of our relationships globally, we have a twin-track approach essentially. That is a values approach, a multilateralism approach and also looking at interests. Ireland cannot resolve every system in the world. It cannot fix every system. We have to engage and we have to have dialogue. A lot of the dialogue was positive.
There are huge issues between Europe and China in respect of manufacturing. Europe feels that there is a lot of excess manufacturing in China that is being dumped in Europe and that the renminbi is devalued and so on. These are ongoing issues. It was interesting that President Xi was anxious that Europe and China would develop a better relationship on trade that would be less susceptible to a ping-pong battle on given sectors, for example, critical rare earth metals and things like that, which could become a choke point for European industry. It is extremely important economically that we have these engagements because there is an interdependence between countries all over the world. It is true that there is greater polarisation happening with the growth of both the US and China. It is very important that the US and China get on for world stability. The world is in a very difficult space right now.
In terms of Lelia Doolan, who Deputy Bacik raised earlier, I admire her and pay tribute to her commitment to her views and her cause. I do caution Deputies Boyd Barrett and Murphy about this mis-characterisation of Shannon Airport. It is not a military base.
Would you stop.
It is not a military base. If you want to see a military base go to Spain, go to Italy, go to Germany. We need to be accurate with our commentary. This kind of denigration of Shannon Airport will damage Shannon Airport, will damage the economy of Shannon and will damage jobs in Shannon Airport. Charter planes are used to bring soldiers home or whatever.
Just home, is it?
There is no US military base in Shannon Airport. It is wrong to characterise it as such. Go and look at what a military base is - structure, logistics and everything. That is not what Shannon Airport is.
Not officially.
I think we need a small bit of cop on in respect of it. That is my view on it. Deputies may disagree and they are entitled to disagree.
Again, we are committed to military neutrality. We are not joining any military alliance. Deputy Murphy is wrong in endeavouring to use the triple lock amendments. I do not believe Russia should have a veto on whether we involve ourselves in a peacekeeping operation or not. I do not believe the United States should have a veto. I do not believe China should have a veto on whether or not we participate on peacekeeping missions.
I think the Dáil, the Oireachtas and the Government of the day should, because it is utterly ridiculous otherwise. The problem is that the UN Security Council is paralysed. It is not functioning. It is dysfunctional. That is a big problem for the world, but that is the reality of it. In terms of peacekeeping, we should have greater freedom. That is all we are saying. We are not getting involved in any wars.
Sure they are using Shannon Airport for a war right now.
I am sorry, but we are not.
Deputy Murphy, please.
Look, it is so dishonest to say-----
We are involved right now.
This is not the forum for a back-and-forth discussion.
We are not involved in any war right now.
Of course we are. They are using our airport and our airspace.
They are not using our airport for the war. They are not using it for the war.
Taoiseach, there are other Members to speak.
How do you know that?
Deputy Murphy, this is not the forum.
I just want to make one important point. Deputy Martin Daly referred to us being a small trading nation. We need to export what we produce and make. I gave the figures earlier. What was interesting was that I spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday. In the context of there being polarisation between two major powers, China and the US, there is now a growing movement from the European Union, Canada, Australia and other like-minded powers with similar values, rooted in multilateralism, to come closer together. I welcome Canada's pivot to Europe. Under our Presidency, we are going to advance that relationship with Canada and the European Union. That is why Deputies in the House should vote for the CETA trade deal, which will create additional jobs for Irish people. It has already created additional jobs for Irish people, and there has been about a 30% increase in exports for Irish companies. It beggars belief that people oppose it.
I apologise, but I did not get Deputy Ó Murchú in. The war must end. The sooner that war in the Middle East ends, the better. What is happening in Lebanon is appalling. I welcome the talks, by the way, but Israel is undermining the Lebanese Government, which is the first government in a long time in Lebanon that has the capacity to get some order and structure in Lebanese society and the Lebanese economy. Hezbollah should cease firing rockets. It should stop. It is causing immense damage to its own people and has done so for far too long. Iran should stay out of Lebanon and stop being a malign force in Lebanon also.
In terms of the economy, the relationship and air connectivity, a Cork-Shanghai flight is, hopefully, coming. There is also the Dublin–Beijing flight and so on like that.
Did the Taoiseach cover the question from Deputy Hayes? I am not sure he did.
I covered a lot of people. I am sorry but I did not cover Deputy Hayes’s point about renewable energy. We did actually discuss that with President Xi. They are very conscious of our offshore wind exploration and that we are putting a lot of focus into the offshore and onshore aspects. China manufactures wind turbines at an extraordinary rate. It more or less commands the global market in solar panels.
If we can get good multilateral relationships, there will be a benefit. There was a time when people felt we would not have enough supply and the supply chains would not be strong or resilient enough to deal with everybody going after offshore energy at the one time. China actually offers a bit of a solution to that, I think. Some in Europe are negative about that, but I think it does do because it manufactures a sufficiency of material for windmills and solar equipment that can help us make the energy transition.
Cabinet Committees
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [14260/26]
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:13. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [14272/26]
Tom Brabazon
Question:14. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [14273/26]
Paul McAuliffe
Question:15. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [14274/26]
Catherine Ardagh
Question:16. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [14275/26]
Peadar Tóibín
Question:17. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [16841/26]
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:18. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [17331/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:19. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [18507/26]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [18700/26]
Paul Murphy
Question:21. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [18703/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:22. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [22079/26]
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:23. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [22091/26]
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:24. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [23617/26]
Liam Quaide
Question:25. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [23829/26]
Ruth Coppinger
Question:26. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [23834/26]
Paul Lawless
Question:27. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [26562/26]
Louis O'Hara
Question:28. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [26689/26]
Mark Ward
Question:29. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [26736/26]
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:30. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [26749/26]
Paul Lawless
Question:31. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [26751/26]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will meet next. [26809/26]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 32, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments that relate to matters under those areas. It was established in February 2025 following the appointment of the new Government in January. Its first meeting was on 10 April 2025 and it met most recently on 9 February 2026. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in due course.
The Cabinet committee covers a range of policy areas, including domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV; policing and justice reform; migration; and initiatives tackling local area disadvantage. The Government has taken unprecedented action to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through significant investment, legislative reform and the implementation of the zero-tolerance strategy. Overall, our approach seeks to create a society where DSGBV is prevented, victims are supported and perpetrators are held to account. Under budget 2026, almost €80 million was allocated to support Cuan and organisations working to address DSGBV and implement the zero-tolerance strategy. This was an increase of €12 million compared with the previous year. This funding will accelerate the delivery of additional refuge spaces and safe accommodation, while strengthening supports for those affected by violence.
Among other items, the Cabinet committee also oversees the development and delivery of the whole-of-government response to migration and integration, including through a national migration and integration strategy. The new International Protection Bill 2026 will give effect to the measures of the European Union migration and asylum pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026. To prepare for its introduction, a phased transition that mirrors elements of the pact is currently under way. As part of this, applicants from designated safe countries of origin, including Nigeria, and in the context of the Dublin III regulation and inadmissible cases, are being processed under these new processes, with some minor exceptions. As of 24 March 2026, 1,280 applications were received under the accelerated process. Of these, 80% have received a first instance decision. Decisions were negative in 88% of cases, with an 11% grant rate and a number of withdrawals. Of those with a negative decision, 48% appealed and 86% of appeals were refused. A total of 482 deportation orders has been issued, with seven enforced removals and 42 voluntary returns having taken place. The median timeline from application to enforced removal was 24 weeks, and 15 weeks for voluntary return. This indicates the pact programme can meet the future timelines for the border procedure.
The number of international protection applications has been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately one third. In 2025, the International Protection Office delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared with approximately 14,000 in 2024, which is a 44% increase. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal more than doubled the number of appeals closed, from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,320 in 2025.
In addition to meetings of the Cabinet committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss issues relating to their Departments.
A lot of Members are seeking to contribute. They have one minute each. I call Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú.
Louth County Council is trying to update its tenant engagement and antisocial behaviour strategy, and I sat in yesterday for a short period on a consultative event. We can imagine the conversation. It is all about having a multiagency approach, strengthening community safety, embedding tenant engagement for the first time, improving well-being and neighbourhood cohesion and ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability. That is all sound. This is a continuation, however, of an issue I have brought up before. I think we have to be really serious in relation to the complex issues involved. I am sure many of us will have dealt with local authorities, the Garda and others in this context. The fact is we have to get very serious. I do not believe the community safety partnership is going to quite bridge the gap, however much I would like to think it would. I am thinking of Barrack Street in Dundalk.
Is there a question?
Yes. This is about how we can get to having a proper, multiagency approach to deal with the complexity and early intervention and policing aspects. The big worry when we are talking about drugs and all that causes that problem is the national drugs strategy and the fear of moving away from the drugs and alcohol task forces and such community involvement.
I welcome the recent introduction of Grace’s Law, the intention of which is to make scramblers illegal in public places. However, these vehicles are still causing havoc in my community and in communities across the northside of Dublin. I am inundated with correspondence from constituents who are sick to their back teeth of these vehicles speeding up and down roads and footpaths in a reckless and dangerous manner, putting the lives of the riders and other people at risk.
To combat this, I am asking that a statutory indemnity be introduced for gardaí pursuing scramblers and acting within reason so they can carry out their duty without fear or favour to ensure our communities can be protected. Will the Government now commit to introducing a statutory indemnity or some other statutory mechanism so members of An Garda Síochána who are going about their work in a reasonable way will be protected from prosecution?
One of the most controversial elements of the omnishambles of last week was the threat of the Garda and the Army. The Government was actually calling in the Army when TDs like me were trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the situation. There is also chaos within the Government.
The Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, spoke to the Tánaiste and Taoiseach about utilising the Army for Whitegate refinery on Wednesday, 8 April. The next day, the Minister made public that a request was being made to the Defence Forces. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, was not informed until just before the request went in. Deputy McEntee is the Minister for Defence. She is the line manager when it comes to the Army. Why is it the case that we have this level of chaos within the Cabinet that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is not being consulted? Did the public know about the Army being called in before the Minister for Defence knew?
I attended a large public meeting in Kells last night, called for by the community in the wake of a spate of burglaries, attempted break-ins and break-ins. There is a lot of concern in the community. It was a very well-attended meeting, hosted by Oliver Figgy Curran and Councillor Michael Gallagher. Representatives of An Garda Síochána were present and took questions. A key concern that I said I would take to the Dáil today is the number of gardaí in Kells and County Meath. The figure is the lowest in all of Ireland by population. What measures are the Taoiseach and the Government taking to address the low number of gardaí in County Meath and Kells in particular?
I welcome the Northside Home Care Services workers in the Gallery. Deputy Murphy will be raising issues on their behalf, and I absolutely hope the Taoiseach will listen to them.
I want to raise another issue. The Taoiseach probably will not know about it but I ask him to raise it with the Minister for justice. Four years ago, Ned Connors died in prison. He died of alcohol poisoning. How the alcohol got into the prison and so on is a question. There was a report done by the prison inspector into the circumstances of his death, but it still has not been published. As of today, there was supposed to be an inquest happening. His family solicitors said the inquest should not go ahead until the prison inspector’s report was published. Apparently, the Minister has for some reason prevented the report from being published. This is fuelling deep concern among the family. If the Taoiseach could ask about Ned Connors and the report into his death on behalf of his family, it would be appreciated.
Deputy O’Rourke has the opportunity to ask another question if he wishes to exercise it.
Related to the public meeting last night to which I referred, another area is the roll-out of community CCTV, that is, the roll-out of CCTV in communities. There were restrictions in the past in terms of data protection and data management. What is the current position in relation to the roll-out of community CCTV across the State, the role of central government and the funding potentially available for that? Also, what is the role of local government in this regard?
I apologise, Deputy Murphy was next. Deputy O’Rourke is ahead of him now anyway.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I have raised with the Taoiseach before the Northside Home Care Services workers who have been taking industrial action since January. Some of them are in the Gallery. He knows what the issue is here; it is about pay equality. Some of these workers have worked for 25 years and are getting just over €15 an hour. Others are on minimum wage and getting 30% less than others for doing the same job of providing vital care to approximately 500 people on a daily basis. What I raise today is the outrageous victimisation of their shop steward, Sonya Borwick, simply for standing up for the workers she represents. She was suspended yesterday on utterly spurious grounds. Supposedly she breached GDPR by asking people to sign a petition. She did not use any information she had about their data as a result of working there; she was simply talking to clients who support them, given the support they provide for them, asking them to sign a petition and for their address on a petition. Supposedly that is a breach of GDPR. That is blatant anti-union victimisation. I ask the Taoiseach to condemn this victimisation. Ms Borwick is in the Gallery. That she should be suspended is an action that should be utterly condemned by the Government. The Minister for Health needs to meet with these workers and instruct the HSE to treat them properly.
The Deputy is absolutely taking liberties. I call Deputy Conway-Walsh.
The recent case and indeed the resilience and courage of former Garda Margaret Loftus exposed the systematic and institutionalised failures in addressing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland, particularly when the alleged perpetrators are members of An Garda Síochána. Reliance on self-disclosure leaves systematic blind spots, allowing potential perpetrators to maintain investigative authority over other victims. Without statutory oversight, independent monitoring and systemic reform, Garda structures can shield perpetrators and undermine public confidence. I welcome the recent setting up of the dedicated domestic violence unit, but does the Taoiseach agree that the mandatory reporting of barring and protection orders is now necessary? Does he believe it is right that a garda who is convicted of breaking the law should still serve in An Garda Síochána?
It would be impossible to talk about the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on justice, home affairs and migration without discussing the absolute disaster that was last week. I am going to preface my comments by answering a question I know the Taoiseach will probably ask, because he asked it of my party leader earlier. Yes, I absolutely condemn the blocking of critical infrastructure and the threats to gardaí. However, does the Taoiseach endorse the tactics employed by his own Minister for justice last week, in particular the press statement that went out on Thursday morning, in advance of "Morning Ireland", stating that the Army would be on the streets and that vehicles would be damaged and nobody should complain? The Minister went on to further antagonise and accelerate an already difficult situation by saying the protesters were being manipulated by some idiot in the UK called Tommy Robinson.
The C70 form sent by An Garda Síochána to the Defence Forces is an essential part of our security system. To politicise that, as the Minister for justice did on Thursday morning, is absolutely out of bounds. Does the Taoiseach endorse that? Should we see further protests on the streets, what lessons will be learned and how can we ensure it is not Government Ministers who inflame intentions?
There are calls today for an all-island response to the epidemic of gender-based violence. In Northern Ireland, 30 women have been killed since 2020. It is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. A woman is more likely to be killed by her own son than by a stranger. The family and the home are very dangerous places. ROSA in the North has called a protest in Belfast for Saturday, 25 April to respond to the fact that 30 women have been killed and to say not one more should be killed. Two women were murdered in three weeks recently. This was at the same time as the Natalie McNally trial which showed a very premeditated killing by her former partner. In relation to gender-based violence in the South, the Taoiseach mentioned legislative reform but there has been very little such reform that I can think of. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has added its voice to the call for access to counselling notes to be banned in gender violence trials. We need to see that legislation moved and we need to see what survivors want.
I could not believe my eyes when the Minister for justice outlined recently that it was his intention and the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to remove several proposed IPAS centres from the planning process entirely. I have raised this planning circumvention with the Taoiseach on a number of occasions. Both he and the Tánaiste have led the House to believe this was a temporary, emergency measure and would be removed imminently. Now we read it is the Government’s intention to make this planning exemption permanent. The IPAS system is the only accommodation system that currently avails of a planning exemption. I want the Taoiseach to be clear. What is the intention of this Government in relation to the IPAS planning exemption? Is it going to ensure that all citizens and communities are treated equally or is it going to try to continue this policy of running roughshod over communities? Is the Government going to make this planning exemption permanent? I refer to Government Deputies and backbenchers. Every time this has broken in local communities across the country, the Taoiseach has outlined that the Government wants to see community engagement and consultation with communities. This is the Taoiseach’s opportunity.
What is the Taoiseach going to do? Is he going to make this permanent or will he allow communities to have a say in relation to what happens to them?
I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Deputy Ó Murchú was first in terms of antisocial behaviour and a multi-agency approach in County Louth. I agree with the Deputy that the most effective response is a multi-agency response. I support the drug partnerships approach that we had in earlier periods. The local community safety partnership has been effective. It is working in certain locations but we need to look at further initiatives in terms of community-based partnerships on the ground that are well resourced by the State. That is a view I have. I am advocating that from my position as Taoiseach and from talking to the Ministers concerned.
I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising the issue of Grace's law. It is extremely distressing and unacceptable that the Deputy and the people he represents are witnessing appalling activity by individuals using scramblers who are recklessly endangering life, causing the loss of life and so forth. I accept the rationale behind the Deputy's call for statutory indemnity to be introduced to protect members of An Garda Síochána who reasonably try to stop this activity. I do not think it is acceptable that a garda should be prosecuted if he or she is endeavouring to stop people endangering the lives of others through the illegal and reckless use of scramblers. The Minister for justice is bringing forward some form of review of the legislation in this area. This is a very important issue because if something is not done, the potential is that we will paralyse the Garda in terms of protecting people. I will talk to the Minister for justice. I know he is minded to do something in this area in light of recent court cases. I will liaise back with Deputy Brabazon on this.
I heard what Deputy Tóibín had to say. In the first instance, C70 requests made very regularly. About 140 were issued last year. Last week, a request was made with a view to calling in the Army to tow big lorries and trucks away from vital critical infrastructure. I do not know whether the Deputy condemns or agrees with the blockading of an oil refinery. I saw his posts all week. He supported the blockade of the oil refinery-----
It was not-----
The Deputy did so. He went on the platform-----
You are not telling the truth.
You went on the platform and you supported the blockade of the motorway. The Deputy supported the blockades of ports. All I would say to him is-----
There is a weakness in your argument. If you cannot tell the truth, then it is a weakness.
Deputy, do not use that type of inference. You can write to the Taoiseach. This is not a forum for back and forth; this is Taoiseach's questions. You ask a question. If you do not like the answer, you write to the Taoiseach. End of story.
It is not that I do not like the answer; it is untrue.
That is i t. End of story. We conform to the rules.
It is not the truth.
I did watch the Deputy's social media posts. He described it as mediating, but who gives him authority to decide who gets oil in this country? Who gives him authority-----
The Taoiseach is asking me a question.
No, he is not.
I am asking a rhetorical question. I do not need a response right now. I am making an absolutely fundamental point with regard to parliamentary democracy. The Deputy does not have a right to decide who gets access to work. He does not have a right to decide who gets access to a hospital. He does not have a right to-----
There are nearly 1 million people on the hospital waiting lists.
Every other Member needs a fair amount of time.
It was wrong of the Deputy to do what he did last week. I say that respectfully to him. No self-appointed group gets that right and no TD gets that right. A number of TDs were at that. Deputy Tóibín, more than most, stated that he had negotiated this or negotiated that. That is not right. For God's sake-----
We negotiated-----
-----we need freedom of movement for people. The Minister for justice and the Minister for-----
Did the public know?
Deputy, that is enough.
-----Defence engage with each other in respect of this issue.
Deputy O'Rourke raised two issues on the concerns in Navan-----
In Kells.
In Kells. My apologies. The Deputy raised concerns about break-ins and burglaries. I will relay that to the Minister for justice. I am sure the Garda will tackle that in a concerted way. That is very disturbing for the people concerned. Garda numbers are improving every time a new intake goes through Templemore. As a result, I expect that we will be able to get there. We have done good work in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and other locations. As more gardaí come through, we are trying to get to as many areas as we possibly can in sufficient numbers, not just giving dribs and drabs, in order that we get good solid allocations.
The Deputy also raised the issue of community CCTV. I will have to get an update on that. It continues to be very effective and impactful in combating crime.
Deputy Paul Murphy referred to the Northside Home Care Service workers, as did Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am not familiar with the background to the suspension of the shop steward. I will ask for that to be investigated and checked by the Minister for Health. I am not saying that this justifies suspension, but I would be wary of using clients to sign petitions. I understand how it happens, because people need the service and people want the service to be supported. I will talk to the Minister about the general issue. Those involved were here a number of weeks ago as well, and this issue needs to be resolved. The process should be deal with through labour relations in order to get it resolved. Meanwhile, the atmosphere around this should be one that allows engagement and so forth.
Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised the issue of Ned Connors, who died in prison through alcohol poisoning. That is very disturbing. The Deputy said "Apparently, the Minister has for some reason prevented the report from being published." The Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is a fair-minded person and is scrupulous-----
Something has stalled the report.
No, Deputy.
The Minister is scrupulous in terms of the application of the law. I do not know what the background is to this. Maybe they do not want to prejudice the process. I do not know. I will check with the Minister for justice in respect of the report. I think the inquest is due, is it not?
Deputy Conway Walsh raised the issue of a former garda, Margaret Loftus, and members of An Garda Síochána. Again, there has to be clear rules in terms of our uniformed services, particularly our Garda and our military. There are rules in respect of people who are convicted of crimes. They should not serve. When people are charged, they are sometimes suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and so forth. I salute the courage of Margaret Loftus.
On the mandatory reporting of barring orders, I would like a report back on that. I think the Minister is working on something in that regard.
To be fair to him, Deputy Gannon condemned blockading. With regard to the decision that was made, we had to remove those vehicles from Whitegate. We simply had to. I got a phone call to say that the refinery was closing. That would have been ruinous for the country because one cannot restart a refinery straight away. How bad would that have been. The Minister for justice made the correct decision in asking the Army in because it has the equipment to remove big lorries, tractors and other machines. It would have been crazy if we ended up stopping the export oil from Whitegate.
There are two more Deputies, Taoiseach.
It just would not have made any sense, and that is why it was done.
On Deputy Coppinger's question, through the shared island initiative, we support an all-island response to domestic and sexual violence. It is shocking, and Northern Ireland is a particular problem. I have discussed this with the First Minister and deputy First Minister at meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. It was a theme and a topic at our most recent meeting. There is active co-operation to the effect that there should be a joint approach between our Government and the Executive in respect of domestic and sexual violence. It is a big worry. Deputy Coppinger reminded us of the 30 women who have been killed. That is shocking and wrong. With regard to the counselling notes, the Minister for justice is bringing forward legislation in which he will go as he possibly can to place real conditions on the use of counselling notes.
On Deputy Lawless' question, the Government has huge pressures. I gave the figures earlier. We are making a lot of progress in terms of a more rigorous, timely and efficient response to those seeking asylum. Nonetheless, people come into the country to seek asylum. They are legally entitled to seek asylum and our job is to process applications as quickly as we can. If people are entitled to asylum, they get it. If they are not, they should be deported or asked to leave.
The question is-----
The question is this. I am asking the Deputy his view. As they come into the country on a daily basis, where should people stay?
Should they be on the streets? What is the solution?
No, we are out of time. The Deputy can request the information in writing.
We are under international legal obligations. This is a challenge-----
The Deputy can write to the Taoiseach..
The question relates to planning.
Thank you, Taoiseach. We are out of time.
We do not have time now to discuss it, but I would gladly discuss it with the Deputy again.
That concludes Taoiseach's Questions.
(Interruptions).
The Deputy is fully entitled. We are finished.
Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 2.10 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 3.10 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 2.10 p.m. and resumed at 3.10 p.m.