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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Jun 2026

Vol. 1088 No. 3

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Women's Aid has recorded the highest level of domestic abuse disclosures in history. The organisation's annual report is a stark reminder for us all that, for many women and children, escaping domestic abuse is made harder by failures that are within the Government's power to fix. Victims are trapped by the housing crisis, delays in the family court, inadequate access to civil legal aid and a family justice system that often fails to recognise the realities of domestic abuse and coercive control.

For many women, leaving an abusive partner does not mean the abuse ends. Ensuring safety after leaving an abusive partner requires the enforcement of protection orders and ensuring a consistent approach, particularly around bail conditions when they are breached, is implemented. For example, the Government commissioned a review of bail laws that recommended that breaches of domestic violence court orders be made an offence under the Bail Act. I am going to ask the Taoiseach something, in particular in light of this report. There is a simple fix. Will the Taoiseach implement this simple but important proposal that came from the Government's own commissioned review? It could mean a lot for so many people.

The Taoiseach

This is a societal issue. Blaming Government for what is going on alone is not a sufficient response. The impact report is quite shocking. It reported 62,275 disclosures of domestic abuse. That is an increase of 33%, including 4,755 involving children. This is a shameful and shocking indictment on Irish society.

We need, and there has been, a significant criminal justice response. The Minister for justice has progressed Jennie's law and Valerie's law, the first of which relates to a domestic violence register and the second removes guardianship rights of those convicted of killing partners. We have the national strategy. We are now heading towards a fourth strategy and I invite submissions from the House and different parties in respect of this issue. We have the O'Malley report in terms of the journey of a victim through our courts system and a lot of that has been implemented. Cuan was established, probably the most significant development in the past number of years, which is a national agency to try to pull things together. There is more investment in refuge.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

What about my question?

The Taoiseach

It is going to need more than that, I think.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Jen Cummins.

The Taoiseach

We need to stand back, read the report and reflect on it. We will follow up on that proposal.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

I thank the Taoiseach.

Deputy Jen Cummins

I also want to raise the Women's Aid annual report for this year. It shows a 33% increase in domestic violence disclosures and a significant proportion of those - almost 5,000 - are children. A long time ago I worked in the UK with a domestic violence project. What I see is that it is just getting worse. I do not want to play politics with this.

Every single person in this House has a responsibility to work together to make sure we increase the supports to women and increase the punishment for the people who are perpetrating these crimes.

We were delighted, as Social Democrats, that Senator Patricia Stephenson's Bill went forward to support women and people who are escaping domestic violence. I refer to the free travel scheme. We were thankful to the Government for supporting that. We need to work together. This is an epidemic of massive proportions, not just in Ireland but throughout the world. However, we are responsible for here. I really want us to work together. Will the Taoiseach work with us?

The Taoiseach

Absolutely. I agree 100% with the Deputy. We do need to work together on this. There are many factors here that we have to address. The Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, has been very proactive in terms of quite a range of legislative measures that he has introduced. I referenced Jennie's law and Valerie's law. The fourth strategy on domestic and gender-based violence is perhaps one we can structure an all-party approach to and input into as well. My understanding is that by the end of the year, we should have about 94 safe homes and about 193 refuge units, with 50 also under construction. There is a multifaceted response required here. It is a very shocking situation. We have to stand back and see how we can input further on this.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I welcome the report today from the Oireachtas committee, which has recommended decriminalisation of possession of drugs for personal use. I commend the work of the committee's members, including our Labour Party Deputy Marie Sherlock. This follows from the recommendations of the justice committee some years ago. I was a member of that committee, which also recommended decriminalisation and took, in particular, the Portuguese approach as a model. This is long-standing Labour Party policy led by our now MEP, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who as a Minister of State some years ago, brought in facilities for injecting centres, which we have now seen put in place.

The evidence from around the world is increasingly clear. Prison is no place to treat the sick and criminalising addiction has not worked. The war on drugs has not worked. Addiction is a public health issue, not a criminal justice issue. The Labour Party brought forward a motion on decriminalisation of drug users in 2025 and the Government told us then to wait for the report. It has been launched today.

An Ceann Comhairle

The question, Deputy.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

Have we a timeline for implementation of the recommendations of this report?

The Taoiseach

The Government will have to examine it. There are 160 recommendations. We will examine them. Much of the thrust of that report in terms of the health diversion programme, which will be introduced by the Department, is in that direction in any event. The de facto reality on the ground is that we are implementing a health-led approach. We have been adopting a health-led approach for the past 20 years, fundamentally.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

Not in the courts.

The Taoiseach

We more or less have in reality. That is the situation but we will examine the report. There are 160 recommendations. I welcome the fact that the committee has unanimously agreed those recommendations and we will certainly examine them. Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, as I said, presented to us last evening very briefly on it and we will come back again.

Deputy Paul Murphy

Workers at Castolin Eutectic have been out on strike for three days now. They are due to go on strike again next week for five days. This is about eight workers being made redundant. The company agreed to go to the Labour Court but has since refused to implement the Labour Court's recommendation of 1.5 weeks per year of service on top of statutory redundancy. The cost of this to the company is minimal. It will be €30,000 or so. This is a company generating over €300 million annually in sales. It is owned by a venture capitalist company, Paragon Partners, which manages about €2.4 billion. Does the Taoiseach agree that this very wealthy company should at the very least abide by the recommendation of the Labour Court and pay the workers a half-decent redundancy?

The Taoiseach

First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I do not have the specifics of the Labour Court recommendation but where people participate in and engage with the Labour Court, or the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, acceptance and implementation of awards should follow that engagement and participation.

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Each week, thousands of mothers face the worry of not knowing when court-ordered child maintenance payments are going to arrive, or if they will arrive at all. Their ex-partners can drive their flashy cars, go on loads of holidays, sometimes gamble the money away and often live extravagant lifestyles while the women are forced to take out multiple loans just to pay the mortgage, buy food and pay for fuel. This deliberate non-compliance is basically a malicious form of coercive control and financial abuse but the courts system tends to largely ignore it, especially if you are broke. It is great that the Government has brought in some social welfare updates to help people but we also need real enforcement to tackle the shysters abusing their children in this way, such as automatic deductions at source tied directly to personal public service numbers, PPSNs, Revenue refunds and even assessing inheritance payments, because people get big payouts and no one knows about them. When is the Taoiseach going to bring in the tough enforcement legislation that is needed to make sure people pay up?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. In many instances, he has accurately reflected the experiences of people out there around the volatility or unreliability of child maintenance payments being delivered on and paid. I will talk to the Minister for justice and others in the Department of Social Protection to see what we can do, particularly on automatic deduction at source. These are proposals that have been around for quite some time.

Deputy Eamon Scanlon

The Taoiseach will be aware of the devastating situation now facing two major festivals in the north west following the collapse of Tickets.ie over the June bank holiday weekend. The Rory Gallagher International Festival in Ballyshannon is owed €283,000 and the Cowboys and Heroes festival in Leitrim is owed €130,000 in revenue that rightly belongs to them. These festivals are not just annual events. They are significant cultural and economic drivers for communities in Donegal and Leitrim and attract thousands of visitors every year. Organisers are determined to pay their suppliers but without intervention they will be left with crippling debt and may struggle to survive to 2027. What is urgently needed is Government assistance to ensure the revenue can be recovered. Beyond that, we need robust legislation to compel ticketing agents to ring-fence client funds so this kind of collapse can never happen again.

An Ceann Comhairle

The question, Deputy.

Deputy Eamon Scanlon

What support can we give these people? Legislation should be introduced to make safe clients' funds, as is the case with solicitors and estate agents.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising this issue. They are both very significant festivals - the Rory Gallagher one in particular. Even in Cork, I have always admired the Donegal capture of Rory Gallagher in terms of its wonderful festival. In a serious vein, this is a serious issue for them. It is-----

Deputy Eamon Scanlon

It is €283,000.

The Taoiseach

-----€283,000. That is huge. There is need for a legislative response but I also think we have to work to see if we can help those festivals in the short term. I understand the Minister, Deputy Burke, has been examining this but I will talk to my colleagues to see what assistance we can provide or what we can do here because these are important festivals in those localities. I will revert to the Deputy on that.

Deputy Brian Brennan

I am looking for an update in relation to the Taoiseach's plans on dealing with inheritance tax in the upcoming budget. It is believed that approximately 1 million people in Ireland do not have children. That is for many reasons - maybe life choice, medical or simply their personal choice. Under the current inheritance tax threshold, if a parent leaves a property or investment, there is a threshold of €400,000 but if an aunt or uncle leaves their property or investment to their niece or nephew, their threshold is 10% of this amount. This is simply unfair and is actually discriminating against people who do not have children. Since the boom in 2007, there has been no change to the threshold despite property prices increasing by 25%. As society changes and property prices increase, and as people have already paid their taxes to build their homes and invest, can we look at a fairer and more equitable scheme to address these fundamental issues?

The Taoiseach

I am very conscious of the issue, particularly in regard to those without children who have worked hard all their lives and want to leave an inheritance to nieces, nephews or family members. The Government, in the last budget, increased the thresholds by about 20% across the different categories. We will examine this again in the context of the budget to see what we can do, particularly on that issue of those without children who want to leave an inheritance. The costs are significant as well.

We also have an income tax package to frame. There are many demands on the budget, both on the tax side and the public expenditure side, which the Government, over the next while, has to try to reconcile. Various TDs and Senators from different political parties, including the parties that make up the Government, have also brought forward ideas and solutions on tax, including this one.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Members of the Fórsa trade union working at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus will commence industrial action, including work to rule, tomorrow, 25 June, on the basis of issues with staffing and safety and capacity concerns. We have all heard about them. Reports of assaults are in the public domain. I have spoken to a number of people who work in Oberstown. What is the Government's response going to be? We need this place of detention to be safe for those who work in it and, obviously, for the children who are detained there.

I will quickly deal with legal fees and associated claims for State claims payments for the last three years. In 2023, the figure was €854,645; in 2024, it was €826,541; and last year, it was €861,807. Obviously, there is a particular issue here. It needs to be dealt with and we need a Government response.

The Taoiseach

Oberstown is the State's only dedicated detention facility for children, providing care, education, health and rehabilitation supports. Children with complex needs are often referred to Oberstown by the courts. There is always a very difficult balance between safety and care. The latest available information shows that 129 children were detained in Oberstown in 2023, 120 in 2024 and 119 in 2025. I pay tribute to all those who are working there because HIQA found strong provision in Oberstown in education, health and aftercare planning. The Council of Europe committee for the prevention of torture, CPT, report in 2024 showed that young people spoke positively about staff and their approach. I hope this matter can be resolved through the industrial relations machinery. Work is perhaps under way to resolve it.

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue

In the base of the redress scheme and the different grades that people get in redress, there is an issue turning up at the moment-----

The Taoiseach

Which redress scheme?

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue

The scheme for pyrite. There are different grades. People might get grade 1 or grade 4 or 5. One of the grades is where people are told their roof is okay but their block walls have to come out. What people are being asked to do is prop up the house and take out the walls down to the foundation level, which means the footpaths and floors collapse. It is specialised work. When we work out the economics of it, we do not have enough specialist contractors in this country to do this. There are not enough of them here and those who are here are trying to build houses. There is a cost to doing this and it also means people will be out of their houses longer. The realistic thing to do is demolish and rebuild the house.

The Taoiseach

We have spent about €317 million on the mica scheme alone. Increasingly now, we are working through a specialist, standard-based approach. We have agencies. I am not going to argue to and fro on the specifics.

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue

It is common sense.

The Taoiseach

Yes, but Dáil Éireann cannot-----

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue

We have experience.

An Ceann Comhairle

Do not-----

The Taoiseach

We have legislation-----

Deputy Richard O'Donoghue

We have 35 years' experience. Come on.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is enough, Deputy. Allow the Taoiseach to answer.

The Taoiseach

I am not going to arbitrate in terms of professional advice and expertise on how to operate various schemes. Everybody is coming in now with solutions to every single issue from a technical point of view. We have established agencies to deal with standards, technical aspects and the remediation of the homes. This is a legislative assembly, not the national building standards agency. The agencies have work to do and we have to resource and improve them. We have appealed for common sense in terms of how people deal with issues.

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman

This week, people around the country will be enjoying the good weather that is currently forecast. However, hot temperatures can be a real challenge for some in our communities, such as the elderly, the very young and people with underlying conditions. Once again, we are seeing record-breaking temperatures around Europe, with red alerts being issued in many countries and temperatures of over 40°C expected. Sustained heat in summer is here to stay. Over the last year, I have been seeking information from the Department of Health and the HSE on how Ireland records the impact of heatwaves on vulnerable populations. The HSE has admitted that heat-related deaths are simply not recorded and the Minister has acknowledged that more needs to be done to improve recording in this area. If we do not measure a problem, we cannot bring forward a real solution to it. Will the Taoiseach commit that the Government will bring forward clear measurements about how heatwaves are impacting vulnerable communities, particularly in the area of mortality?

The Taoiseach

An evidence-based approach is always to be recommended, and we should measure. People should begin to measure the impact of severe heat. We have not had too many heatwaves. That is the sense anyway. People are amazed this week by the heat. It is a serious matter. We are looking at 40°C across the water tomorrow. That is very serious from a health and climate point of view. We need to start adjusting because climate change is here. We also need to start changing our systems to meet that reality. From a health and public health perspective, ordinarily the focus is on the cancer front and using sunscreen and so on, but there is a very real health issue in terms of such high temperatures - dehydration and so on. Therefore, it does demand and command a response. Maybe I will talk to the Health Research Board and ask it to do some research on this.

Deputy John McGuinness

Two cases in my constituency concerning farming families have been dealt with in the course of the business of this House and the committees. Dan Brennan is one of them. It was agreed that an expert, Dr. Seán Brady, would be appointed to provide the Department with a report. Dan Brennan is an excellent farmer. He has been waiting for the outcome of this since 1990. I have been told, through a response to a parliamentary question, that the Department cannot say when it will be concluded.

The second case relates to a family and serious health concerns affecting horses. Again, the Department of Health has been on site. However, a report that was issued in 2016 dropped off significant recommendations and findings that did not come to light until 2024. The Minister will not meet this family who have written to the Taoiseach about the matter.

Will the Taoiseach intervene in those two cases and ensure the rights of those two farming families are acknowledged and vindicated?

The Taoiseach

I presume we are talking about the Department of agriculture.

Deputy John McGuinness

Yes.

The Taoiseach

I am not familiar with the first case but it seems extraordinary that a report would have been started in 1990 and it is now 2026, so that is 36 years that a report has not been published. I will check that and get a response from the Department of agriculture as quickly as I can.

On the second case, I will check in terms of correspondence. It is not ringing a bell right now. It may have, but we have a lot of emails and so forth. The Deputy said a report issued in 2016 but that certain recommendations, if I heard him correctly, were dropped off or not included in that report.

Deputy John McGuinness

A number of them.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy can follow up in correspondence.

The Taoiseach

I want to get the information so people can check this. I will obviously have to check the provenance of the correspondence and try to get a response.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy can have further engagement.

Deputy Paul Donnelly

I met with the parents of Grace Lynch. I commend them on their advocacy on road safety and tackling scramblers and illegal e-bikes and scooters. On Monday, hundreds of residents in Hartstown marched around Hartstown Park to highlight the issue of antisocial behaviour, scramblers and illegal e-bikes in the parks. People are saying there are a couple of things that can be done. The first is a change in legislation to allow gardaí to actively pursue those on scramblers. The second is that resources be given to the Garda to establish a specialised anti-scrambler unit. I have called for this on many occasions. These units are in place in Britain, France and all over Europe. They are specially trained, specially resourced and equipped to deal proactively with people who are using illegal scramblers on the roads. They are a danger to themselves and other people on our roads. We know what the issue is at the moment.

The Taoiseach

I have also met Grace's parents, who have been through a very traumatic and harrowing experience but have also articulated how communities are impacted by scrambling. The legislation is very clear. Scramblers cannot be on the public roads and there are significant additional powers there. There was a recent case in the courts involving a garda. My understanding is that the Minister is going to bring further legislation to amend that to make sure gardaí will not suffer any negative repercussions from pursuing scramblers in the interests of public safety. On having an anti-scrambler unit, that is an operational decision for the Commissioner. However, I understand well over 1,000 scramblers have been seized. We want more activity. The Commissioner is adamant that he is going to focus very strongly on this issue. I will continue to engage with the Deputy on this.

Deputy Marie Sherlock

While I warmly welcome the announcement of the public consultation on the future of the GPO, I express my deep disappointment in the plans for the meanwhile use. There are 4,000 sq. m of enormous potential in the heart of Dublin, yet we are hearing it is going to be allocated to office space, with some vague notion of cultural and community space. We know there is a very sizeable office vacancy rate in Dublin. The OPW has also had empty office space for a considerable period. We know there is a massive shortage of artists' space in Dublin. I would love the OPW to show real ambition for the meanwhile use of the GPO space. The State's plans for an artists' campus in Dublin Port have been put on hold and we know there is a big gap in Dublin with regard to artists' space. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure the OPW shows greater ambition for meanwhile use of the GPO, so that it becomes a proper living and thriving institution for the next few years while we understand what its future use will be.

The Taoiseach

The steering group has been established under the chairmanship of my office and officials from my office will co-ordinate across all Departments. The cultural and artistic dimension will be the strongest dimension of the building itself and of the GPO. The Government approved this only yesterday, following a lot of work. We need to get it right. Sometimes what becomes interim becomes permanent too. We have to be conscious of that. This is an opportunity to really transform not just the GPO's impact but the wider area, with multipurpose functions on this site, while also being conscious of the remainder of the street to see what we can do there, as well as the work on Moore Street.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

I urge the Government to outline its position on the EU lead ammunition proposal. This is the proposal to take lead out of ammunition, which could have a negative effect on 150,000 licensed shotgun owners in Ireland. There seems to be a problem in government in identifying which Minister and Department is actually going to be responsible for this. I would like a bit of effort to be made in that regard because rural stakeholders deserve to know what position Ireland intends to take before any decisions are made that could have significant negative consequences for firearm owners, farmers and sporting interests across the country. I know this is of particular interest to the National Association of Regional Game Councils of Ireland. These people represent real people on the ground. They are very responsible licensed gun-holders. What is being proposed by the EU is nonsensical. I would like to know what our position will be and which Minister and Department will be responsible for this.

The Taoiseach

The proposed restriction on lead ammunition is being developed at the level of the European Union under the REACH regulation, which aims to protect human health and the environment from harmful chemical exposure. The proposal is intended primarily to reduce lead pollution from spent ammunition and to protect wild birds, hunters and their families from the harmful effects of lead exposure. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment participates in REACH processes through the Health and Safety Authority. Policy responsibility for matters relating to hunting, firearms and wildlife protection and environmental impacts rests with other Departments and agencies. The Department of enterprise has engaged with a number of relevant bodies. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of housing, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of justice, and it continues to circulate relevant Departments.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

Yes, but the Minister seems to be saying it is not his responsibility.

An Ceann Comhairle

No, Deputy. That is not how this works.

The Taoiseach

I hear the Deputy. Having read the reply, I know what is going on in the sense-----

An Ceann Comhairle

The clock is not with you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Heneghan.

The Taoiseach

I will revert to the Deputy.

Deputy Barry Heneghan

As someone who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and as chair of the Oireachtas cross-party group on ADHD reform, I acknowledge the work done by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. Continuing on from that, we had the ADHD Ireland strategic plan last week. I was lucky to have supports growing up when I had not been diagnosed with ADHD, but there are people in my constituency and across Ireland who do not have the family supports I have. When someone has ADHD they are more likely to engage in crime or experience addiction. Will the Government commit to ensuring the strategic plan is matched with real improvements in assessments, treatments and support for children and young adults living with ADHD?

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I thank the Deputy for his advocacy in relation to ADHD, for the way he speaks openly about it and also for forming a cross-party committee on ADHD. As he knows, the model of care was launched in 2021 for adults with ADHD. We look after children with ADHD through the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. There was a recommendation to have 14 funded adult teams. All 14 teams have been funded. Eleven are in place and we are working to get the last three under recruitment. However, when the model of care was devised we did not anticipate the number of referrals that would be made to it. It is under review again. I can talk to the Deputy about it. I thank him for his advocacy.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are nearly out of time. I ask Deputy McGrath to be as brief as he can.

Deputy Séamus McGrath

I raise the offence of spiking. As we know, this is where a drug is administered to somebody, without their consent, in a drink or an injection in a busy night-time scene. It is a gross invasion of an individual and it can result in catastrophic consequences such as serious sexual assault. The programme for Government states that we will impose stronger laws in relation to spiking. Currently, spiking is dealt with under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act through an offence of poisoning. Stand-alone legislation is required to make this a dedicated and stand-alone offence. Will the Taoiseach take this matter up with the Department of justice to ensure the Government fulfils its commitment under the programme for Government?

The Taoiseach

This is a very serious issue and I will take it up with the Minister for justice. I will talk to the Minister in respect of this issue and work to see if we can make progress on it, which I think we can.

Deputy Gary Gannon

Last week, I had a meeting with two individuals, Sharon Lynn and Bryan Gallagher, which left a lasting impression on me. Both lost siblings individually in one-punch attacks. What they are asking for is structured sentencing guidelines for manslaughter cases, but also a national strategy on male-on-male violence. Is that something the Taoiseach's Department has considered?

The Taoiseach

I appreciate the work that Sharon Lynn and Bryan Gallagher are doing. Courts often respond negatively to mandatory guidelines from the Oireachtas but, nonetheless, it is something I will ask the Minister for justice to explore, in terms of manslaughter and male-on-male violence. More broadly, within our education system and the criminal justice system, we should focus on violence more generally. We had an earlier discussion on the shocking report from Women's Aid in respect of the number of terrible, violent incidents and domestic violence. There is an issue there that needs to be addressed.

Deputy Joanna Byrne

I received a letter from Louth County Council, which I did not expect, requesting urgent support in securing Government funding to assist the council in addressing the extensive damage caused to the county's road and drainage infrastructure following Storm Chandra. The scale of the damage across the county is significant in both urban and rural areas, with the council recording 69 road closures and 81-----

An Ceann Comhairle

A question please, Deputy.

Deputy Joanna Byrne

-----road locations, with an estimated overall reinstatement requirement of €3.61 million. In all my years dealing with Louth County Council, it has always gone through the proper channels, but for the council to call on TDs and Senators to publicise the need for additional Government funding highlights the dire situation.

An Ceann Comhairle

I said briefly.

Deputy Joanna Byrne

Will the Taoiseach explore this with the relevant Departments and Ministers, if he can?

The Taoiseach

This is a general issue, not one that just applies to County Louth. What the Minister for public expenditure would say is that all county councils will have received funding that involved a provision for emergencies. That said, submissions have been made from county councils across the country, particularly those that were more affected than others by Storm Chandra.

The Government is giving consideration to that.