I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to the House. Before I call Senator Keogan, I welcome Hanna Gregor and Hanna Steil from Cologne in Germany. They are welcome to Seanad Éireann. I also welcome the school from Athlone and thank the students for coming in today. I apologise if it is a transition year class. What happens is students get no homework for the rest of the week when they visit Seanad Éireann. If the students are from a transition year class that is not much good to them, but it carries over into fifth year if that is any help. There is no homework for the students from the Athlone school visiting today.
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Child Protection
This subject might be of interest to the children. There might be some unaccompanied minors from Ukraine here this morning. We are now over three years into the largest displacement crisis Europe has seen since the Second World War. Ireland, rightly so, opened its doors, but opening doors is not the same as ensuring safety. Safety begins with knowing who is in our care. How many unaccompanied minors from Ukraine have been taken into the care of Tusla since March 2022? How many of them are currently in aftercare?
These are not abstract figures. These are vulnerable children and young people, many of whom have fled war, trauma and separation from family. We must be honest with ourselves. The State has a troubling history when it comes to institutional care. Last week's murder of Vadym Davydenko in Donaghmede has made it harrowingly clear to us what happens when oversight is weak and accountability is absent. We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes.
I am not here to cast aspersions on Tusla staff, many of whom work under immense pressure, but I am here to demand transparency. Without transparency, there is no trust, and without trust, there is no safeguarding. I want the Minister of State to delineate clearly what we know and do not know. What are our norms? What are our unknowns? What systems are in place to ensure that our blind spots are actively sought out and addressed?
We know from parliamentary replies that as of 25 January, 33 separated children seeking international protection were missing from Tusla care and that some of these children may have left the country to join family elsewhere. We also know that data on sexual exploitation risk is not centrally collated. That is an known unknown. That is unacceptable. The justice committee was recently informed that it is expected that 1,200 minor asylum seekers will be cared for by Tusla by the end of this year and that over half of these are from Ukraine. This number is likely to increase. A large number of these are 17-year-old boys who likely leave due to the fact that men between 18 and 60 are forbidden by martial law to leave Ukraine. By leaving at 17, they stand a chance by avoiding conscription. The question of aftercare is especially important as many of them may have to enter the aftercare system within months of arriving.
We know that Tusla has a dedicated team for separated children and that foster care, residential settings and pledge family accommodation are among the options considered. What proportion of Ukrainian minors are in each category? What proportion are designated social workers? What proportion are in aftercare? These are basic questions yet they remain unanswered.
We cannot protect what we cannot see. We cannot safeguard children whose whereabouts, legal status and care arrangements are unclear. We cannot claim to be a compassionate country if we do not treat these children with the same rigour and care we would demand for our own. How many are housed in special emergency arrangements? How many are in each room? Do they have their own room? Are the staff Garda vetted? I ask the Minister of State to give us the numbers, the breakdown and the plan. These children deserve more than warm words. They deserve safety, stability and a future.
First, the Minister and I want to take this opportunity to again express our sincere condolences to the family of Vadym Davydenko and everyone associated with his tragic death last Wednesday, 15 October.
The Minister acknowledges the interest of the Members of this House in issues surrounding unaccompanied minors from Ukraine. In particular, the Minister thanks Senator Keogan for raising the important issue of unaccompanied minors in the care of Tusla and in aftercare services.
Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. A priority for the Minister for children and Tusla is ensuring that all children in care have a place of safety. Tusla’s separated children seeking international protection, SCSIP, service provides a response to the needs of minors who present in Ireland unaccompanied by parents or caregivers, whether they are fleeing the war in Ukraine or otherwise seeking international protection. Tusla has seen a 500% increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors since 2022, which has placed significant pressures on it and the State more generally.
Tusla has reported that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, it has received 879 referrals in relation to children and young people from Ukraine and it has provided care and accommodation for 777 children under the Childcare Act 1991. Tusla has advised that since the commencement of the war in Ukraine, 432 Ukrainian young people have aged out and are no longer in the care of or accommodated by the agency. The agency has also informed the Department of children that it has provided continuing support to five young people from Ukraine who are over 18. However, this does not amount to the provision of a statutory aftercare service. Young people who become adults, are beneficiaries of temporary protection and transition into accommodation under the international protection accommodation service receive a range of supports in line with other beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. The Department of children continues to engage with Tusla and the Department of justice on the implications of the EU Migration Pact through engagement on the development of the international protection Bill which has been brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for justice. This important legislation will impact on the manner in which unaccompanied minors are dealt with in the State. It should be noted that the specific circumstances of young people arriving from Ukraine are always taken into account when deciding on the type of care and accommodation offered to them. These circumstances can include whether they have family already here, their age, their language skills and their assessed needs.
I would like to share with this House a number of developments that the Department of children and Tusla continue to progress in this area. Tusla is undertaking a strategic review of the purpose and function of its separated children seeking international protection service to include a plan for improved governance in a new accommodation strategy, data management strategy and workforce plan. It has developed a new model of care for this service to offer care and protection to these young people and to integrate them into Irish life. Finally, Tusla has established a national steering group for the service through which it can engage with relevant organisations including non-governmental organisations on issues that most affect this vulnerable cohort.
I thank the Minister. Unfortunately, none of my questions were answered but the most shocking line of that contribution is that 777 children are under the care of Tusla and 432 Ukrainian children have aged out. They are no longer in the care of or accommodated by the agency. It is only supporting five young people over the age of 18 today. That is absolutely shocking. I know one young man who, on the day he turned 18, was picked up by a taxi outside his accommodation and was brought to a hotel room with three other men in that room. That is not aftercare for children coming from war-torn countries; it is absolutely letting down the children we have brought in from war-torn countries. He has not heard from a social worker since that day.
The agency is under pressure. I get that. Aftercare is really hard to get for these children. I know this because I have had children in care over the years and children who have gone into the aftercare system. This is not good enough, particularly for children who do not have anybody. The State is their guardian and is letting them down. This special emergency accommodation is not good enough. It is unregulated. We must do better by these children.
I thank the Senator again for bringing forward the important issue. I thank her for her comments in relation to it. I reiterate that Ireland has responded to the Ukrainian crisis by welcoming more than 110,000 Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland in the most difficult of circumstances and have sought sanctuary in Ireland. A significant proportion of them are unaccompanied minors who fled the war and have been taken into care or provided accommodation by Tusla. I acknowledge the extraordinary efforts and achievements by the State in general and by Tusla in particular in accommodating those 777 children who have had to flee Ukraine. Many of the children and young people who fled Ukraine have since turned 18 and have begun the process of integrating into Irish society. They are contributing to our culture and our local economies. I have no doubt that in time they will play a crucial role in rebuilding their country when it is safe for them to do so. Lastly, the Minister would like to acknowledge the invaluable role that care workers, including foster carers and aftercare workers, play in the lives of our children in care and care leavers. The support these workers provide to children and young people is critically important in providing the best platform for their transition from care into adult life.
Housing Provision
I thank the Minister of State for being here with us today. I know he is representing the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, on this Commencement matter. As I have said previously, I really want the Minister, Deputy Browne, to succeed in his role as Minister for housing. It would certainly lift the spirit of Ireland. The housing crisis is a debacle. If we can make a difference, it will change many people's lives.
This is not the first time I have spoken about homeless and emergency accommodation figures in this House. When I was first elected to this House, I put on a whiteboard in my office the homeless numbers on that date. The number of people in emergency accommodation at that time was 15,286, and the number of children was just over 3,000. I was excited to see the new Minister for housing and I was hoping that we would all be part of the solution to improve the numbers in an area with which I am very familiar through my voluntary role as chair of Tiglin. Today, I want to review progress. I am sad to say that the situation has deteriorated even further since then. The latest figures from the Department are stark. There are 16,353 individuals in emergency accommodation. We now have 5,145 children in homeless accommodation. That is an increase of over 700 in total in the past year. For the first time, the number of children in such accommodation has exceeded 5,000. Those are not just statistics; they are kids who are going to be brought up in emergency accommodation, which is going to have a huge impact going forward.
When we look at the numbers, we see that the number of emergency accommodation applicants has risen by 13% in the past year. Included in that are 2,400 families and 252 people over the age of 65. It reflects a system that is not working. It seems we have a housing plan that is failing to meet the urgency we are presented with. As we approach the start of winter, it is getting colder. Like isolation and vulnerability, cold weather impacts people who are homeless far more than the ordinary person. Focus Ireland and the Simon Community have said in recent reports that housing alone is not enough, and that support is also needed. An example is one guy who came to us with his son at the Lighthouse, the homeless café on Pearse Street. He had a dual diagnosis of mental health and addiction issues, but he was homeless. He had tried different services for many years. We got him into rehab. He got his life back on track but he also had supported housing. He started to work through our community employment scheme. Today, that guy owns a house in Wicklow. He is a productive member of society as a manager in a company. I have noticed that with the proper supports, change can actually occur for the individual, for the world and certainly for Ireland.
I believe we need to be more ambitious in our approach. The Minister of State knows that. We need to provide housing solutions, and we need to provide the supports that go with those solutions. In the Lighthouse homeless café on Pearse Street, we feed about 500 people a day. If the Minister were to give me 500 houses today, it would not solve the problems of the people who go there. A lot of them need extra supports. That is where we need to focus. As has been mentioned before, the establishment of a housing task force would ensure housing accountability, and it would also ensure co-ordinated action. My question is this: how are we going to deal with the numbers on my whiteboard in a way that ensures we are not back here in six months looking at a worse situation?
I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this Commencement matter on the plans of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the homelessness and housing crisis. The Minister and this Government are absolutely determined to meet the needs of people who need us to respond at pace to the housing challenges we face.
The programme for Government commits to delivering 300,000 new homes by 2030. To drive this delivery, the Government has committed to a new national housing plan to follow Housing for All, which will be underpinned by the required funding in the national development plan. This new national housing plan will be published early next month. This plan will focus on building social and affordable housing, delivering infrastructure and activating land, securing finance and addressing viability challenges, boosting the capacity of the construction sector, promoting affordability, and continuing to reduce vacancy by bringing much-needed stock back into use as we seek to secure a long-term pipeline of delivery and funding to 2030 and beyond.
In July, the Government published the revised national development plan, the largest ever capital injection in our economy in the history of the State. Of the €102 billion to be invested over the next five years, over €40 billion will be provided for housing and related water services in the period to 2030. The Government is already investing record levels in the delivery of housing this year, with overall capital funding of almost €7.5 billion available.
Addressing homelessness, and in particular homeless families and children, is a key priority for the Minister and for this Government. Ireland signed the Lisbon Declaration in June 2021, which committed all signatories to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. The Minister will continue to work with the National Homeless Action Committee to ensure an all-of-government approach to drive the ambition of the Lisbon Declaration.
Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is our continued investment in the social housing programme. Budget 2026 has continued the record level of investment in social housing, with €2.9 billion in capital funding allocated to support the delivery of social homes by local authorities. This continued investment in the social housing programme will increase the supply of stock available to allocate to households on the social housing waiting list, including households in emergency accommodation.
A key focus for the Minister is to reduce the time that families are spending in emergency accommodation. In September, the Minister wrote to 21 local authorities that have families in emergency accommodation for more than 12 months and asked them to use all available housing schemes to exit these families from emergency accommodation. He has ring-fenced an additional €50 million, under the national development plan process, to exit the households longest in homeless accommodation with a focus in the first instance on larger families with children and housing first clients. Ensuring that families and children experiencing homelessness are provided with accommodation and supports is critical.
Budget 2026 provides an allocation of €513.5 million to provide homeless emergency accommodation and supports. Capital funding of €50 million has been allocated to support the provision and maintenance of quality emergency and transitional accommodation. The new housing plan will ensure all possible measures are being taken across government to prevent homelessness.
I appreciate the reply. One line stands out and I am excited about it where he said, “Addressing homelessness, and in particular homeless families and children, is a key priority for the Minister”.
I am slightly concerned in dealing with the people through my voluntary work. I would welcome the Minister to come to Pearse Street, which is fairly close by, to meet some of the people I have spoken about and to realise they are not just statistics. We can do more and can do better to resolve the problem. At the moment home ownership seems like an impossible dream for many and it seems that we are missing out on a generation of homeowner. This evening, 5,145 children are doing their homework in emergency accommodation, with no play area and of course without being able to have their friends over etc. Even the results of that will be seen in the future. If we are serious about solving the housing crisis, we have to prepare to be stronger and use urgent measures.
I want the Minister, Deputy James Browne, to be the most successful housing Minister. I want this to work. I do not want to criticise just for the sake of gaining political capital. I want to be there so that if there is anything we can do, even as a Seanad, to improve the housing situation, we are totally behind the Minister.
I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for housing. I want to reassert the strong commitment of the Minister and this Government to addressing the housing challenges we face, which are touching every level of our society, as the Senator has outlined. While there is still much more to do, considerable progress has been made to date under Housing for All. Between July 2020 and the end of quarter 2 in 2025, over 50,600 social homes were added to our social housing stock. There is a strong pipeline of social housing. The latest construction status report showed 26,684 social homes at all stages of design and build at the end of June 2025.
Since the launch of Housing for All at the end of quarter 2 of 2025, nearly 16,900 affordable housing units have been delivered by approved housing bodies, local authorities and the Land Development Agency through the home first scheme, cost rental, the tenant in situ scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant. Therefore, a solid foundation has been laid for future housing delivery which will be driven by the new national housing plan and underpinned by record levels of State investment under the national development plan. The new housing plan will include a range of measures to address homelessness, including the development of a homelessness prevention framework to ensure all possible measures are being taken across government to prevent homelessness. I again thank the Senator for raising this really important issue.
Trade Agreements
I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning. I am looking for an update on conversations that have been happening with the European Commission on tariffs with America. As we are all aware, an agreement had been reached a number of weeks or months ago of a 15% tariff for the EU with America. There had been a certain level of fear that that might change for pharmaceuticals and the medtech sector. Thankfully we have got clarity that it will remain at 15% even though other countries seem to be up at 100%.
I am asking about this because of the volatility in America where things can change very quickly. What conversations is the European Commission having? What is its strategy for dealing with America with the constant fear of things changing almost overnight? I spoke to a delegation from Switzerland and they were talking about the negotiations they had with America on tariffs. Everything had been agreed up to the morning that the agreement went to the White House, but within three hours everything changed and the tariffs were massively increased. The same has happened with Japan to a lesser extent.
As the Minister of State comes from Limerick, he will be very well aware of this. I speak about it in the context of my home town of Clonmel. Over the past 40 or 50 years, Clonmel has been very fortunate in having significant foreign direct investment for its size, particularly Merck Sharp and Dohme, which came 50 years ago. It now has Abbott, Boston Scientific and many more. They employ thousands of people in Tipperary and surrounding areas. It is important that we protect these well-paid and good jobs. I welcome many of the measures announced by the Minister for enterprise in the budget to protect jobs and companies, particularly investment in research and development to attract those companies to remain in Ireland regardless of changes made in America.
When we talk about tariffs and decisions made in America, we cannot forget that this has a direct impact on people in our own individual counties. That is why the conversations the European Commission is having on behalf of us and all countries in the European Union are critical to ensure that some sort of consistency or some sort of comfort and clarity can remain.
I share Senator Ahearn’s concern and disappointment on the imposition of US tariffs.
As I have said many times, tariffs are not good for anybody. They hurt business and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. However, US trade policy has shifted and both Ireland and the EU have to respond to this new reality. The life sciences sector, which both the pharmaceutical industry and medtech are part of, is a significant sector of the economy and employs over 100,000 people. The Government recognises its importance, as evidenced by our commitment to develop a national life sciences strategy. After months of uncertainty, on 21 August, the EU and the US published a joint statement on the EU-US framework agreement on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade. It confirmed a single 15% tariff on EU goods inclusive of current MFN rates. It also made clear that any new tariff announced by the US under its section 232 investigation would be capped at this level. While there have been recent announcements on possible higher tariffs on pharmaceuticals, the EU was clear that the 15% tariff on the EU was a cap, which was confirmed by the US side. This example underlines the value of the agreement reached in August. This clear, all-inclusive 15% tariff ceiling for EU exports represents an insurance policy that no higher tariffs should emerge for Irish and European economic operators. The joint statement also includes lower tariff rate carve-outs for aircraft and aircraft parts, automobile and automobile parts. Importantly for the pharma sector, further carve-outs are to be determined for certain products in generic pharmaceuticals and chemical precursors. These tariff rates will be at the pre-existing US MFN rate, which is zero. This is welcome.
During the lead-up to the EU-US joint statement, the Tánaiste engaged intensively with EU and US counterparts, in particular the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, trade representative Jamieson Greer and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, emphasising the huge potential and scope for the EU and the US to work together in the interests of patients, their economies and the pharma industry. While of course we do not want any US tariffs, the joint statement provides a degree of stability and certainty in what has been a very difficult period for Irish and European exporters to the US. I strongly believe this was the best available deal. However, I am acutely aware of the impact of higher tariffs and the existing difficulties that many Irish exporters have already faced this year as well as the possible implications for the all-Ireland economy. I fully appreciate that there will be disappointment and concern in some sectors, including medtech, which are hugely important sectors for the Irish economy. Importantly, however, the joint statement leaves the door open for negotiation of further tariff reductions in the future on products of strategic common interest. Ireland is now working with the European Commission to see what exemptions can be made in areas of interest for Irish exporters. We continue to advocate for these exemptions for the medtech sector, as well as for spirits.
Since the US Administration entered into office in January this year, the impact of US tariff policy on Ireland’s exports to the US has been a priority for the Government. The Tánaiste has made this clear to the US Administration, including in his most recent meeting with US Secretary of Commerce in September. In this regard, we have also had ongoing contacts with the European Commission to discuss Irish concerns, including with regard to the pharmaceutical and medtech sectors. This is done formally through Ireland’s representation at the trade policy committee, our ambassador to the EU in Brussels and the Foreign Affairs Council of trade ministers, where EU-US trade relations have been regularly discussed throughout the year. The Tánaiste has discussed Ireland’s concerns on a number of occasions directly with Commissioner Šefčovič, most recently when he visited Dublin earlier this month where they discussed our concerns regarding pharma and medtech. I am in no doubt that the Commissioner understands the importance of these sectors for Ireland.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. When the Tánaiste and our diplomats have discussions with the European Commission, I hope it takes on our concerns particularly in relation to medtech and pharmaceuticals. As the Minister of State said, there are still possibilities for lower tariffs in certain areas. Medtech is one that needs to be highlighted on behalf of Ireland. A lot of work has been done in the past ten years or so to try to develop our economy. We have built it into the fastest growing economy in Europe, and a proportion of that is dependent on FDI and businesses we have in America. While we also need to look east and look for more opportunities in areas we have not before, it is important that we protect the livelihoods of people working in that sector as best we can in conjunction with the European Commission, making sure it is fully aware of the challenges Ireland has with these tariffs.
I assure the Senator that pharma and medtech are hugely important sectors for the Irish economy, as is he well aware, and for Europe. The interconnected supply chains across countries and across the Atlantic are not just a necessity but ultimately make us more resilient and stronger in the manufacture and delivery of treatments that improve health and save lives. The health of these sectors is good not just for our own economy and jobs but for the health of our citizens. It is for this reason we will continue to make the case for low or zero tariffs on pharma and medtech as well as other important sectors in the economy. The Senator can rest assured we will continue to engage with the Commission and the US in seeking to protect important sectors.
Legislative Process
I welcome the Minister of State. Many Senators have raised this issue as members of the foreign affairs committee. I ask for a straight answer about the timeline for the occupied territories Bill and the advice of the Attorney General. My Labour Party colleague and my party's spokesperson on foreign affairs, Deputy Duncan Smith, has asked the Tánaiste if we would get an answer in October and was told it will probably be in November. From talking to Senator Black, I understand a meeting had been scheduled for last week but because of the motion of confidence it was moved from that date and she has not been given a specific date. Many Members of this House have raised it. The Taoiseach was here last Thursday. We just want to know. It was agreed in the foreign affairs committee to include services in the Bill. Can we please get an answer on what aspects of services are believed not to be implementable? The foreign affairs committee has met international lawyers who were able to outline a clear pathway for the inclusion of services. There was a strong argument that we should not be worried about the inclusion of services, that they should be part of the Bill and that if it does not work out, it can be changed to exclude services. In my understanding, that is easily done. I acknowledge we are waiting for the advice of the Attorney General but by not including services, are we not uncompliant with the International Court of Justice? As the Minister of State knows, we have all stood on the side of justice and the majority of people in Ireland want to see this Bill passed as soon as possible, but they want the inclusion of services.
What is the point of witnesses coming before our foreign affairs committee, which deliberated for a significant amount of time, or any Oireachtas committee if its recommendations are not adhered to? Spain has banned the importation of goods and the advertisement of services. As a country, we want to go further than this. In fairness, credit where credit is due, we have been leading out on Palestine and as a country. Huge credit has to be given to Senator Black for drafting the Bill in the first place. It is going on too long. It was very much an election promise that this Bill would be enacted. How can Israel get away with genocide in front of our eyes when the International Court of Justice has made a ruling on it? How is this going to stand for humanity? I am not going to give a big lecture about it because we all know where we stand. We need a clear answer. When will we get the advice from the Attorney General? What is preventing services being included? I know the constant argument is that it will affect the trade of Irish companies because of the boycotting and divestment rule in America but we should not be trading with illegal settlements anyway.
We just need to get a clear answer on it, and I thank the Minister of State for coming here to address this.
First, the Government's position and, indeed, that of the European Union is clear. Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of the two-state solution. This is the long-standing position of Ireland, the European Union and many other international partners.
In June 2025, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill, as set out in the general scheme, is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. This is in line with the programme for Government which commits to prohibiting the importation of such goods. It is also priority legislation for this term, published by the Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
On the specific issue of services, the Tánaiste has said that he has no policy issue in relation to the inclusion of services. Trade in services is considerably more complex, which I think the Senator will appreciate, than is the case with goods, and there remains considerable legal uncertainty as to whether their inclusion is permissible under EU law. Legal clarity is needed on whether it is possible to include services, and the Tánaiste has asked the Attorney General to advise on this, as the Senator will be aware. We also have to take account of practical issues with regard to implementation should services be included in the scope of the Bill.
On the timeline, over the summer the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, to which the Senator referred, held a number of hearings on the general scheme, and received submissions representing a range of views and perspectives. The joint committee then published its report on the Bill. Work to analyse the report and its recommendations is well under way. A regulatory impact assessment is also currently being finalised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will be available on the Department’s website quite shortly when completed.
The next steps in the process, including the timeline for the progress of the Bill, will be considered by Government shortly. The Tánaiste expects to engage further with Government colleagues and the Attorney General on these issues in the coming weeks. In addition, we continue to engage at European Union and international levels with like-minded partners on this issue. In the absence of action at the EU level, Ireland has welcomed the announcements by the Dutch, Spanish, Slovenian and Belgian Governments regarding their own intention to ban the importation of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements. It remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and Ireland continues to pursue this. In light of recent developments, the EU’s immediate focus is on ensuring the success of the ceasefire and peace deal. It is essential that peace is given a chance to succeed.
At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday, the Tánaiste met his EU counterparts and welcomed the ceasefire and release of hostages as well as calling for the EU to support efforts to flood Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid. Preserving the very fragile ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian access at scale is a priority. The Tánaiste also recalled the unacceptable nature of what has been happening in the West Bank and stressed the importance of ensuring that the concept of a two-state solution resulting in a viable, contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem remains front and centre in the EU's approach and that all future phases of the current agreement are conducive to its implementation.
We do not really have a response yet and do not have a timeline. The danger is that, because of the presidential election and then we are going to be coming up to Christmas, this issue will be kicked down the road again. The Minister of State mentioned the fragile ceasefire. It is very fragile, but surely the ceasefire would be kept in place if Israel knew that there would be some sanctions or that it could not get away with this. Since 7 October 2023, the Israeli aggression on Palestine has resulted in 69,215 people being killed, 179,237 people being injured, 18,700 Palestinians being detained, and 1.9 million people being displaced. Israel is still getting away with it, and I am disappointed that there is not a clear timeline and that we cannot get a straight answer.
I do not agree with the Senator that the issue is being kicked down the road. It is a very significant priority for Government. It is a priority for me, as a member of Government, and for my party. I have been to the West Bank and settlements. I have seen the proliferation of Israeli settlements across the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. It is beyond comprehension. I have been a supporter of the occupied territories Bill since it was first introduced into these Houses by Senator Frances Black. I co-sponsored it in Dáil Éireann when we were in opposition. We have come from a position where it was deemed that we could not progress that legislation to where it is now: the Bill being a Government priority. It is in the programme for Government. When the Bill is passed, regardless of whether services are in it, and I am not going to die in the ditch in relation to the services piece - I think too much of a big deal is being made of that element - it will be a powerful international statement by Ireland, have no doubt about that.
To be fair, when you produce legislation, it has to be robust and has to be able to stand up to scrutiny. There is no point in producing cackhanded legislation that will not stand up to a challenge or scrutiny. Have no doubt about it, it will be challenged. It is absolutely going to be challenged, so the Attorney General is right. I appreciate the Senator's concern, and everybody's shared concern, in wanting to see this legislation progress.
It is not the case that Government is dragging its heels when it comes to this legislation. The opposite is the case. It is a priority for all of us. We want to do it, we want to do it right and we do not want it to rebound and fail at the very first test. It is reasonable that the Attorney General and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade should be allowed to bottom out the piece about the services element. Certainly, banning the importation of goods in the first instance will be a huge first step. If we do not get services in the first draft of the Bill then, like any legislation, it can be revisited. Whether it will be included in the first instance, I cannot say at this time. I would like to see it in there, but if it is in there, it must be airtight and hold water.
Tobacco Control Measures
Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an Aire Stáit. Gabhaim buíochas leis as teacht isteach sa Teach seo chun mo cheist a fhreagairt.
I would like to raise an issue that was brought to my attention by the proprietor of my local grocery story in the village in County Limerick that I am from. This person is the third generation of their family to run the local grocery store in the village. This person is well respected and, indeed, is an integral part of our village life and community. George Lee, the independent grocer, brought to my attention that the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is proposing to introduce in February of next year an annual licensing fee for the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. Will the Minister for Health consider a derogation for small grocery stores and small retailers in consideration of the significant cost increases they have experienced in recent years?
It is worth restating those cost increases. They have seen increases in lighting and heating bills, in insurance costs, in the minimum wage and in their basic inputs, the stock that they are buying in to sell on. All of these increases have put a significant squeeze on the very small profit margin these businesses are operating with. Indeed, these same businesses, as the Minister of State will remember, remained open to serve all of us during Covid. They were deemed essential services and did not close but persevered through the years of the lockdowns to ensure that communities like mine and that of the Minister of State, and communities throughout the country, were able to access the goods and groceries they required.
These businesses have faced a perfect storm in recent years.
The storm is not over yet because the Minister is proposing to introduce a licence fee of €1,000 per year to sell tobacco and €800 per year to sell nicotine-inhaling products, or vapes. That is regardless of the size of a premises, turnover or footfall. It is a blanket charge that is, in effect, a further tax and cost to small, independent grocers throughout the country. While the Government is rightly trying to drive down demand for these products, they are not profitable in their own rights. They are loss leaders and footfall drivers for businesses that are trying to sell other products.
We have heard a lot over recent weeks in the lead up to the budget about how important coffee shops were to rural communities throughout the countries and how important small restaurants were to small towns. There was a grocer, a local corner shop, in my village for a hundred years ever before we had a coffee shop and I can tell you that the loss of that grocery store would be as keenly felt as anything else in the fabric of our village. Will the Minister for Health consider a derogation, an exemption, for small groceries and retail businesses around the country from this new licence fee?
Before the Minister of State responds, I welcome guests of Deputy Edward Timmins from Wicklow - Annamoe, I believe. I hope they have an enjoyable day and I wish them well.
The Minister for Health has asked me to thank Senator Ryan for raising this matter. I am sure the Senator and the House are aware the measure she has raised is currently the subject of judicial review proceedings and on that basis it is incumbent on all of us to respect the work the court has to do and be circumspect in our discussion about it. Any call for the Minister to make any further decision is also pending the backdrop of the judicial review.
There are some aspects of the issue we can be very direct about. One of these is that we are in the year 2025 and, despite the time that has elapsed since it was recognised as a lethal product, combustible tobacco is still killing a large number of our population every day. Medical evidence shows that approximately 12 people among our family, friends, neighbours and communities die every day from tobacco smoking in Ireland in 2025. Tobacco smoking is both addictive and lethal. There is scientific consensus that smoking kills at least one out of every two smokers. According to international analysis, smoking is the risk factor that drives the most death and disability combined in Ireland. In addition to the death toll, combustible tobacco products also cause a vast range of illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, stroke and 16 types of cancer. The World Health Organization has estimated that 14% of Alzheimer's disease cases worldwide are attributable to smoking. When our young people smoke, there are additional risks to them. Smoking during childhood and adolescence causes both reduced lung function and impaired lung growth.
The licensing system, which the Senator has raised, relates to the retail sale of tobacco products and also of nicotine-inhaling products such as e-cigarettes. In relation to nicotine-inhaling products, there remains an absence of scientific consensus on their possible health harms. However, it is generally agreed that nicotine inhaling products are not harmless, but that they are less harmful than tobacco products. It is also generally agreed that further research is needed to establish possible long-term health effects of these products. The Health Research Board reviewed the evidence on e-cigarettes in October 2020. It found that, for adolescents, the use of e-cigarettes is associated with an increased likelihood of smoking. In addition, the World Health Organization has recommended since July 2014 that sales of e-cigarettes to minors be prohibited as there is sufficient evidence of the potential for adolescent nicotine exposure to have long-term consequences for brain development.
It is in this context that the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 was developed. The primary policy objective of the Act is to reduce the health harms of smoking through reducing the use of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products, primarily by young people. This objective fulfils two overarching principles of our national tobacco control policy, tobacco-free Ireland. These are the protection of children and the denormalisation of smoking. The Act was designed to achieve this objective through a suite of measures that addressed each phase of the sale of these products, including the licensing of retailers, the regulation of sale and the strengthening of enforcement. The measures in the Act include the licensing of the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products, the introduction of additional restrictions on the sale of both types of product and restrictions on the advertising of nicotine inhaling products. The important provision prohibiting the sale of nicotine-inhaling products to a child into effect on 22 December 2023. The sale of both types of products by a child is prohibited except in very limited circumstances. The sale of both types of products by self-service, for example through self-service vending machines, is prohibited. That measure came into effect last month. The sale of both types of products at events for children in prohibited. The advertising of nicotine inhaling products around schools and on public transport is prohibited. The advertising of nicotine-inhaling products in cinemas is restricted.
The final group of measures in the Act are those which provide additional enforcement powers to the national environmental health service of the HSE which is the enforcement authority for the 2023 Act and previous tobacco control Acts.
I acknowledge all of the actions the Minister of State listed that Government is taking to drive down the sale of cigarettes but I question whether this measure will achieve that aim. From discussing the issue with other retailers, it seems to me this will be successful in driving the sale of cigarettes and vapes underground and further into the black market, which is thriving in this regard. Regrettably, it is my view that this measure, should it be introduced without a derogation for small businesses, will be a further nail in the coffin for independent retailers who are struggling in what is already a very difficult and challenging trading environment. I ask the Minister of State to pass on to the Minister of Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, the need to examine this issue for small grocery stores.
I absolutely understand the points Senator Ryan is making in relation to small retail and grocery shops, which are the lifeblood of many local communities, as we know. They are under pressure, as the Senator has outlined, on many fronts in terms of their viability and sustainability within our communities. Like our post office networks, it is important that people shop local and support their local shops and enterprises inasmuch as possible. The request she has made is a fair and measured one in terms of the backdrop of viability and sustainability, particularly of the smaller shops. The points the Senator made about the potential licence fee vis-à-vis the turnover of some enterprises is also a point that has merit and requires examination. I will pass on the Senator's' request to the Minister for Health to have this matter examined once the judicial review proceedings have been exhausted.
Health Screening Programmes
Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach inniu. The newborn bloodspot screening, NBS, programme, commonly known as the heel prick test, is carried out on babies in their first 70-120 hours of life and currently screens for nine rare but serious conditions. Approximately 120 babies with these conditions are identified per year through this test. However, parents are still calling for the urgent roll-out of the potentially life-changing heel prick test for spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, nearly two years after it was approved for the newborn screening programme. It is estimated that six or seven babies are born in Ireland every year with SMA. If it is not treated, 90% of children born with this most severe type of SMA do not live past their second birthday.
SMA affects the cells in the spinal cord, making muscles weaker and causing problems with movement, breathing and swallowing. It is a rare genetic disease where early detection is crucial because symptoms typically appear at three or four months, when irreversible neurological damage has already occurred.
Without early intervention, SMA can be fatal up to the age of two but several treatments are available in Ireland that can significantly alter prognosis if there is early diagnosis. In 2023, the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, accepted the recommendations of the national screening advisory committee to increase the number of conditions to be screened to include the implementation of early screening for spinal muscular atrophy. However, unfortunately, this has yet to materialise.
Some €1.4 million of new development funding was provided back in 2024 to export the expansion of a newborn screening programme. The funding covered areas such as new equipment, staff, recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training of staff. Recommendations from the NSAC on the addition of spinal muscular atrophy and severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID, to the national newborn bloodspot screening programme, NNBSP, have been approved. I raise this issue today in this House, as I have done on a number of occasions, and I am hopeful the Minister of State will be able to give us some information as to when we can expect this test to be rolled out and in operation.
I thank the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on this important matter. The Government is determined to support Ireland’s screening programmes, which are a valuable part of the health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people and improving the overall health of our population.
In terms of newborn bloodspot screening specifically, the Government is aware of how difficult it is for parents whose children have received a diagnosis of a rare disease and how challenging daily life can be for them, their families and their children. The programme for Government commits to continually reviewing the number of conditions babies are screened for. Additionally, the national rare disease strategy launched by the Minister for Health in August of 2025, includes actions related to the expansion of newborn bloodspot screening. I highlight that any proposed changes to Ireland's screening programmes are facilitated through established and evidence-driven protocols.
The national screening advisory committee is the independent expert group that provides advice to the Minister for Health. The rigorous processes utilised by the committee are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards. Since May 2022, babies born in Ireland are offered screening for nine conditions through the HSE’s national newborn bloodspot screening programme. In 2023, two recommendations from the committee for the introduction of screening for SCID and SMA were approved. A total of €1.4 million in additional funding to support the implementation process was provided through the budget of 2024. Implementation planning included a procurement of specialised equipment, the recruitment of 12 additional staff, the physical reconfiguration of existing laboratory and the validation to inform appropriate cut-off values for screening. The implementation process for both conditions commenced in 2024 and is ongoing, involving close collaboration between officials at the Department of Health and the HSE national children's screening programme. Once completed, it will bring the number of conditions screened for through the NNBSP to 11.
In terms of progress, all additional staff have now been recruited, and the required equipment has been purchased, delivered and successfully installed at the newborn screening laboratory. Significant processes continue with regards to the laboratory verification process, as well as the development of necessary treatment pathways. It is crucial to note that the expansion of the NNBSP is a complex and time-consuming process. This was emphasised in the health technology assessment reports for both SCID and SMA, which were completed by HIQA on behalf of the committee.
In relation to concerns raised around the length of the implementation process, it should be emphasised that Ireland is not taking longer than any other comparable countries to access and implement additions to the NNBSP. The Health Council of the Netherlands first recommended screening for SMA in 2019, and implementation was completed three years later in October 2022. In the United States of America, it took six years to fully implement SMA screening after it was added to the recommended uniform screening panel in 2018. Screening for SCID and SMA have been under consideration by the UK national screening committee since 2017 and 2018, respectively.
I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the fact that progress has been made on the recruitment of recruitment of staff and the necessary equipment. It does seem to take an awfully long time, which he outlined in his response, not just in this country but in different jurisdictions as well. As he rightly outlined, this is a terrible, stressful situation for parents who find themselves in such in such a position, and it is vital that we move to get this up and running as soon as we can. I would like the Minister of State to bring the message back to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill that we should not delay and should expedite the roll-out of this as soon as is practically possible.
We have always evaluated the case for commencing or expanding our national screening programmes against internationally accepted criteria, collectively known as the Wilson and Jungner criteria. The evidence bar for screening programmes should and must remain high. This ensures that we can be confident that programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards. While Ireland currently screens for fewer conditions than many other European countries, direct comparisons are not always accurate. Ireland adopts a national population-based approach, with screening being the first part of a full pathway that also involves onward diagnosis and treatment. The evidence related to each of these is examined in advance of the recommendations by the NSAC. Unlike some other European countries, Ireland does not screen on a regional or indeed pilot basis. Nevertheless, the Government is aware of how difficult it is for parents whose children have received a diagnosis of a rare disease and how challenging daily life can be for them, their families and their children. Advances in technology and treatments for many of these conditions are continually emerging, which is very welcome, and the House can be assured that all stakeholders involved in the implementation process are working to ensure that screening for both conditions is introduced as soon as possible, and the Minister will continue to advocate on behalf of the rare diseases community in this regard.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar fionraí ar 11.38 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 12 meán lae.
Sitting suspended at 11.38 a.m. and resumed at 12 noon.