Latest news with #Oireachtas
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Opposition parties continue to boycott pairing arrangements for absent Ministers
Opposition parties have continued to boycott the pairing arrangement with Government Ministers, almost five months after a bitter row erupted in the Oireachtas over speaking rights for Independent TDs who supported the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Coalition. Whips from Opposition parties confirmed this week the protest is continuing. 'Pairs have not been reinstated,' said Sinn Féin whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn . 'We still feel very strongly about what happened and the way the [Michael] Lowry group was supported by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. 'We are not co-operating with pairs, and don't intend to reinstate a pairing arrangement anytime soon,' Mr Mac Lochlainn said. Facilitating pairs is a long-standing custom in the Dáil. They are most commonly used when a Minister travels abroad on official business, or when a Government TD is sick or incapacitated. READ MORE In an arrangement brokered between the Government Chief Whip and the whips from the main Opposition parties, a TD from the Opposition benches agrees to absent themselves from the chamber for the vote, essentially cancelling out each other's vote. The Labour Party also confirmed separately it is not offering support for pairs at the moment. 'We have not given any pairs yet,' said Duncan Smith of the Labour Party . Other Labour sources said the party may review that stance in the future. The Social Democrats has not given any pairs in this Dáil but acting leader Cian O'Callaghan said its policy had not changed and it did offer pairs in 'rare and exceptional circumstances'. 'If there was a bereavement or illness for example, we would facilitate. The last time we had a pair (arrangement) was when (then minister for climate change) Eamon Ryan went to the COP conference and Jennifer Whitmore offered a pair,' Mr O'Callaghan said. [ Is it time for the Social Democrats to end Eoin Hayes's purgatory? Opens in new window ] He said that with party leader Holly Cairns on maternity leave until September, the party is effectively offering a pair. 'We are already down one vote and we are not keen to reduce our Dáil representation any further,' Mr O'Callaghan said. The Government's working majority in the 174-seat Dáil is such that the boycott of pairing arrangements has not yet impacted on any votes when significant divisions have been called. It has a majority of 20 and would need to lose the support of nine TDs to lose a vote in the House. When Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, two Independent TDs who support the Government, voted with the Opposition in May on a Sinn Féin Bill in support of Palestine , the Government still comfortably won the vote by a margin of 87 to 75. A spokesman for Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said she was managing the scenario in a situation where Government Ministers were constantly travelling to Brussels and elsewhere on Government business. The Chief Whip has asked for pairs at the business committee but none have yet been offered by the Opposition. There was an automatic pairing arrangement in the Dáil whenever a Minister attended a session of Seanad Éireann but that is no longer operating. 'We have asked for the reinstatement of that pairing arrangement,' said the spokesman. 'Seanad business has had to be suspended in recent weeks because of the unavailability of a pair. That is suboptimal.' Withdrawing from pairing arrangements is one of the few procedural tactics an Opposition party can use to put pressure on a Government, thereby threatening its Dáil majority. Pairing arrangements become essential when a government has a very small majority, or is in a minority position. In late 1982, the minority government of Charles Haughey was facing a confidence vote. The Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Bill Loughnane, died suddenly and the Carlow-Kilkenny TD Jim Gibbons – a bitter opponent of Haughey within the party – was seriously ill in hospital. In the absence of a pair, Fianna Fáil considered the possibility of taking the very ill Mr Gibbons from hospital by ambulance to vote in the Dáil. It did not happen and the vote was lost, precipitating the fall of the government. 'Daddy' Trump meets Nato, while defence, trade and Gaza dominate EU summit Listen | 44:28
Irish Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Ireland becomes first EU nation to introduce ban on trade with Israeli settlements
IRELAND has become the first country in the EU to bring forward legislation that bans trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The law, titled the 'Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025', was approved by the Irish Cabinet and is now headed to the Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. Tánaiste Simon Harris described the bill as a moral and legal response to the 'horrifying situation' in Gaza and Israel's continued settlement expansion in occupied territories - actions deemed illegal under international law. Speaking at a press conference, Mr Harris stated, 'Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza.' He acknowledged Ireland's isolation within the EU on this issue, saying that no other EU country has yet introduced similar legislation. 'We're pretty lonely out there,' he said. 'But in the absence of Europe moving together, we're going to go ahead with our own domestic legislation.' He called on his EU counterparts to join Ireland in pushing for collective action. 'It would be a hell of a lot better if Europe moved together on it, and a hell of a lot more impactful,' Mr Harris said. The legislation follows the 2024 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion, which concluded that Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem violate international law. The ICJ also held that third countries must stop aiding or trading with such settlements. Mr Harris cited this ruling as a driving force in the legal foundation of Ireland's new bill, arguing that trade with these settlements contributes to maintaining an illegal situation. The proposed law will criminalise the importation of goods from Israeli settlements, granting customs officials authority to inspect, seize or confiscate them. 'We want a law that is impactful and compliant with the laws of our land,' he said. While nine EU member states - including Spain, Sweden and Belgium - have recently called on the European Commission to explore ways to align trade practices with international law, none have gone as far as Ireland. 'This is an issue that I will continue to press at EU level,' he stated, adding that he hopes Ireland's example will act as a catalyst for broader European action. The move has drawn swift condemnation from Israeli officials. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labelled the legislation 'shameful', accusing Ireland of singling out Israel during a time when it faces threats throughout the region. 'It is regrettable that even when Israel is fighting an existential threat, which is in Europe's vital interest - there are those who can't resist their anti-Israeli obsession,' Saar wrote on social media. Despite this, Mr Harris emphasised that Ireland's stance is not anti-Israel but rooted in international legal obligations and humanitarian concerns. He pointed to widespread Irish public outrage over the situation in Gaza, saying, 'Everybody in this country is sickened to the pit of their stomach with the genocide they see in Gaza… particularly children.' With the bill now before an Oireachtas committee, the government expects all coalition members to support it as part of the Programme for Government. Whether Ireland's move sparks broader EU action remains to be seen. See More: EU, Israel, Palestine, Simon Harris, West Bank
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Sinn Féin TD denies 'tactical wee' after missing vote
Sinn Féin's Justice spokesperson says he missed a vote on his own amendment to the Offences Against the State Act - due to the need to answer nature's call. Matt Carthy said the Minister of State Niall Collins was able to ensure the passage of the legislation without any votes, describing the move as "petty". Deputy Carthy said these things happen, but the substantive point Sinn Féin wanted to make was that the government needed to accelerate the review into the law which he described as "outdated." Asked if it was a "tactical wee" in the words of cartoon character Bluey, Deputy Carthy said it was a tactical position on the part of the Minister of State, saying "it was an old fashioned political stroke all's fair in love and politics". "The Minister saw an opportunity to avoid a vote, and he took it." Sinn Féin has insisted that it would have abstained on the renewal of the Offences Against the State Act, but it was ultimately not put to a vote. Deputy Carthy had "stepped out" for a few minutes during the debate on the emergency measures that are renewed by the Oireachtas annually. When he returned, to an almost empty Dáil, he was told by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that the matter had been dealt with. Mr Carthy previously said that the emergency legislation, which dates back 90 years, should not be used on an ongoing basis. He called for the the introduction of a modern legal framework to tackle organised crime and to protect jurors.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Ombudsman ‘utterly dismayed' by issues around children's needs
An ombudsman has said he is 'exasperated and utterly dismayed' at chronic issues around children's needs. Children's Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon called for the full and direct incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Irish law as he questioned whether ongoing scandals around child homelessness and scoliosis waiting lists would be as severe this year if they had been addressed earlier. Advertisement Dr Muldoon told the Oireachtas Children's Committee on Wednesday that direct incorporation of the convention is 'the most important thing' that can be done to protect and safeguard the rights of Irish children. He said Ireland had already committed to these rights, but there was a need to put 'real force' behind the international obligations. Dr Muldoon told the committee: 'It will put children's rights at the heart of every decision within the public and civil service, and give us a stronger basis to ensure we are keeping our promises to children. 'For example, imagine if five years ago the State had to come up with a child and family-focused home strategy. Advertisement 'Would there still be 4,775 children in emergency accommodation today?' He added: 'Or if our recommendations around scoliosis as a children's rights issue, as far back as 2017, was made against the backdrop of direct incorporation, would there be the same crisis as there is today?' Dr Muldoon said Ireland should be able to better funnel resources to where they are 'needed most', adding that societies are judged on how they treat their most vulnerable. He said: 'As ombudsman for children, I am exasperated and utterly dismayed at the persistent chronic issues around access to affordable housing for children and families, at the unacceptable delays in access to vital surgeries and assessments of need in a country as well-off as Ireland economically. Advertisement 'We are now at a crossroads in terms of what can be achieved for children, and in the current climate of political uncertainty and change, it's more important than ever for the State to bed down its commitments on children's rights.'
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
€8,414: Cost of keeping a patient in hospital for week
The cost of keeping a patient in hospital for one week is approaching an average of €8,500. This compares with a weekly average cost of €2,000 in stepdown care facilities, an Oireachtas committee has heard, with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill now seeking more capital funding for such centres. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Step-down facilities provide a bridge between hospital care and a return to the patient's home or a long-term care facility. These centres are frequently used by older populations and are commonly located in nursing homes under both public and private ownership. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Pic: Stephen Collins/ Collins Photos Fine Gael TD Colm Burke raised the lack of step-down beds in Ireland with the Health Minister yesterday, highlighting the impact the facilities can have on 'freeing up hospital beds'. Mr Burke, who has sat on the health committee since 2011, raised the case of a man in his 30s who suffered a stroke and required rehabilitation services. 'Instead, that man occupied a bed in a public hospital for four months,' Mr Burke said. 'Are we doing everything in our power to identify step-down facilities? The whole idea of [these centres] is that they are located near hospitals and can free up beds in a faster time frame,' he added. Pic: Shutterstock Mr Burke also highlighted the financial benefit of step-down care. 'Every person in hospital is costing the State roughly €8,000 per week. However, if you have a step-down facility, the most it will cost is €2,000 per week. We need to look at step-down facilities to get people out of hospitals,' he said. The most up-to-date data published by the HSE shows that as of June 2024, the average 'fully absorbed', of keeping a patient in hospital is €1,202 per day. This equates to €8,414 per week and covers treatment costs and the cost of running the hospital. Colm Burke. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Speaking to Mr Burke noted that the average daily cost of keeping a patient in hospital has increased, with the figure standing at €1,195 per day or €8,365 per week in 2023, up from €878 a day and €6,146 a week in 2019. In light of cost pressures, this could soon place the weekly cost of hospital care to the Exchequer at €8,500 per patient. Data provided to Mr Burke estimates that the weekly cost of step-down care in nursing homes can range from €1,206 to €1,969. The Cork TD said: 'There were 781,300 people over the age of 65 recorded in the last Census. This cohort is expected to grow to one million people by 2030. Over half of hospital beds are being occupied by over-65s. 'We can build step-down facilities quicker than hospitals – we have to build more of them all over the country.' Speaking at the health committee meeting, Ms Carroll MacNeill told Mr Burke she 'could not agree with [him] more'. 'That is why I am looking for capital investment in community nursing homes and step-down facilities… because it is a much more efficient way of looking after someone from a financial perspective and it is a much better way of meeting their needs,' the minister said. She added that the issue of people staying in hospital longer than necessary is of 'particular concern' to her department. 'I look at the hospital trolley figures every single day and I am aware that in some hospitals, particularly in hospitals across the west, delayed discharge is a key metric [in high trolley numbers];' She added: 'Step-down facilities are essential. 'We are not going to be able to meet today's needs, let alone tomorrow's needs, without significant capital investment. We have a plan in our NDP [National Development Plan] review to be able to do that… We need to build new [step-down facilities].'
