International Relations

5. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken by her Department to recognise and further strengthen Ireland’s historic, cultural and diplomatic relationship with France, as Ireland’s closest European Union neighbour; and whether consideration is being given to initiatives to mark the historic links and friendship between the two countries. [69692/26]

Departmental Policies

99. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is taking to ensure that the delivery of large-scale housing developments is matched by the guaranteed provision of essential community infrastructure, including community centres, libraries, childcare and other local amenities; and whether additional funding or supports will be provided to areas experiencing significant population growth such as Belmayne and Clongriffin. [69336/26

Health Services

161. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure equitable access to care for people living with pulmonary fibrosis across all regions, including access to specialist multidisciplinary teams, timely diagnostics, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen services and appropriate community-based care; and whether gaps in regional provision have been examined. [69022/26]

Disability Issues

126. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether changes to the tax system are being considered for budget 2027 to better recognise the additional costs faced by persons with disabilities, including the cost of transport, energy and medical and assistive equipment; and whether additional or enhanced tax reliefs in this area are under consideration. [68536/26]

Business Supports

181. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the tax measures being considered for Budget 2027 to support SMEs facing increased costs and to encourage small businesses to invest, grow and create employment; and whether changes to existing tax reliefs for SMEs are being examined as part of the Budget process. [68535/26]

Human Rights

198. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade about the recent wave of arrests and detentions of LGBTQ+ persons and activists in Turkey, if she will raise her concerns directly with the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland, if the Irish Government would support considering those responsible for this anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown for inclusion under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. [68167/26]

34th Dáil debate — 2026-10-01

Deputy Barry Heneghan Ireland and France are neighbours, not simply through geography but also centuries of shared history. I have raised this matter in parliamentary questions previously. On 31 August, I had the honour of attending the ceremony beneath the Arc de Triomphe, attended by Deputy Ward last year. A wreath was laid to honour the Irish who fought with French armies. La France se souvient de l’Irlande et l’Irlande doit aussi se souvenir de la France. France remembers Ireland and Irelan

34th Dáil debate — 2026-10-01

Deputy Barry Heneghan I will always support housing and building it, but in my constituency, the communities need to be built at the same time. Belmayne and Clongriffin have been developing for 20 years, yet residents are still waiting for basic infrastructure and services to catch up, and building is continuing at pace. Will the Minister commit to ensuring that major housing delivery is matched and funded with timely delivery of community facilities, healthcare, childcare, transport and other

34th Dáil debate — 2026-10-01

Deputy Barry Heneghan I welcome that. As the Minister said, we have already joined that framework. We should not allow the Presidency to pass without leaving something permanent. I welcome the Minister's commitment to chase this up with the OPW. There is much connection between Ireland and France, about which I am learning more and more. For example, after the Second World War, the Irish Red Cross established hospitals in shattered Normandy towns. The 92nd Infantry Regiment of the French Army c

34th Dáil debate — 2026-10-01

Deputy Barry Heneghan We need to build healthcare centres and community facilities, but that will mean very little if we cannot adequately staff the services they provide. The Land Development Agency says Clongriffin, Belmayne and the neighbouring Stapolin lands have the potential for thousands more homes. Will the Minister work across government to ensure that the planned population growth is linked directly to funding for the workforce and planning for healthcare, gardaí, childcare, libraries

34th Dáil debate — 2026-10-01

Deputy Barry Heneghan I have spoken to the Minister about this before but one person who brings much of the shared history together is General Charles de Gaulle. His ancestry comes through the McCartan family from County Down. His ancestors served in the Berwick's Regiment as part of the great Wild Geese tradition. Ireland fascinated the de Gaulle family intellectually. His grandmother, Josephine Marie Anne Maillot, wrote a biography of Daniel O'Connell, which de Gaulle read as a young man. Whe