1. 30 September 2026Voted TáLost

   Electricity Regulation (Climate Action and Connection to Distribution and Transmission Systems) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]

   Question put: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time"

   Official record
2. 30 September 2026Voted NílCarried

   Public Transport and Fare Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

   Amendment put:

   Official record
3. 30 September 2026Voted NílCarried

   Windfall Tax on the Excess Profits of Energy Companies: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

   Amendment put:

   Official record
4. 30 September 2026Voted Níl

1. 29 September 2026

   Family Reunification

   577. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the significant backlog in processing of join family visas at the Abu Dhabi office; whether measures are being taken to address it, particularly for spouses of Irish citizens; whether his Department recognises the impact that delays approaching two years is having on Irish citizens and their spouses; and whether a temporary visit mechanism can be made available to Irish citizens w

   Official record
2. 24 September 2026

   Departmental Reviews

   77. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review carried out by his Department on the system of means tests for all schemes in his Department; and if he will lay the report before the House. [67512/26]

   Official record
3. 24 September 2026

   Social Welfare Payments

   2. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the work his Department is undertaking to increase uptake of the working family payment. [67508/26]

   Official record
4. 24 September 2026

   Social Welfare Benefits

   112. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to change the Household Benefits Package to alleviate poverty amongst households most in need. [67525/26]

1. 24 September 2026

   34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-24

   Deputy Eoin Hayes I thank the Minister for his reply. On Committee Stage, the assistant secretary general shared the information that, as the Minister said, there would be 56,000 recipients in 2026. However, the Department estimates a 53% uptake among those who are eligible, which means that approximately 50,000 people who would get that payment were they to apply for it are not getting it. That is a big problem. What comes to mind for me is the fact that the Government was able to work with Re

   Official record
2. 24 September 2026

   34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-24

   Deputy Eoin Hayes I accept that. I appreciate anything the Minister and his officials do in that regard. It is important to acknowledge that consistent child poverty is at 8%, so it is double what it was before. When we take housing into account, it is about 10%. It is about 26.6% for families whose youngest child is between the ages of zero and five. Working families really do need this kind of support. Child poverty is something that comes up in the context of the budget every year. Last yea

   Official record
3. 24 September 2026

   34th Dáil debate — 2026-09-24

   Deputy Eoin Hayes I completely understand. The Minister trots out this line that he is keeping up with inflation or surpassing inflation. However, all the research would suggest - this is something put out by the European Union and the OECD - that the lower income populations have a higher rate of inflation because, as a proportion of their income or their costs, they often have to pick more expensive options. Whether it is pay-as-you-go electricity meters, not buying food in bulk or otherwise,

• Labour Party
• Fine Gael
• Fianna Fáil

Questions about Eoin Hayes