The early years education sector is in crisis. It is not serving the interests of parents, children or providers. It is in serious need of investment and adequate funding. Parents are paying the equivalent of a mortgage for services. In some cases, they cannot access childcare even if they could afford it. My office in Swords responds every day to people caught up in this crisis. David from Malahide, an early years education provider, says the cost is now unsustainable for families. Jessie from Swords, who has just…

Sonas Lá na Bealtaine oraibh. I am very proud member of SIPTU and have been a union member and representative all my working life. I commend the unions represented in Leinster House today promoting the benefits of union membership. I was also happy to stand with the early years childhood groups in calling on the Government to honour its pre-election promises to the sector. Trade unions pay an important and progressive role in Irish society. They are to the fore in defending the interests of working people and their…

Many of our most vulnerable children and young people have been failed not only by CHI but also by the Government. Families from right across my constituency of Dublin Fingal East have contacted me in desperation, pleading for decent healthcare services for their children. A young mother in Swords who has turned her life around and gone back to education has a three-year-old child who has severe needs. She has been waiting far too long for the medical interventions needed to assist her child. She cannot afford priv…

Uisce Éireann has to become more accountable to the public it serves. A constituent of mine, an old-age pensioner, is owed money by Uisce Éireann since last November, when she paid Dyno-Rod, a private company, to clear an urgent problem that was the responsibility of Uisce Éireann because she could not wait for it to act. The cost was €190, a substantial amount of money, particularly for an old age pensioner struggling to pay her bills, and it was taken from the savings she had built up for Christmas. The woman was…

Sinn Féin is intent on scrapping water charges once and for all. We have been consistent in our opposition to this taxation. To be clear, water is not free. Households pay for their water. It is an essential service and is covered by general taxation. Consecutive Governments have wanted the public to pay for their water three times - through general taxation, the costs of setting up and running Uisce Éireann and, finally, failed water charges. We are introducing this Private Members' Bill to send out a clear messag…

Our young people are our greatest resource. We need to start by acknowledging that. We also need to support and invest in them. I acknowledge the great work done by the youth services in my area in Fingal east, including Crosscare, Youthreach, the north Fingal youth diversion programme and all the local clubs that work with our young people. Diverting young people from criminal activity must be based on international best practice and in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring young people’…

At the recent European Council meeting, discussion took place on the Middle East. It was really disappointing to see the subsequent resolution that passed did not mention Israel. Nowhere in the resolution does it mention the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza, or the unprecedented violence being carried out by Israel in the West Bank. It is clear for anyone to see that Israel is guilty of crimes against humanity and carries out atrocities that are in breach of international law. There is no red line Israe…

I welcome this motion. The carer's allowance is a hugely important issue that needs to be addressed. The means test must be scrapped. Members of this Government should hang their heads in shame. In the run up to the recent general election, the Government promised to scrap the means test. Four months after the election, absolutely nothing has been done. There is no plan, detail or timeline. The Government is too busy making grubby deals to actually address the real needs of struggling families. We in Sinn Féin were…

I acknowledge the members of the commission for producing such a detailed and thought-provoking report. It offers a serious critique of the previous Government as well as the current one. The commission's report states that there have been systematic failures and ineffective decision-making in the Government's housing policy but this only confirms what we already know. The report also states that the mandarins were merely reacting to the housing crisis and that risk aversion dominates. As a former councillor for th…

I am honoured to speak here today to mark International Women's Day. As a life-long trade unionist and activist, I see a clear link between the struggle for women's rights and the struggle for workers' rights. International Women's Day grew out of the labour movement in the US and workers' struggle for better conditions. It was marked for the first time by the UN in 1975. In December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, and so i…

Dublin is a great city. Our people, history and rich culture make it a great place to live. Everyone has a right to feel safe. Every community should be a safe and welcoming place in which to live, work and visit, but unfortunately not everyone feels safe here in Dublin. Every community is different but the challenges are the same. The lack of a visible, accessible, reliable and accountable Garda service has created a sense of fear and desperation in many homes and communities across Dublin. The lack of investment,…

As this is my first time to speak, I take the opportunity to thank my family for their ongoing support - my daughter Christine, sons Paul and David, grandson Noah, and Mary and Alana. I remember my husband, who passed away last year and who was my strongest supporter. I also thank the people in Dublin Fingal East who came out to vote for me and put their trust in me. I intend representing them to the best of my ability. Finally, I thank my republican family - the volunteers, comrades and friends who worked their so…

I will just add that investment has been lacking under successive Governments and we need it now.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle.