I welcome this particularly important legislation. I just want to make a few comments on the opinions expressed by the previous speaker in respect of a report that was published recently by Oxfam. The Deputy did not quote the whole conclusion. The conclusion was the same as it was nearly 50 years ago to the effect that 80% of the wealth was owned by 10% of the population. It then went on to say that 80% of the taxation was paid by 10% of the population. The Deputy left that bit out and I do not know why that happen…

-----and with which I strongly disagreed. Those who called for this tax haven to be stopped said nothing at all when we needed - in the worst way possible - everything we had after the financial crash and following and during Covid. When people quote from these situations, it is a good thing to tell the whole story so as not to confuse the public. Sometimes the public does get confused and might believe it. I happened to be in a position where I could confront said gentleman and his cohorts at the time but for some…

I know. It was a few years ago but it will not happen again. I welcome the legislation. Contrary to what Members opposite have said. this is not the first time we have visited this type of situation, as the Minister and the Ceann Comhairle well know. We remedied this particular problem many years ago to a certain extent when the courts made a decision in situations where there was a separation and people went their separate ways. In some cases, it was acrimonious and partners who were in the position of providing m…

I wish to ascertain the extent to which the Minister can forecast the various threats to Irish agricultural exports at home and abroad and the likelihood of the ability of the industry to maintain its place on international markets.

Could the Minister tell me the extent to which volume in the various sectors is on the move in either a positive or negative direction and the degree to which any intervention can be made to ensure that volumes do not decrease too much given that the world population is increasing and demand is likely to increase? If the Irish agrifood sector cannot supply the various markets it has traditionally supplied and new markets, it will find itself in a situation where dependence for supply will go to other regions. While…

Given that the agrifood sector in this country was instrumental in the recovery following the financial crash and there are many issues that will confront the sector in the future, some of which were referred to by the Minister, can he indicate the degree to which Irish agriculture can contribute to the world food supply? Approximately 40 million people are fed by the agrifood sector in this country. How is this likely to continue and what are the prospects ahead?

I again raise the continued and questionable use of the concept of family or parental alienation in family law, and the extent to which it militates against the interests of mothers, some fathers and, in many cases, children. The Minister has been very helpful in outlining her proposals for the future in that respect. I respectfully suggest that the pseudo-concept of parental alienation be abolished from family law cases, that the suitability of professionals offering expert evidence be restricted to those who are …

This is an important Bill. I am not certain it will fulfil the needs of the day, or even those of future or past days. The fact of the matter remains that digital communication and all that goes with it is a huge boon to society, to business, to social cohesion and to bringing news to the multitudes. It also can be turned into a lethal weapon. Unfortunately, that has shown its face already in many facets internationally, for example in elections. Various situations have presented whereby a person can feed misinform…

I sometimes agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett. In this case, I remind him that it is not just the wealthy conglomerates which carry out these acts of sedition, of treason, and of undermining the political system with changes in elections. This has been done already to a great extent. I am sorry that I cannot express myself adequately in the time available but will do so some time again.

I ask the Taoiseach to outline the extent to which discussions took place on the most serious social issues facing the country at the present time such as homelessness, people sleeping rough, and addiction of various forms and to what extent it was possible to identify the means of addressing these particular issues in early date as we approach the season of Christmas.

Can the Taoiseach say whether it was obvious that the countries producing fossil fuel energy are not serious about the need for reductions, on the one hand, and the extent to which the consumer countries - like this country and other European countries - are prepared to make the alternatives available in the shortest possible time, on the other? Postponing it to some mid-point in the future and into the nowhere is not the answer. We must be prepared, otherwise we will have a shortage of energy.

There is one minute and seven seconds remaining. We will do our best.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Ring - To discuss the investigations into the staff and CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor - To discuss the timeline for the opening of the mother and baby redress scheme and making of payments. Deputy Bríd Smith - To discuss issues with the new BusConnects services in Dublin 10 and 12. Deputy Chris Andrews - To d…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I thank her for allowing me to raise this issue again. There is a serious problem throughout north Kildare at the present time. It is welcome, of course, that we have an increasing population and an increase in employment and commercial activity. The significant increase in population impacts on school places. Almost every school and area in the north of the county is affected by either a potential shortage of school places or an existing shortage of such places. E…

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply, which is much appreciated. It clearly indicates that the Minister of State, the senior Minister and the Department has a knowledge of what the situation is. It is also important to have an up-to-date knowledge and such knowledge will show the most results at this particular time. We have all, as public representatives, tried to ensure that the school management boards relay to the Department regularly to update it, and that all of the factors that need to be bro…

Sorry, Deputy-----

There shall be no crosstalk.

I have raised this question previously. It relates to people with insufficient contributions to qualify for either self-employment-based contributions or PRSI contributions in the normal way and who do not qualify for any pension. When I was in the Department once upon a time, I brought about some changes in this area, which made an improvement. Unfortunately, with the cutbacks during the financial crash, all of them have been eroded. This measure could be considered now. I spoke with the Minister about it before.

On self-employed contributions, if the payer of said contributions does not make a profit in whatever profession he or she is in for one or more years - which happened to many people, including some Members of this House - that could have a detrimental effect on his or her pension. Such contributors could buy out extra contributions to qualify until the financial crash, when emergency measures changed the position and made it virtually impossible to qualify. The period from 2035 onwards has been heralded as a time …

I welcome all of those measures. It is a tremendous budget for social welfare recipients and many others. All those improvements were admirable and necessary. However, there is a constitutional principle in this regard. People are paying into a system in anticipation of receiving a pension from it at a later stage but they do not qualify when the time comes. There is a constitutional commitment that does not arise as far as they are concerned. As the Minister of State said, it is usual that they would qualify for a…