My question is on the International Criminal Court. Has Ireland sought to include the slaughter of starving Palestinians queuing for aid in South Africa's case, which we have joined? I welcomed our joining that case.

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I gather from it the International Criminal Court has already included this. I ask that the Tánaiste and his diplomatic staff do everything possible to try to ensure that case is pressed. The horror show in Gaza continues. There is bombing of tents with innocent civilians in them as well as of hospitals and schools. The four Gaza Humanitarian Foundation centres have been turned into shooting galleries where people are herded in and shot for fun. If firing tank shells into crowds …

I thank the Tánaiste. I welcome that support for the International Criminal Court. It is important. The international order is under attack, without a doubt. The Tánaiste's reply has caused me more concern due to the feedback he got last week. It is important Ireland and other countries continue to support the International Criminal Court and not allow the United Nations to be undermined, and indeed for the whole organisation to be reformed and improved. The Government has stood out. We need to continue doing that.…

I also welcome the visitors in the Gallery. The HSE has stated that the assessments of need for 15,292 children are overdue, meaning they have gone past the legal timeframe of six months. Legally this should be completed within a six-month period. A total of 13,002 have been waiting for more than nine months and 418 of these are in counties Laois and Offaly. This is totally unacceptable. The cohort affected are missing out on essential interventions at a crucial point in their development. Within the past week, the…

While I know there has to be procedures, I want the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to put some urgency on this and get the HSE to shorten the procedure period to get these private clinicians in place to provide the services. Nine months is too long.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. By and large, the Bill is necessary. Some would say there is a magic wand for solving the housing crisis. I certainly believe that a whole lot of magic wands are needed. There are a number of components that are needed, and this is certainly one of them. In general, I welcome the Bill. Some of the proposed amendments might set things back. While some of the amendments may be worthy of consideration, others might cause further problems. The proposal to extend planning…

The terrorist state of Israel continues its campaign of horror, genocide, starvation and every war crime imaginable. Civilians queuing for food because they are desperate and starving are being slaughtered. Refugees in tents are being bombed. Only one of more than 20 hospitals is now able to operate, and with great difficulty. Water supplies are being cut. Medics and journalists are being murdered. That is not to mention what is going on in the West Bank with settlers and the Israeli militia. The State of Israel co…

I raise the issue of students. It has been a bad couple of weeks for them. I listened carefully to the Minister's earlier answers. He framed this in the context of a once-off measure, as did the Minister, Deputy Lawless. However, the programme for Government states that the Government will continue to reduce student contribution fees over the lifetime of the Government, to ease the financial burden on students and families, at the start of each academic year - not some academic years. Some of the Government Deputie…

I have the question. I ask the Ceann Comhairle to bear with me for a moment. The rest of the Deputies got good latitude.

Was the reduction just for last year because there was an election?

Was it just an election stunt for last year or is the Minister going to turn this around and do the right thing? That is the question.

They try to work part-time jobs.

All the money was just for the election.

I welcome the publication of the report. However, school places continue to be a major challenge in County Laois. New classes have been granted and I welcome that. New posts have been granted, but accommodation continues to be a problem and there is no timeline for delivery, despite classes being announced. Schools are asking where they can put the classes. Offices, little school libraries, which are generally small rooms, and storage areas, including cupboards, are being used as classrooms. Killeshin National Scho…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I commend Deputy Ó Snodaigh, who has not just introduced this proposal but over the years has done great work, as has his family, to make sure the cultural and historical heritage of Ireland and this city is maintained and enhanced. In the course of this debate we think about the sacrifices of those who fought in the GPO and the fact that Pearse read the Proclamation, an chéad Uachtarán Phoblacht na hÉireann, from the steps of the GPO on Easter Monday in 1916. All …

The slaughter in Gaza continues. According to the UN today, more than 500 starving women, men and children have been mowed down by Israeli terrorists while queueing in desperation for food. There is a moral and political responsibility on us to do everything possible to put pressure on the terrorist Israeli state. Two weeks ago, the Government refused to do that by refusing to back the ending of the Central Bank approving the prospectus for the sale of Israeli war bonds. An Taoiseach said that the Central Bank does…

Here we go again. We are back here again to renew outdated legislation that has been there since the Second World War and that is long past its best-by date. It is very disappointing to see another year has passed by with no movement on it. While it has always been claimed that the legislation is there for the protection of the State, it has also been used for political policing on occasion, although not always. Reform has been demanded for years and Amnesty International, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and …

I raise the problem people around the State have in accessing a GP or getting a GP to take them on. It is even more difficult for people who do not have a medical card. It is a huge problem. There is a shortage of locum doctors, which leads to problems for some GPs trying to take holidays or leave. The emergency departments of hospitals are clogged up with people who should be seen in a community care or primary care setting. Some go to emergency departments either because they cannot get a GP appointment or do not…

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I acknowledge there are more training places but, as he correctly pointed out, it will take time for them to work through. The one thing we need to do better on is the retention of those who are coming out of courses. I have outlined to the Taoiseach the idea of directly employing GPs, which the Tánaiste said he is in favour of. It was a key part of Sláintecare. We should remember it was agreed in the Oireachtas nearly eight years ago. Primary care and community care are absolut…

A primary care centre for Portlaoise?