The debate today is hugely important. It is 29 years since the Good Friday Agreement and this is my 16th year in this House. I have been waiting each year patiently, hoping this debate would happen. I particularly welcome the constructive approach. I listened to every word the Tánaiste said. While I would disagree with him on many things here at different times, I believe he approached the matter very constructively. His statements were very constructive and will contribute greatly. I hope this is the beginning of …

The issue I am raising with the Minister of State is the increase in the number of injuries, including those involving young children, relating to e-scooters and e-bikes. Ten have been killed. Temple Street hospital consultants have been highlighting the number of serious injuries, including the fact that six children are currently in the intensive care unit. The Children's Health Ireland report released today shows the scale of the problem. Eighteen children have been admitted with serious brain injury in the past…

Unfortunately, I do not get any sense of urgency from the Minister of State that we are going to have laws introduced in September or October, and that is the crucial issue. Yes, we have rules now, and she listed them out in relation to the signs. However, they are being ignored. The only place e-scooters are not being used is on the motorways, but they are being used extensively on footpaths and pedestrianised areas. The type of scooters that do not comply remain illegal if they travel at more than 20 km/h. E-bike…

I welcome this comprehensive set of proposals from Deputy Kenny. We are at the time of year again when parents, particularly those in the low- and middle-income brackets, face the annual challenge of covering back-to-school costs. Families are facing a stack of fees and expenses in respect of uniforms, increased school transport costs, school stationery, so-called voluntary contributions, and laptops and IT equipment. In addition, State exam fees are back. Surveys show that the total cost per school year can accumu…

-----that we have stood that on its head. It is important that we increase the capitation grant for schools as well.

I want to raise the situation regarding the absence of health cover for a large section of the population. Many middle- and low-income households have either very limited health cover or none at all. Forty-five per cent of the population have some kind of private health insurance. Most people who have such insurance have very limited, partial and restricted cover. A total of 42% have medical cards that provide either full medical cover or just GP care. This breaks down to roughly 30% having full cover and 12% havin…

That is all fair and good, and I acknowledge there has been progress. Of course, there has been progress in 105 years. There has been progress in my lifetime, which is a bit less than 105 years.

I am hoping to get a bit longer than 83 years out of it. The fundamental question here concerns people who do not have health cover. Progress is being made towards implementing Sláintecare, and I acknowledge, in particular, the stand taken by the Minister in relation to the contracts for consultants. If they are paid to work for the full week by the State, then they cannot do private work during that time. A plumber working for the Office of Public Work, OPW, cannot be off doing nixers during the day for somebody e…

The Taoiseach himself-----

Over the past two weeks we have had a number of serious accidents with e-scooters and e-bikes, with people being seriously injured, including six children who are currently in intensive care in Temple Street. One of them is from County Laois. It is one accident after another. Ten people have been killed on e-scooters, two this year so far. It is time to act. Fifty years ago, to drive a Honda 50 with a top speed of 35 m/h, you had to pass a test, wear a helmet and have tax and insurance. We need to stop kidding ours…

In the autumn?

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is a step in the right direction by improving access to contraception through pharmacies. I believe the proposed legislation will be another step forward for women's health, their control over their fertility and improving reproductive rights. It will add another building block to enhancing and developing a proper primary care system, which we are all supposed to be working towards in Sláintecare, but it is of course is limited. The Bill will bring some benefit for…

On a point of order, there is no senior Minister present at the moment for this debate. It is a poor sign of how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael treat this subject. The national reunification of the territory needs to be made a priority. It has been 105 years since partition which was created by Britain and created an artificial, sectarian state, which has held back this country, economically, socially and politically for far too long. While I welcome the proposals to move forward on reunification, this Bill is very mini…

The all-Ireland energy system is an area for immediate co-operation and priority, in particular in the area of renewables. The North-South Interconnector should not be delayed any further. Parties that say they are for a united Ireland cannot have it both ways, on the one hand championing a united Ireland and on the other hand frustrating the construction of this vital North-South infrastructure. A reunified Ireland has to be based on social justice, where workers and families are protected, with good public servic…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I echo what the previous speaker, Deputy Nolan, said regarding Tailte Éireann and the email address we were given. Like me, the Minister of State is from a country area and will, therefore, have heard the saying, “Playing handball against a haystack”. That is what trying to deal with Tailte Éireann is like. The registration system is simply not working. I have cases, as other Deputies will have, where there are delays with registration. I would like the Min…

The cost of living is rising at an alarming rate right across the board. Middle- and low-income households cannot keep up, particularly households on below €75,000. Those on €50,000, €60,000 and €70,000 used to be counted as being well-off. They are not now. Rents, mortgages, electricity, gas, motor fuel, food, health insurance and much more have all increased, not by single figures, but by double-digit figures on every hike. Meanwhile, wages and incomes have increased by 1% or 2% or not at all. In the case of hous…

The waiting times for driving tests in Laois for a lot of applicants are not improving. A local woman sought a driving test back on 21 May. She had to seek an invitation. She was told that it would take ten weeks to get onto the waiting list, which would be the end of July. That has now been extended to the end of August, which is 14 weeks. She applied for the waiting time. According to the RSA website this morning, there is another 11.5 weeks on average to wait. That brings it to a total of 25 weeks, if the two pe…

It is a misleading process.

The whole issue of access to affordable childcare is becoming critical for many parents. Affordability is an issue, and it is putting huge financial pressure, including a whole raft of other increasing costs, on parents. In the case of Laois, the average cost, according to the childcare committee, is €800 per month, but I have come across quotations as high as €1,400 a month. The shortage of places is the other issue and there are several blackspots across the county. In common with other counties, parents just can…

There is a request, which I have no problem with, that local authorities in the wider Dublin catchment area zone land for a large increase in the population and the number of dwellings. That needs infrastructure. However, given the tight budgets that local authorities operate with, will funding be provided, particularly through Irish Water, for the infrastructure required for wastewater and water supply?