There are huge financial burdens on people in this country, particularly on low-income families and elderly people. I am very mindful of the struggles that many rural farming families face in terms of rising costs of fertiliser and a very unfair and unjustifiable carbon tax that was imposed on people. I note in particular that the motion highlights the fact the average Irish mortgage interest rate of 2.79% is more than twice the EU average of 1.31%, costing households more than €2,000 a year. In many cases, that ca…

It is shocking to see the CAMHS services in such disarray. It is no different in Laois-Offaly than in any other constituency or region. It is troubling that we have a serious tsunami of cases. In November 2021, some 3,357 children were awaiting CAMHS services. Of those, more than 221 had been waiting for more than a year. What is happening is very serious. I know from my offices, which are no different to those of any other Deputy, that parents are coming in crying in desperation and looking for help and support. I…

As others have, I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Foley, to ensure that a flexible approach is adopted for our leaving certificate students who will have been so disadvantaged and disrupted over three years. An approach that involves ongoing assessment, accredited grades and a written exam has a role to play in this process. We must listen to the student voice. We have all received correspondence from the ISSU, which tells us quite clearly, on the basis of a report it carried out, that the student voice is very clea…

I ask the Minister to provide details on the level of consultation that took place to inform the stakeholder forum on the pilot on basic income for the arts sector. I know the Minister may be aware that advocacy groups such as the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland have expressed concerns around the pilot scheme, specifically that it will see professional musicians competing with new and emerging artists and subsidised gigs when the sector reopens. I would like the Minister to make a statement on the matt…

I thank the Minister for her response. We want supports to be directed in the most effective and fairest way possible and to avoid constructing any scheme that pits one sector of music and entertainment against another. I am not advocating a zero-sum approach. It is merely a question of balance. The MEAI has clearly stated that the move from a universal support scheme to a basic income for artists is a positive step and creates the possibility for a more bespoke scheme to be tailored for professionals who rely on t…

I want to begin by again thanking the Minister for her response. I reiterate that I do not intend to advocate for the exclusion of any artists, be they professional or developing. Rather, I am merely seeking regulation to ensure that there is balance and fairness. That is all I am advocating for. Everything needs to be done fairly. I again reiterate that the basic income proposal is regarded by the MEAI as one of the most forward-thinking schemes to be developed for the sector in the history of the State and that g…

For the last few months, the vast majority of children at primary and post-primary level in this State have had to endure the sheer misery of being taught in classrooms and school buildings that are freezing cold. Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to say that thousands of very young children, especially those being taught in prefabs which were never warm to start with, are numb with the cold during the school day. I have had parents tell me that their children are returning home from school with headaches or muscle…

I think the real problem lies with the Department guidelines. The guidelines state that the windows have to be "partially open" during class time. Unfortunately, many of our schools buildings are very old and indeed, are prefabs. That is where the problems lies. The majority of principals and teachers are adhering exactly to what they are being told by the Department. Even when they are adhering to those exact guidelines, there is still an issue. Does the Tánaiste accept that the Department's guidelines now need to…

Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister to reconvene the working group on horticultural peat? The sector is in deep crisis at present. We must ensure the group has a chance to come together again. The Minister also needs to explain the reasons why the main recommendations the working group made were ignored. One of the recommendations was the phasing out of peat up to 2030. It has been completely ignored and as I said the sector is in deep crisis. We need that working group reconvened.

As a Teachta Dála, I have the great honour of representing the great people of counties Offaly and Laois. Our hearts have been broken by the tragic murder of Ashling Murphy on this day last week. It was most certainly the darkest week in my county of Offaly. It was horrendous. People are still shocked and appalled by what happened. Ashling was loved and respected in equal measure and her absence has opened a wound in the heart of the Murphy family and in the wider Offaly community. The family have asked for privacy…

I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” I am honoured to stand in the Chamber today with the full support of this Bill's ten co-sponsors. I sincerely thank them all for their support of this Bill. We are here to move the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Foetal Pain Relief) Bill 2021. It is my understanding that the Government has now submitted an amendment to the Bill, which will deny us the opportunity of it being read again. This is profoundly disappointing, given that it is such a reas…

I again ask the Government to take action in respect of the fuel rebate for hauliers. In France, hauliers receive 19 cent, while in Belgium it is 23.5 cent. There are many rural livelihoods at risk. What actions will the Government take in respect of the outrageous letter from Ciarán Cuffe, MEP, in which he tells banks not to lend to young farmers? That, too, puts significant numbers of rural jobs and livelihoods at risk and it shows the indifference and disrespect towards rural Ireland and the lack of understandin…

Action needs to be taken in respect of the actions of the MEP in question.

I welcome the opportunity to comment briefly on the EU Council meeting. I note the European Council will discuss the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of the emergence of a new variant, and that participants will also exchange views on how best to tackle vaccine hesitancy and disinformation and the effectiveness of various measures and strategies adopted in this respect. What I would like to know, and what I need to ask, is the following question: when will we have a debate in the House on the fact the Department of…

We are merely doing our jobs of Deputies and Senators in bringing forward the concerns of the public and medical professions to the floor of the House.

I would like answers because I believe this is a very serious matter.

It is very serious.

I am pleased to speak briefly on this very important issue. This Bill seeks to provide a risk equalisation mechanism for ongoing sustainability of the private health insurance market, while maintaining health insurance policies at an affordable price. It will also provide for a reduction in stamp duty levies on advanced health insurance contracts, which will decrease from 2021 to €406. That is a decrease of €43. Non-advanced contracts will decrease from 2021 to €122, which is a decrease of €35. This is a welcome bu…

I will be very brief. I am deeply concerned. Today, my colleague, Deputy Mattie McGrath, raised the absence of pre-legislative scrutiny. The justification was made on the basis that we did not have the time for it. Did the Minister consider carrying out an impact analysis or any assessment of the possible impact the restrictions and draconian measures would have on people's lives and access to other health services such as cancer screening? I have said all along that I am very concerned about these measures. I feel…

I understand but I may not get an opportunity and I am being very brief. These are noteworthy points which my constituents have asked me to raise. I will be as brief as I possibly can be. The overarching point I will make is that life can and should go on. We cannot stop everything, we cannot down tools and we cannot do this to people. There is heightened anxiety among children. Deputy Naughten referred to the point about the Ombudsman for Children asking for a review of mask wearing every two weeks, which I suppor…