We are supposed to be in a democratic Parliament-----

-----where everyone is respected. That is unbelievable arrogance.

That is what it is - arrogance and disconnect from ordinary people.

We want this corrected. What we are asking for is reasonable. I attended last Tuesday and so did Deputy Michael Collins.

No. He needs to correct it.

We turned up and stayed for hours.

I come back to the just transition, which we have spoken about extensively tonight. Speaking about it is not enough and we need the Minister to seriously take on board what we have said. We represent tens of thousands of constituents in rural Ireland. We represent the real workers facing the brunt of this. Has the Minister met the peat contractors or Bord na Móna workers at any stage? He claims to have the genuine interest of people at heart but, to be honest, he does not. This Bill, as I have said, will do irrepar…

I acknowledge the good work the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done to date - it certainly needs to be said here and put on the record - but it is worrying that we have such a deep crisis in mental health that affects people of all ages in the State. Mental Health Reform has expressed concerns at the low priority given to mental health in the Sláintecare implementation and action plan which was launched on 12 May of this year. There is also concern, as I have said previously, about the budget being allocated…

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo, atá fíorthábhachtach. We must not forget that Ireland and our maternity services are recognised internationally for the level of care given to expectant mothers. It is also important to acknowledge that this results from the hard work and dedication each day of the midwives and nursing staff in our maternity services. The motion refers to the various reports from HIQA and the failings identified. We must also remember that HIQA consistently found good practice in how maternity s…

I want to begin by saying that the national economic recovery plan is a scandal. It leaves workers and families behind. It is a betrayal of workers and their families. These people have already been devastated by Government and national public health emergency team lockdowns. I understand from a recent report that one condition of EU funding is that 37% of the money is spent on green initiatives. Our Government is going far beyond that as usual, with 50% of the Covid-19 recovery facility to be spent on propping up …

I move: “That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future acknowledgement that beef farmers have experienced serious hardship and low-income challenges in recent times; — the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future commitment to ensure fairness,equity, and transparency in the food chain by establishing a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) to enforce the European Union (EU) Directive No. 2019/633 on Unfair Trading Practices in business-to-business relationships…

Tá áthas orm labhairt faoin reachtaíocht seo. Tá an reachtaíocht seo fíorthábhachtach agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit Butler as ucht an tsárobair a rinne sí chun na hathruithe a bhaineann leis an reachtaíocht seo a chur chun cinn. Ba mhaith liom é sin a rá go poiblí. On 7 April, I welcomed the Minister of State, Deputy Butler's, confirmation that the Attorney General had provided a measure of legal certainty about the fair deal reforms, which are so badly needed. We know that, the length …

On the morning of Monday, 9 August 1971, the security forces launched Operation Demetrius, the introduction of internment in the North. The deaths of ten innocent civilians occurred in the ensuing three days up to 11 August. Their friends and families have always known they were innocent, and now the world knows that they were indeed innocent. I welcome the verdict of the inquiry even if I regret that it took so long to achieve it - too long. We know from the summary of findings of the Honourable Mrs. Justice Keega…

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún fíorthábhachtach seo. Affordable housing - or indeed the lack of affordable housing schemes - is a huge issue of concern. In my constituency, Laois-Offaly, we have little or none available, which is leading to couples and single people paying exorbitant rents. Even though some areas are rent pressure zones, it makes little or no difference. This Government needs to get real. It is failing many of our young people because of the lack of action on building affordable housing schemes, w…

Níl mé ag tógáil-----

Does the Minister plan to continue using the services provided by Turas Nua and Seetec for the operation of the JobPath scheme? Will she consider using alternative service providers? Will she make a statement on this matter?

I thank the Minister for her response and her clarity in confirming that the JobPath scheme will be extended. However, I draw her attention to the fact that there are more problems than solutions with JobPath. One big problem many people have with it is whether it represents value for money. We can say for certain that the total amount paid to Turas Nua and Seetec for the operation of the JobPath scheme for the period 2015 to date is €247.9 million. How can we honestly say that that represents value for money? Have…

When I asked about the value for money assessment, I was not talking about a review of how people were placed and so forth. I have questions about that too because many constituents in my office have made complaints. I have showed them how to do so through the formal process. That was a number of years ago and it is going on still. My question is whether the review looked at the money that is being spent because to me it seems colossal. The breakdown for each year is as follows: in 2015, €1.2 million; in 2016, €25.…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an Bhille a chuir sí os ár gcomhair inniu. We know that the accredited grades system has caused a significant amount of anxiety for students and parents. We know that in unprecedented times and events, students were discommoded. It was a very difficult time and they were expected to adjust to the whole process. I commend the high calibre of teachers we have. They do not get enough credit for the fantastic work they do in encouraging and supporting pupils and going well and trul…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for pain relief for the foetus in certain cases of termination of pregnancy; and to provide for related matters. I thank the ten co-sponsors of the legislation. Last December the all-party Oireachtas life and dignity group published a report on the issues of late-term abortion and foetal pain and I urge all Deputies to read it. The report is available at www.lifeanddignity.ie . The infliction of unnecessary or avoidable pain on human being…