Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach.

I have read all the reports today but I have not read the 2,000-page report. I know the Minister is under pressure today and I do not wish to personalise this. On top of all the reports, not to have a copy of her speech today is unacceptable from the Department.

I came in especially to listen; I did not think my turn would come up today. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his contribution and dedication on this, as well as the Acting Chair who took over, Deputy Fleming. I thank the whistleblowers. I thank the Minister for rearranging the debate. In her opening speech, she said at the heart of the report was Grace. I cannot think of anything more inaccurate than that because Grace is certainly not at the heart of this report. I understood I would speak next week, but in …

Baineann mo cheist leis an gcreat náisiúnta pleanála athbhreithnithe. Is cúis imní agus díomá araon a laghad tuisceana atá ann sa phlean sin. It really is a serious worry to me that there is a complete absence in the national planning framework of an understanding in regard to the Irish language and the serious emergency in the Gaeltacht. In almost 200 pages, there are barely three paragraphs on this and they tell us about only one aim, cuspóir amháin, which is to zone in on language planning. There is no recogniti…

Tá fhios againn go mothaíonn na cúramóirí baile nach bhfuil mórán tacaíocht á fháil acu ach amháin an liúntas cúramóra, agus fiú ansin tá means test i gceist. Cén uair a bheidh an Aire ag fáil réidh leis an tástáil achmhainne? Tá riachtanas ann fáil réidh leis.

Tá sé ceart go leor, fuair mé an cheist i mBéarla.

I thank the Minister. It is more than a year since the carer's referendum was overwhelmingly rejected. Almost 74% of those who voted said "No". The big issue that came up was the abolition of the means test on foot of the figure the Minister referred to of more than 99,000. Of course, many other carers get absolutely nothing. There are some suggestions that the figure in this regard is as high as 500,000. Considering this as an income support is the completely wrong way to look at it. We should look at it in terms …

I do not doubt the bona fides of the Minister, but the referendum was overwhelmingly rejected because of the false narrative that was played out, hypocrisy and a failure to recognise that we cannot function as a society without carers, the vast majority of whom are women and are not paid. We need to recognise that. While I welcome the changes that have been made, which are positive, it is an utter and abject failure to recognise that we need to value the work of carers in a manner that is realistic and put a value …

An interdepartmental committee was set up on this.

On this.

I ask the Minister to clarify the position for me.

I understand there was a review of the carer's allowance.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss unsafe working conditions at the ambulance station in Drogheda. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the lack of suitable after-school facilities in Dublin 1. Deputy Brian Brennan - To discuss the Government's plans for the enforcement of measures and incentives to combat widespread dereliction across the country. Deputy Michael Ca…

Bogfaimid ar aghaidh go dtí an tríú saincheist agus an Teachta James O’Connor.

I did my best to read through the report. I have two minutes so I cannot do it justice, but I have certainly read it. I would like to welcome it but I cannot. When you look at it, the words, such as "sustainability", are good, but you then realise it is business as usual. It is significant that in a few days' time we will - I will not say celebrate - recall that we declared a climate and biodiversity emergency on 10 May 2019 and there is absolutely no indication that the Government realises the transformational act…

I do not have the cluster of amendments in front of me but we are speaking about taking away the right to jury trials. I wished the Minister the very best in his new career but I cannot but go back and read out his speech. I do not know how he is going to get around that, other than by the fact that he now has power or, as has been alluded to already, has been captured by the Department. I do not wish to embarrass him. In fact, I respect him. I may have been in the Chair on the day on which he made the speech in qu…

The Minister also has a choice.

I also commend the Minister on his honesty and openness but that raises all the more questions. He is a member of a party and he has the views that he formed, based on his research and experience, that this was a bad decision, but he is now asked to leave that aside and go with what the party is telling him. That is extremely worrying, not just for this debate but for many other debates and issues, in particular regarding war, neutrality and Gaza. Let me stick with the issue of costs because that is the one thing t…

Táim ag díriú isteach ar mhuintir na Palaistíne agus an cinedhíothú atá ar siúl inár n-ainm fad is atáimid anseo ag caint agus briathra milse, bhreátha ag na hAirí gan beart ar bith. Inné sa chúirt, dúirt Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, "Israel has closed all crossings and it has turned Rafah itself, once a refuge for almost 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, into a post-apocalyptic wasteland." At the weekend alone, 52 people - children, women and men - were slaughtered in addition to the 51,000 Palestinians already killed, …

It is our responsibility.