To do his job.

It is in black and white.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed utterly to tackle the housing crisis. It is the number one issue in our country. Whether it be a renter's tax credit, a ban on no-fault evictions or limiting the level with which renters can be additionally burdened, in each incident the Government has dragged its feet in taking any action on this. What it has done has been too little and too late. In virtually every instance, the Government then finds false justification to reverse course in the face of a rental market even mo…

This Bill will better protect employees’ unpaid wages and entitlements if their employer becomes insolvent. I would commend the Government on introducing it but let us be real. It is a matter of obligation more than choice. The Government did not push to protect worker entitlements when they were denied on foot of the Vita Cortex insolvency in 2011, nor did the Government spring into action when the Clerys insolvency saw 460 jobs lost and workers denied their due in 2015. Not even when it was thousands of workers i…

In 2009, then Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin described Fianna Fáil's closure of the accident and emergency department at Monaghan hospital as a "mortal" blow for the people of Monaghan. He warned that lives "will undoubtedly be put at risk" as they then had to travel for up to an hour to Cavan hospital. The average wait time at Cavan hospital's accident and emergency department this year is more than eight hours, nearly double the 4.4-hour wait time in 2015. The situation is worsening every si…

The death of any person on our roads is a tragedy. The death of a child is a tragic hardship that no parent should have to bear. Shane O'Farrell was just 23 years old when he was struck and killed while out cycling near his home in Carrickmacross. The driver fled and while the man who took Shane's life handed himself into An Garda the next day, it seems as if in the intervening 14 years there has been a broad flight from justice and accountability on the part of the State. I welcome that Shane O'Farrell and his fam…

The running of a school community is no easy task. We are fortunate in Ireland to have incredibly talented, committed and highly educated teaching and management staff who are passionate in their roles as educators. They do so too often in challenging circumstances not of their own making. These are challenging circumstances of the Government's making because successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments have chronically underfunded our schools. The INTO has called for a 20% increase in schools funding and a rev…

I acknowledge the work of Deputy Ó Snodaigh in preparing this Bill and Deputy Byrne for proposing it today. Those in RTÉ have wantonly squandered the public moneys with which they have been entrusted. They have spent money lavishly entertaining themselves. They have spent the money of ordinary people on flip-flops for themselves. RTÉ has paid so-called stars obscene salaries based on the tall tale that broadcasters abroad were knocking the door down to secure the talent in RTÉ. When rocked by scandal, which seems t…

I thank all the carers of Ireland for all the great work that they do in performing essential work for our communities. They allow people to live at home in dignity, they help ensure better outcomes for those that they care for, they contribute considerably to people's health and well-being and they reduce the pressures on an already-stretched health service and care homes. In doing that, they make incredible savings to the taxpayer. Unfortunately, this is not acknowledged and the praise they receive in this House …

First, I extend solidarity with the people of Palestine. What we bear witness to in Gaza is a starvation of a nation. The response of many world leaders over the past 19 months has been non-existent. It has been the actions of millions of ordinary people the world over who, at every moment, have challenged their governments’ failures. The Government has failed meaningfully to defend international law and to deploy, in most cases, meaningful sanction in the face of humanity. It has provided political cover for the g…

A review is nearly 19 months too late. How long will it take for the Government to wake up? It has been investigating the legal transit of genocide-bound weapons through Ireland for nine months. Where is that report? It is time to recognise Israel for what it is, namely, a rogue state that has to be sanctioned as soon as possible.

The climate and biodiversity crises are utterly linked and cannot be underestimated. This is often overlooked and siloed in different parts of the Government. Rather than taking a whole-of-government approach it often seems that parts of the Government do not talk to each other at all. I recall one unit in the Department of housing proposing that hill farmers fence-off all watercourses, an action to which the National Parks and Wildlife Service would never give the required consent. It is symptomatic of an approach…

Today, the combined Opposition will put a motion forward in solidarity with Cara Darmody. Today, the Government does not cherish the children of our nation. It is in breach of the law because it has denied children their rights. This Government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the so-called Independents has denied children their rights. This has a real impact on the lives of parents and children. Assessments of need are needed, otherwise parents are out of pocket because they have to pay privately. The outcomes for th…

In Monaghan, we recently got a new special school but more needs to happen for every child.

They need to get more day services and the Government needs to plan for every child's future.

The Common Agricultural Policy has unfortunately been viewed as a soft touch by successive European Commissions when they wish to divert funds elsewhere. This is not to say any given projects are unworthy but they have been funded by taking money out of the pockets of farmers. In real terms, Irish farmers received less under this CAP than its predecessor. I always find it frustrating when Ministers laud the budget of programmes such as CAP as the largest ever, as if inflation or other pressures on input prices are …

The people of Monaghan deserve adequate health services, the same as anybody else in the State. We are fortunate to have a hospital in Monaghan, given closures in other communities across the State under previous Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments. We are fortunate to have incredible, hard-working staff in our local hospital, staff who provide among the highest standards of care, all too often in challenging circumstances not of their making. Monaghan is one of the areas where successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fái…

I thank the Minister of State. It is disappointing to see that the Minister is not here today. I would love to see these issues raised with her. I am leaving it with the Minister of State and the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach to ensure these issues are raised with the Minister. To be clear, the substantial investment the Minister of State talked about is not enough. The minor injuries unit and the MRI scanners are only examples of what we have to deal with in Monaghan. Similarly, both CT scanners for Cavan and Monaghan H…

With the leniency of the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, I also ask that the Minister look to plan GPs in the towns of Cavan and Monaghan. People are struggling to get GP access. Will she look into that also?

I reiterate we are here to work with the Minister of State and provide solutions.