There is a vote in the other Chamber and the Minister might have to leave. Will he be able to finish this Commencement matter?

I thank the Minister. I welcome Billy, Michael, Roisín and Anne Marie, who are up from the Brothers of Charity in Ferrybank in Kilkenny. They are very welcome. I hope that Natasha Newsome Drennan is looking after you well. If you have any trouble with her, just let us know. I hope you enjoy your day.

In the Dáil Chamber last week, there was a motion on reform of the in camera rule in family law. It was brought into the Dáil by Deputy Gogarty. The Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, have told us that family law is the single biggest area of unmet legal need in the State. Parents have articulated the problems the in camera rule presents, and the need for it to be reformed. I met with Nicola Fox, who is campaigning to change the in camera rule to bring more accountability for parents like herself. Nicola and parents …

I was just saying, as if life was not difficult enough for the children without having to speak with a Cork accent.

Cork city or county. In recent years, the world has become an increasingly unstable and chaotic place with differences between states being settled by force rather than diplomacy. Since the Second World War, and particularly since the end of the Cold War, there has been a common narrative that world politics is governed by a set of rules and established values. There was a system of international institutions and laws that would mediate between states and show respect for all, regardless of power or military streng…

I first want to put on record how disappointing the Government's approach to this legislation has been so far. It is ramming through this legislation without any real opportunity for scrutiny. The Bill will have far-reaching implications if enacted, undermining the sovereignty of our courts, workers' rights and environmental protections. Yet, pre-legislative scrutiny was denied and the debate in the Dáil was guillotined without allowing for any discussion on many dozens of Opposition amendments. The Government is p…

As the House will be aware, the Global Sumud Flotilla was seized at gunpoint last night by the Israeli occupying forces. Seven Irish citizens have been arrested. This was and is a peaceful mission. The flotilla has not been fully intercepted. It is important that there is engagement by the Department and the Government to ensure the safety of the Irish citizens. This seizure took place near Greece, over 1,000 miles from Gaza. Israel has extended its borders into Gaza, Lebanon and Iran and now it is extending them i…

The Acting Leader can just respond to me.

So the FAI has complete-----

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I suspect he is in to defend the indefensible because genocidal Israel will be coming to the Aviva Stadium to play Ireland. I find it absolutely staggering that the Government will welcome Israel here with open arms. It is beyond belief. The Government constantly expresses concern and condemnation over what apartheid Israel is doing in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran but never acts to ensure Israel faces consequences. Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and has starved Palestin…

I thank the Minister of State. The Government is trying to defend the indefensible. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, lost the plot a few weeks ago when a few idiots threw flares onto a pitch. He threatened every organisation and he was going to ban footballers and football teams, yet he has no issue playing Israel which is committing genocide and has killed 565 Palestinian footballers. He has no issue with that, but at the same time there have been no answers. When visiting team supporters, management and players co…

Information released under a freedom of information request shows that Dublin City Council ran up a bill of €11,400 at a hotel on the French Riviera for its officials. On a separate trip to California, the accommodation cost was just under €11,000, with the Lord Mayor's flight costing almost €6,000 and that of Dublin City Council's chief executive costing over €4,000. That is indefensible. It is scandalous that top Dublin City Council figures are flying business class and staying in luxury hotels while at the same …

I welcome this debate and I thank the Minister of State for being in attendance to discuss this important issue. This debate is timely given that the Department of public expenditure and reform, through its Office of Government Procurement, is in the process of developing its first national procurement strategy. Transparency, openness and a level playing field are of paramount importance when it comes to spending public money. Members of the public as taxpayers are entitled to feel that the State is utilising and i…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Calleary, back to the House to finish the matter that was interrupted earlier. Senators Stephenson and Rabbitte have a minute between them.

I acknowledge Joseph P. McGill, who is Honorary Consul in Detroit. He is very welcome. He is a guest of Deputy John Paul O'Shea and is in good hands. I am sure Deputy O'Shea will be delivering lunch to Mr. McGill later.

I thank the Minister of State. Before Senator Cosgrove responds, I want to welcome Rehins National School from County Mayo, guests of the Minister, Deputy Calleary. He was in just a few minutes ago and he asked that the teachers would ensure that students would not have any homework for the rest of the week, so they might consider that. The Minister said he would put in a word to make sure that happened. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit.

Dublin is in the midst of what is arguably the worst housing crisis since the establishment of the State. Private rental tenants are under huge pressure to make ends meet. Absolutely no progress has been made. Rents are going up every year. Rental property is only getting more difficult to find. Properties available under HAP, which has unfortunately become the backbone of our broken social housing system, are practically non-existent. Prospective tenants need to be making six-figure salaries to come anywhere close…

I thank the Minister for coming in. I welcome the extension of the grant scheme to Fingal and Wexford. It is long overdue. Unfortunately, it took too long for the Minister to reach a decision on the extension of the scheme to these areas. Homeowners in terrible situations have been left waiting for far too long for a decision. They have faced years of uncertainty, with their homes falling down around them. Their inability to sell or safely live in these homes has caused immense anxiety and financial strain. It is i…

Storm Éowyn was the first big test for this Government in the new Dáil term and it took almost three weeks for power and connectivity to be restored to all homes, farms, schools, businesses and clubs. The Government failed that first test but lessons have to be learned. Ministers cannot just sit in meetings or berate Internet providers. We will have other storms similar to Storm Éowyn and power and connectivity will be lost again, especially in rural Ireland. We must do everything to mitigate risks. We must make pr…

I am not sure. The Minister of State might have misheard me.