That is the Government's problem.

I regularly raise the ongoing maintenance issues in Dublin City Council flats and houses. In 2025, it is difficult to understand how the maintenance of council properties is so bad. There is a complete lack of empathy for tenants on the part of Dublin City Council. There are many examples of this, but one is Beech Hill Villas in Donnybrook. In most of the flats in Beech Hill, there are issues with dampness and mould. The only solution the council has provided is to supply bleach and cloths for tenants. That is not …

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. Very few countries have the opportunity Ireland does to redefine and reinvent itself as a State and a nation. We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to correct the mistakes of the past 100 years and build a new republic that lives up to the values and ideals of our revolutionary past. The last century of partition has completely failed the people of Ireland. The North was cut off from the rest of the country and subjected to a sectarian and oppressive Orange state. Followin…

Last month's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas gave the impression there would be some sort of peace and order. We all support and want peace but without justice, there can be no peace. If there is not self-determination, freedom of movement, access to education and access to hospitals and health services, peace will not last very long. This is called a ceasefire and it is worrying that media attention has moved away and been drawn to other conflicts and issues in the world. The reality is there is no ceasefi…

Last week, the Minister for agriculture published the results of the consultation on surgical artificial insemination. This is, as was highlighted, a barbaric practice of which most people are unaware. It is an absolutely sickening practice. The consultation opened on 18 June 2024 and closed at the end of July of that year. There were 606 submissions, with 99% of all submissions being against surgical artificial insemination. I reiterate that 99% of all submissions wanted to ban this practice, with just two people …

I second the amendment.

During last night's Dublin City Council budget meeting, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party and the Green Party voted to give social housing tenants a Christmas gift of higher rents. This is a deeply cynical, regressive move that punishes working people for the Government's unwillingness to properly fund social housing. It was opposed by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Independent councillors. Councillor Mannix Flynn did not vote against this increase in rents just in time for Christm…

Last week, only a few weeks before the Christmas holiday season started, it was announced that there would be no Christmas market in Dublin Castle this Christmas or next Christmas. I understand the reason for this next Christmas as our Presidency of the EU will have implications for the use of Dublin Castle, but for this Christmas, it is hard to understand. This market has been around for a number of years and it is been very much enjoyed by families and individuals during the festive season. It has been a centrepi…

I thank the Minister for coming in. We are essentially being asked today to approve €20 million in public funding for Greyhound Racing Ireland. It is very difficult to support this allocation year after year in light of the significant issues of accountability, transparency and integrity within Greyhound Racing Ireland as well as a lack of value for money for the Exchequer in propping up this industry. The Jim Power report of 2021 claims that greyhound owners contribute €117 million annually to the economy. However…

What is the delay?

Will it be before the end of the year?

On a point of order, very briefly, on the surgical artificial insemination ban, will the Minister introduce a ban by the end of the year or will it be-----

There will be no decision made about a ban by the end of the year.

I congratulate Sporting Liberties on securing funding for a full-sized pitch in the south-west inner city. It has taken years of immense work and commitment by volunteers there. There are 8,500 young people in the area but no playing pitches. It is mad to think that, in 2025, there is no full-sized playing pitch in a community of 47,000 people. It is also mad to think that the funding did not come from the State, but a private bank, Mediolanum. I acknowledge its contribution and say "Well done". The Liberties is on…

I welcome this Bill, which seeks to allow much-needed additional funding to be provided to Screen Ireland for the development of Irish film in the years to come. I hope this Bill is the first step towards significant funding allocations to our film industry and I look forward to future debates around investing in Irish film. Given that this Bill will allow up to an additional €340 million to be invested by the State over the years into Screen Ireland, it would be wise for the Minister to conduct a review of the eff…

Briefly, I wish the Irish under-17s well. It was nil-all ten minutes into their game. It is a good time for Irish football at the moment. Hopefully, that will continue today. Last week, the Government launched its overdue housing plan, which is not so much a new plan but a new packaging of the failed plan of the previous Government. It does not offer any meaningful changes. There is no change of course and no recognition that Fianna Fáil's and Fine Gael's unwillingness to invest in public housing and reliance on sh…

One issue that residents, and tenants of Dublin City Council, have is that when a void is returned to use to a family or an individual, it is done up and renovated and the new tenant or tenants have a nice door that meets certain standards. It is right that they should have a proper door and they should be looked after. If, however, you are a tenant living next door to the tenant or tenants who have just moved into their new home, you could have been paying significant rent for 30 or 40 years and your door could be…

Half an hour in and the score is nil-all.

I also support the congratulations for the Irish team on Sunday. It was incredible and gives the whole nation a lift. I also wish the under-17s. who are playing at the moment - I think the score is nil-all - the under-19s and under-21s well. I am particularly delighted for Troy Parrott who went through a difficult time and who seems to be finding himself. It is a joy to watch. When we see the joy good Irish performances do for us all, it is hard to understand why the Government has continued to underinvest in Irish…

I second the motion. Dublin City Council is planning to increase rent for its tenants. What happens in Dublin City Council will invariably be followed by local authorities across the country and in the Leader's constituency as well. Tenants of Dublin City Council are facing increases of up to 10%, 20%, 30% and 50% in their rents. This is at a time when the cost of everything is soaring. The cost of food, heating and electricity is up. Now, rents for council tenants are going to go up. Council tenants are vulnerable…