I commend my colleague, Deputy Funchion, on all the work she has done on this motion. This motion is of vital importance to society and will have a meaningful impact on the lives of a significant number of workers and their families. Year after year, the cost of childcare in Ireland is among the highest in the world. These sky-high prices are having a huge impact on young families and add stress, concern and worry. Moreover, on top of the high cost of childcare, families are seeing rents skyrocket. The chances of t…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the upcoming climate action plan. I agree with Deputy Devlin's comments on the S2S. It is very important infrastructure that will be very welcome and a huge asset to Dublin. The disastrous events across Europe this summer have brought home the painful reality of what lies ahead as the climate continues to change for the worse. The impact it will have on our day-to-day lives becomes clear when we see flash floods killing nearly 200 people in Germany and wildfires ravaging throug…

The Housing for All plan mentions regeneration 29 times. The plan mentions urban regeneration but does not mention the regeneration of flat complexes within that context. There is no big plan for flat regeneration, which in many ways is the Cinderella of housing. We need an acceptance that there is an issue beyond patching up a few leaks in the roof. Regeneration of flat complexes like Pearse House, Glover’s Court, not too far from here, Rathmines Avenue flats, and flat complexes in Ringsend needs to be fast-tracke…

I welcome the recent announcement by the Government of the provision of 500 additional places for Afghan families here. The Minister stated that the people are very welcome and I wholeheartedly agree. They will add a great deal to Irish society and culture and will be a welcome addition. Following on from Deputy Martin Kenny's comments on that figure of 500, it is important it not be stuck to and adhered to rigidly. We have to be flexible and open to changes. I have no doubt the Minister believes the same and I wou…

Residents in Glovers Court flat complex, which is very close to here, have a visible protest highlighting neglect by Dublin City Council and the shocking conditions in which families have to live. Right across Dublin's inner city, residents are living in rat-infested conditions. Dublin City Council has failed in its responsibility to tenants. There is no independent arbitrator to whom residents can bring Dublin City Council. That, in my view, means that the Government needs to step in and ensure that the council do…

I welcome this initiative, A Better Normal, from the Ombudsman for Children, in which there are many positives. In that context, I read the Government policy document Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures which refers to making "investment in early years care and education, including maintaining the free preschool year and implementing measures to support and regulate improvements to the quality of Early Years and childcare services". This is all great but it means absolutely nothing for parents of children with autism…

I would like to acknowledge the huge importance of community gardaí. I would also like to acknowledge the work and professionalism of former Superintendent Joe Gannon, who has recently retired from his role in Pearse Street. I also acknowledge the huge good work that community Garda Derek Dempsey has done over 34 years of service in Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount. I wish them both well in their retirement. We all accept that we cannot have a garda standing on every corner. I also feel it is important to acknowl…

We might send him a letter to acknowledge that.

Thank you.

I commend my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, on bringing forward the Bill. The purpose of the Bill is simple, but its impact will have far-reaching benefits for thousands of workers amid the housing crisis. The Bill will remove the Part V affordable housing exemption for developers who purchased land in the past five years and who seek planning permission before the end of July 2026. This exemption represents yet another sweetheart deal by this Government for developers and investors. We have seen concession after conce…

I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021. As an elected representative for one of Dublin's coastal constituencies, I am all too well aware of the negative impact planning along the coastline has had on local communities, over the years and right up to the present day. This is an extremely important and vast piece of legislation and will have far-reaching consequences for generations to come. We need a robust system that will deliver for the State and, most importantly, our coastal…

I take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to Deputy Bacik on her fantastic result in the recent by-election. It is a huge honour for her and her family. I look forward to working with her and her colleagues in the best interests of the constituency of Dublin Bay South. Many homeowners are deferring payment of their local property tax because it is not affordable for them. This is worrying for homeowners who are struggling to pay, for example, a resident on Lombard Street East who is in her 80s and is a do…

Ranelagh Gaels is a growing and innovative GAA club founded by its current president, Liam O'Hagan. Ranelagh Rockets is its new initiative to support and include children with additional needs. Ranelagh Gaels is all about inclusion but it does not have a home. Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines has the only full-sized GAA pitch in the Dublin 6 area. It is vital this pitch is maintained and opened up to schools and clubs like Ranelagh Gaels and Portobello GAA club so they can have a home. Will this Government and t…

In an off-the-cuff remark on Tuesday, the Tánaiste cancelled first communions and confirmations. The Chief Medical Officer, CMO, and NPHET have said they did not cancel them. This is no way to treat people. One cannot be surprised by everything. A few days before confirmations and first communions were due to happen in Ringsend, they were cancelled. That makes no sense whatsoever. These are a significant days for children and their parents. They are very expensive days and they are days for families. People can get…

I acknowledge Deputy Ó Broin for tabling the motion. It has been reported that a row between Dublin City Council and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in 2019 scuppered plans to purchase lands at Poolbeg for affordable housing. Documents released under freedom of information to the Business Post showed the deal fell apart after the council and the Department disagreed over who should pay to purchase part of the former Irish Glass Bottle site. As a result of this row, Dublin City Council belie…

Every year, workers are forced out of their employment for no reason other than they have turned 65 years of age. Irish law allows their age to be the defining factor in whether they can continue in employment, regardless of their ability to carry out the work. This is possible because Irish law allows employers to impose mandatory retirement ages on staff contracts of employment, facilitating ageism within the workplace and creating a set of second-class employment rights for older workers. Every worker in the Sta…

In 2019, the national autism empowerment strategy was passed here unanimously. Families with autism have to fight for absolutely everything. If we had a strategy, it would ensure that we have enough neurodiverse places in our schools. With the strategy, we would have proper supports for children in secondary school. My colleague, Senator Boylan, and I recently met with Autism Equality Dublin Bay parents group. They raised with us the fact that one school in Sandymount, the Shelleybanks Educate Together School, will…

The forced landing of Ryanair flight FR 4978, an Irish aeroplane, put Ireland centre stage of an international incident. That any state would force an aeroplane to carry out an emergency landing to arrest a political opponent is wrong and cannot be tolerated. The Government, along with the rest of the EU, was fast and decisive in the approach to dealing with the forced landing and the arrest of the journalist, an outspoken critic of the Belarusian Government. Freedom of the press and of political expression must be…

The kidnapping of a young journalist by Belarus was met with loud shouts from the Government and the EU about the need for swift action, sanctions and severe consequences. The Taoiseach said the kidnapping was a state-sponsored coercive act and that the EU would respond very strongly. These strong words and plans for actions and sanctions contrast starkly with the weak and watery position and language directed at Israel for the murder and terror inflicted on Palestine over 11 days, which killed 248 Palestinians. Ye…

The outdoor dining enhancement scheme will help and support businesses in the hospitality sector to get back to work. I welcome this scheme. Gyms and health centres are so important to us all and have struggled badly because, like the hospitality sector, most of their business is done indoors. I was in the Dartry Health Club with Mr. Barry Walsh recently. It wants to set up outdoor classes and exercise areas, but it is very expensive. Will the Government extend the outdoor enhancement scheme to gyms and health cent…