I thank my colleague Deputy Quaide for bringing forward this motion. I want to respond first to some of the comments from the Minister. The Government has not opposed our motion, is not tabling its own amendment and will not vote against the motion. What the Government is not doing is acting on our motion, which clearly sets out that the means test should be abolished this year. It is okay not to oppose our motion and say he agrees with it, but we and carers need the Minister to act on it now. Why is he not acting …

I thank an Teachta Doherty for tabling the motion and recognise the work he has done on this over the years. I also recognise the work the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, has done. We made a submission to him on this and are waiting for the suggestions we made in that submission to be acted on. I recognise the various reforms that have happened over the years. However, in his comments the Minister of State did not address what is going on in the industry in terms of profits. He is correct in saying that it is an im…

The Government voted down our proposals on this.

Why did the Government vote against it?

Work which the Government is not doing.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I express our absolute revulsion at the threats made against the Tánaiste and his family. They have absolutely no place and are strongly condemned by us all. I want him to know that we will work with him to do everything we can to ensure these kinds of threats against our democracy are not in any way tolerated. I extend our deepest condolences to all those who knew, loved and cared for Daniel Aruebose. Yesterday, after a long search, the remains of Daniel were found in Donabate. D…

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I join with him in his comments on the gardaí and front-line workers and the excellent work they have been doing. The Irish Association of Social Workers has called for a full statutory review. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon has expressed extreme concern over the State's response. Dr. Muldoon asked: "How could a child have been born, dealt with all the relevant agencies and services, and then apparently, just disappear?" He went on to say: "The National Review P…

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I welcome and support this Bill. I commend Deputy Ardagh for all her work on this over the years. I commend the Minister of State and the Department for running with it. I particularly acknowledge all of the work done by the Irish Cancer Society and its patient advocates over the years in campaigning for this. Indeed, they have not just campaigned for this important measure but there is all the other work they are doing. It is incredible to see people who are battling cancer takin…

I am raising this issue in relation to the situation in Clongriffin and Belmayne. It is a very large community. The start of development there happened about 20 years ago. Many people moved in there then and started out in their lives. They did not have families at that stage. Since then, they have formed families. Children have been born, grown up and become young adults. Over this time, there has been a huge deficit in the community infrastructure very necessary in any area to ensure it thrives and not just housi…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I acknowledge that Deputy Denise Mitchell has been very supportive, along with the other TDs for this area and all the public representatives from all parties, in supporting the local communities on this. I know the Minister of State has not written his response but there are a few things in it that are factually wrong. Neither Clongriffin nor Belmayne, or any part of them, is in the Fingal County Council area. They are entirely in Dublin City Council. I know the Mini…

For the record, the Social Democrats has published detailed proposals about how to increase financing for housing, make it more affordable and build more homes. The Taoiseach owes the people an explanation. Why was their money used to fund Israel's genocide in Gaza? There is no denying or hiding it. Not only was public money used but the Taoiseach actually increased that funding in 2024. Last year, as tens of thousands of innocent people in Gaza were slaughtered, as hundreds of medics were butchered, as hospitals w…

It is public money.

It is funded by Government.

The Irish Strategic Investment Fund is funded by the Government using public money - money that belongs to the public. The Government gives the Irish Strategic Investment Fund its strategic direction. It should be directing it not to have any of our money invested in companies operating in contravention to international law in the West Bank.

There are much better places our money should be spent - in affordable housing, healthcare and disability services. Not a cent should be invested in companies operating in occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. The Taoiseach knows that. Is he going to stop this now and will he tell the Dáil when were the Israeli bonds sold, on what date? We know it was a few weeks ago. The Minister for Finance has told us that but I ask the Taoiseach to give us the date on this. The genocide that is happening in Gaza mu…

Is the Taoiseach going to act to ensure not a cent of Irish public money goes into these companies?

Directly and indirectly.

Is the Taoiseach defending it?

Where does the Taoiseach think that money goes? There should not have been a cent.

It is no exaggeration to say that primary care services for children around the country are at breaking point. Figures obtained by my colleague, Liam Quaide, revealed the depths of the crisis. The longest wait time for speech and language therapy in primary care services in Dublin is six years. In the north Lee area of Cork, one child has been waiting seven years for physiotherapy. For occupational therapy in primary care, there are huge waiting lists. A child in Meath has been left waiting for nine years and a chi…