Small farmers are going to be affected more than anyone else. Their work is-----

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on this motion. First of all, I stress that we are a neutral country and have to remain neutral. We all abhor and condemn what is going on in Gaza and Israel. It is transparent and we can see what is happening there. Hamas started it. It took hostages that it has not yet released. I ask it to return these people and free these hostages. The Israelis are responding. I believe they are using their significant weaponry, backed by the US, and are intent on clearing these people…

It is there.

I did not interrupt you.

We have to remain neutral. I state in the loudest possible way in this Chamber that we must remain neutral but we must ask and do everything possible to ensure the war ends on a humanitarian basis because so many lives are being taken and lost. I will give an example. When I was a young fellow I used to be out late. I came around MacSwiney's corner in Kenmare at 3 a.m. one night to see two very good friends of mine fighting. One of them was being kicked on the ground because the other fellow was way bigger. It was …

I never interrupted Deputy Donnelly and I ask him to never again interrupt me.

I told no lies so do not say that I did.

I am glad to get the opportunity to contribute on this most important debate. I am firmly pro-life. I am glad that I was born and am able to see this life. I am sad that that is not the case for so many little babies who have been conceived but will not see the light of day. All they are asking, I am sure, is that they be allowed to live and come into this world. They are being denied that chance or right. I am very sad that we are even talking about this matter at all because I love children. I have grandchildren …

In the past few weeks, Sinn Féin has been on its high horse, with its members wanting to butt in at every opportunity they get.

I was heckled here last night and heckled here today. If Deputy Cullinane wants to interrupt me, he should realise he can talk afterwards and put his point of view across. He is quite entitled to do that but he is not entitled to interrupt me here. I will not take it from him here, there or elsewhere.

All I am saying is that there is no need for this Bill. It is wrong. People with a pro-life view are entitled to that view. The people who fought for us in 1916 wanted to have a democracy. I do not think it is democratic at all to try to stymie people are block them from going anywhere near where abortions may be taking place. Some people might not even know there are abortion facilities where they are. In such circumstances, there is no need for this legislation. It is only making people hurt a lot more to think t…

Over 300 residents of Killarney convened a meeting on Sunday night. They are very concerned about the placement of 77 more asylum seekers very close to them in Harmony Inn on the Muckross Road. They want the decision in this regard to be reversed because there is a lack of surety as regards safety and services in the town of Killarney in light of the number of asylum seekers and refugees being placed there. We seem to be taking way more than our share in Killarney. The matter of vetting is very important to the peo…

I am also asking publicly in this Chamber that the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, go down to Killarney and meet the residents. I have been asked to relay that message in the House.

They are.

We want our bit of Ballydesmond and Rathmore back.

No, no.

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak. I thank the Electoral Commission for the great work it did and for leaving County Kerry intact and not putting any part of it into any other county. I have a small regret that there are small bits of Rathmore and of Ballydesmond in Cork North-West. They are part of their respective parishes and perhaps they could have been put into the Kerry constituency, but the Blackwater divides them and we have to accept that. Nevertheless, people from those places come to me, as well …

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this serious motion. We are all scared stiff by what is happening in that part of the world. Last night on television, I saw little babies lying in a clump together somewhere. They were all dead. God almighty, it is terrible and hurtful. It is hard to even watch, never mind endure. I call on the Government to do whatever it can. It does not feel like we are doing enough to ensure a ceasefire happens and that this ridiculous, outrageous war is ended. We cannot allow it t…

First, I thank Labour for putting forward this very important motion today. Since I came up here, one of the things I have been consistently raising is the fact that we need more home helps and people need to be helped to stay in their homes as long as possible. They treat going into nursing homes as being the departure lounge and they feel they still have a chance if they stay at home. I thank our home helps for the wonderful work that they do. Some of them feel they are not being paid properly and that they are n…

Doctors used to refer patients to the district hospital if they had a serious cold or whatever. The only way that they can get into the district or community hospital now is through University Hospital Kerry. I think that area needs to be visited because when people want a bit of help, they have to go through this rigmarole of having to go into the general hospital first.