I welcome the Bill as a common-sense measure to help protect victims of sexual violence. I thank my colleague Deputy Carthy for bringing it forward and my colleague Senator McCormack for her involvement. Deputy Carthy and his team worked on it as a direct response to the engagement they had with victims and advocates. One of those women spoke really honestly about her fear and dread knowing that the man who raped her as a child will be released in the coming years. There is nothing that can prevent him from approac…

I will begin by welcoming the Minister of State's very passionate contribution but I have to say that here we go again, another Bill tabled by the Opposition and another delay by the Government. The exact same thing happened last week with Deputy Ó Snodaigh's Bill on the arts. I will not get started on the presidential voting rights because, as the Minister of State knows, there has been delay after delay. Is this a tactic the Government is bringing forward just to delay sensible proposals being tabled by the Oppos…

I want to raise the compensation scheme for those who were injured in the Stardust fire in 1981. It is very welcome that the first section of the scheme for the families who lost loved ones in that fire has been completed. However, lawyers for the survivors are getting very frustrated because they have not had an update on the redress scheme that was committed to well over a year ago. It is 44 years since that fire and these survivors are not getting any younger. Many of them are still living with serious and ongoi…

I thank the Tánaiste.

I support this very simple Bill, which seeks to recognise comedy as an art form that should be supported by the Arts Council. Every week, in this city and across Ireland, we have comedians on stage in pubs, comedy clubs and theatres. They are really important when it comes to keeping venues, particularly smaller ones, open. Irish wit and humour is well known across the globe. I heard one Irish comedian say that performing in Ireland is harder than anywhere else because everybody in the room thinks they should be on…

I wish to start by saying that I am a strong supporter of schools having uniforms. It takes a lot of pressure off families and it keeps the fashion shows and the competition out of schools. It is a leveller. Every time parents are asked about school uniforms, survey results always say they support a uniform. We are in a cost-of-living crisis and everything is getting more expensive, however. Every September, parents are worrying about the cost of getting their kids back to school. They are using their savings and, …

Hear, hear.

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann has been raised in the House many times over many years. I will not speak to the conditions of the school as they are well-documented but I acknowledge that the Minister, her officials and representatives of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB visited the school in late May and gave a commitment that this would go to tender for our new permanent school build. Since then, we cannot get a clear answer about when it is going to tender. It is totally unfair to the school environment. We gather here tod…

I could say I am frustrated by the Minister of State's response but I do not know how to put it in words. For 24 years, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann has been fighting for a new build. We have had promise after promise. I stand here as a representative of Dublin Bay North and a parent of two children in that school. I am expressing the frustration of the parents in the school. We were promised ground would be broken in April of next year. Will the Minister of State give us the commitment that we will finally see our new …

So it was a photo op.

Hear, hear.

When we speak about carers, we are speaking about people who take on a huge responsibility for no other reason than that they deeply care for the person they are providing the care for. Over 500,000 people across this State are quietly caring for their loved ones. They do not do it for reward. They do it out of love. Carers can be anybody at any stage of their lives. We have parents caring for a child, children caring for their parents, or a close friend who steps in for someone who does not have the family support…

During the past few weeks, we have seen the main electricity companies announce more price hikes. These same companies have had record profits during the past few years. We are now facing into a very long and cold winter. I have constituents who are already behind in their bills. These are people who never had an issue in paying their bills before. Now, they are looking at another hike in electricity costs on the bill they are already struggling to pay. My colleagues have already said this but I will say it again: …

Get back into your playpen.

This is childish.

It was very upsetting to read in the Women's Aid annual report that the organisation has received the highest number of domestic abuse reports in its 50-year history. While I acknowledge the work of the previous Minister, Deputy McEntee, we have a lot more to do. When it comes to domestic refuge spaces this Government is still failing in its legal obligation to provide them. This is incredibly important because at a time when we have a housing crisis we have a situation where victims are becoming trapped. Their opt…

No answer.

Is it €2,000 or €3,000?

Is it €2,000 or €3,000?

So you do not know.