When the Minister's predecessor entered office, there was a debate about whether there was a housing crisis. Ultimately, he accepted that there was a housing crisis. In truth, we have had a housing crisis and a housing emergency for seven or eight years, maybe longer, but we have never had an emergency response. The Minister may protest about that, but, as a society, we have had emergency responses in respect of a number of policy areas in recent years - in many instances, these were warranted - but nothing similar…

I thought it was two and a half minutes. I will finish on this point. We are talking about minimum house prices of between €310,000 and €326,000 and maximum prices of €365,000. For people who are on a single income of €40,000, €50,000 or €60,000 and do not qualify for social housing, it is still out of reach for those people.

This is a crucially important area. When it is properly supported, the difference it makes is profound. I have seen in the community where I live the difference it makes when there is a good community garda and a good youth diversion project, and what it achieves in respect of the trust and relationship between the young people in an area, a community garda and a youth diversion project. Unfortunately, the pressure Garda numbers are under means this will be significantly undermined. We have a situation that was rep…

A Cheann Comhairle-----

A Cheann Comhairle, under Standing Order 35(3)-----

No, I am entitled to speak.

I am, and the Clerk can confirm. Under Standing Order 35(3), "Any member may propose an amendment to the motion for the adoption of the arrangements for the week’s business: Provided that ..." they provide adequate detail. I wish to propose-----

I wish to propose-----

Very well.

That is correct. Any Member is entitled to move an amendment to the Order of Business under the Standing Orders supposedly adopted by this Dáil. I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business. It relates to the point made by Deputy O'Callaghan regarding the significant threats we face in terms of trade, the tariffs and the developments which may take place this week, particularly on foot of President Trump's announcement tomorrow. I wish to propose that No. 2 of Thursday's business is amended to include st…

I commend the motion brought forward by Deputy O'Reilly. The point has been clearly made that there is great frustration at the rate of payout under the humanitarian assistance scheme. In my county of Cork, of the 102 claims made, only 19 were paid out, which is a similar rate to the rest of the country. For those affected, it is far too slow and a cause of great frustration. There are issues in terms of people making claims and not being properly remunerated. A point I have made before is the need for compensation…

As these are questions for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Harris, it is an appropriate time to extend our sympathies and our solidarity to the people of Myanmar and Thailand in the context of what they are currently experiencing. It is a real catastrophe and there is huge human suffering. The question I bring to the Minister is the same question I brought to him six weeks ago during our previous session, and it relates to the occupied territories Bill. In the interim, unfortun…

It is vitally important the international community uses every lever possible to put pressure on for the resumption of the ceasefire, to stop the hostilities, and for the release of the hostages. I suppose we are back to this issue time and again. Unfortunately, we are back to dealing with the consequences of the Israeli Government feeling as if it can act with impunity. That is why the occupied territories Bill matters. It is about ensuring international law applies. Too often the Israeli Government is flouting in…

I appreciate that. If it were as simple as whether it is a Government or Opposition Bill, this might be a less contentious debate, but the reality is that there is a difference in substance, one that has never really been justified. I do not know whether the Tánaiste wants to take the opportunity to justify the distinction between goods and services at this juncture. I invite the Tánaiste to remark on the scenes outside the Dáil yesterday involving Mothers Against Genocide and particularly on what is reported to ha…

I have ten seconds left.

How does the Tánaiste justify the difference in substance between goods and services, because it has no basis in the ICJ judgment?

Since we last had questions here, we had the third anniversary of the vicious war of aggression by Russia, under Vladimir Putin, against Ukraine. It represents the largest land conflict and greatest displacement of people in Europe for nearly 80 years. Progress towards a ceasefire has been extremely slow. While any progress is obviously welcome, it is extremely slow and seems to be consistently undermined by one of the parties and so I invite the Tánaiste to make a statement on that matter.

It certainly appears as though Vladimir Putin is using the cover of whatever desire exists internationally and which has been spoken about at length by the US President on peace, to buy time. Even the commitments that have supposedly been agreed have been undermined by attacks on energy infrastructure and civilian infrastructure of the kind that was meant to be prevented. It is not difficult to be somewhat cynical about the attitude towards peace of Vladimir Putin. At this point, various parties, including the Unit…

I do not really have any further questions but I take the opportunity again to reject the statements that have been made by President Trump about President Zelenskyy. He is no dictator by any manner of means. The authoritarian here is Vladimir Putin and it is important to recognise the clear fact that the Ukrainians are serious about peace but it has to be on the basis of a just and sustainable peace and it needs to ensure Ukraine itself is at the table and indeed, partners in Europe. I have no further questions bu…

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. I appreciate that. I was listening to the debate on a similar matter between the Tánaiste and Deputy Smith. I do not think there is any desire for histrionics or panic anywhere in the Chamber, but we could be facing a sobering situation tomorrow, and it is no exaggeration to say that there are workers who have been listening to the media over the last few days in multinational companies, particularly American companies, right across Ireland who are very concerned. It is vitally import…