I entirely accept that there is a need for a balance and that there are jobs that cannot be done from home. Nobody is suggesting an absolute right. Again, I return to the point that inasmuch as there is a presumption, it seems to lie more strongly with the employer than the employee. It is important that workers be well protected in this regard. While the Bill is at heads stage, there is a bit of detail. We will be waiting for a while for the Bill to be passed. In the interim, workers are being recalled to work on-…

I also have a question on this issue that will likely not be reached. The report is on the desk of the Minister of State and I hope it can be expedited as soon as possible. A refrain I have too often heard from the Government side of the House is that work is the best way to get out of poverty. In many instances that can be true, but for it to be true across the board work has to pay adequately, pay the bills and make more sense than other decisions. If we are not going to have a living wage while fuel, rent and ch…

If I was to make a specific ask at this point, it would be for a dedicated discussion with the Minister. The potential for offshore wind in Cork is enormous in terms of reducing emissions but also in terms of creating jobs. However, we have to ensure that the skills are there on the ground in order that Cork can become a world leader in offshore wind and especially floating offshore wind. To do that, we need to do the work now to ensure the skills are in place and we are not bringing them in from elsewhere. We do n…

The IPCC report announced this week gives a start and grave warning that we must take seriously, namely, that it is now or never and that two to three years remain in which we can reduce emissions drastically to ensure there will not be irreversible consequences that our children, those in poorer countries and the poorest in our own country could feel. We need to act; now is the time. Actions are being taken, which I acknowledge, but a great deal more can be done. Solar technology has been around for a long time an…

Beimid ag tacú leis an mBille seo. An independent electoral commission is incredibly important. It is important that it is properly resourced and that its membership is reflective of a diverse population from all backgrounds. I hope the Government will take on board the recommendations from pre-legislative scrutiny and mandate that the electoral commission ensures those voices are heard. Either the commission itself or a subcommittee should hear the voices of the various minority groups in our society. It is also v…

The childcare system is simply not fit for purpose. Fees are far too high and wages are too low. The system is not working for parents, for staff or for providers. Rising childcare costs are like a second mortgage for families. They cannot catch a break. People are absolutely broken. It is keeping people from going back to work. In Cork, families are easily paying on average €800 per month per child. Many families are paying over €1,000. That is even before you get to families with two or more children, who are pay…

I thank the Acting Chairman. It was my understanding that such an email had been sent, so apologies in that regard. The Minister of State will be familiar with this issue, which I raised with both the Minister of State and the Minister and which I raise today on behalf of Deputy Gould, of the area of Ballyvolane just outside Cork city. Almost 2,000 houses are planned for this area and yet, with two large strategic housing developments, SHD, in the pipeline, there is no community centre in the area. The request is t…

Some of this is about being forward looking. Whatever discussions were held, we must take into account how much the area is going to grow. Many people coming into the area will be new to it. They will not necessarily be familiar with the community and, obviously, this is an established community. All in all, the city council and the Department need to be proactive here. Building 2,000 houses means a lot of people going into the community. There is a need for community infrastructure. Community centres and resource …

While that will be useful, there is a general proposal but there is very little meat on the bones of it. There is a proposed SHD for Lahardane but there are no details. There needs to be an opportunity for community input. It is proposed that there will be a community centre. The local community needs the opportunity to give input and there is no timeline. Deputy Gould has raised this repeatedly, as has our local representative, Ms Mandy O'Leary-Hegarty, and Councillor Mick Nugent. If the Minister of State is in a …

The Taoiseach will be familiar with the Educate Together secondary school in Cork. It now has 400 students and the first students are doing their leaving certificate this year, so the school is open about six years. During that six years, the school has been in two locations, neither of which is directly in the catchment area. It is currently based in Wellington Road. The Department spends about €80,000 to €90,000 a year on school transport bringing students to the current site. The Taoiseach might have seen the vi…

Children and young people who are fleeing Ukraine have had their whole lives uprooted in the most horrendous of circumstances. We need to provide them with some sort of normality as soon as possible and that necessarily entails prompt access to education. Principals and school boards across the country have made incredible efforts to find space in our schools for Ukrainian children. It is a remarkable effort. School communities have rallied around Ukrainian children and young people, donating uniforms and books. I …

It has been said by my colleague, Deputy Cullinane, that what is happening to children throughout the State is shameful. I commend Deputy Tully on tabling the motion. We are returning to this issue because in the intervening period since we last raised it the Government has been found to be in breach of the law. It is in breach of the Disability Act. We need to think of this issue more than in terms of systems, teams and clinicians. There have been far too many in the HSE and perhaps the Government who have thought…

There is no doubt that this situation has been partially created by our housing market. Many, and I hope, most, landlords are good and responsible but our housing market has produced such an imbalance that it has given a minority of landlords a belief that they are beyond reach, have impunity and can do what they like and that people are so desperate they will do anything for a place to stay. Unfortunately, in many instances, they are correct in thinking that people are desperate. I believe it is essential that we …

This is a Bill that my party is in agreement with. The European arrest warrant is an important structure in terms of co-operation across jurisdictions in the EU. It is vitally important that there is strong co-operation to ensure that criminals are not able to use borders to escape justice and to frustrate justice and the forces of law. As Deputy Martin Kenny outlined, there are a number of areas that we might try to address. In general terms, and while it does not specifically fall under the European arrest warran…

The announcement regarding DEIS arrived yesterday. It is a very important programme that has cross-party support. It has huge potential to make major differences to many children's lives. I very much welcome the schools that were added to that, including several in my own constituency. Of course, like any process such as this, there will always be schools that missed out and are disappointed. St. Maries of The Isle primary school in my constituency made a strong case for an upgrade to DEIS band 1. I understand scho…

I understand that the Minister needs to put these things on the record, but I hope that in her next contribution, she might be able tell us more about the appeals process. As I have said, there will be schools that are disappointed. The other issue is that the appeals process needs to be a bit more dynamic, perhaps, than the existing process. We are dealing with five-year-old information. When there is an appeal, schools should have the opportunity to put forward things that might have changed in that period or tha…

I hope the Minister can tell us more about that as the process goes on. The Minister also raised the issue of stakeholders. There needs to be a sea change in how the Minister and her Department show co-operation and partnership across the Dáil. We first contacted the Minister on 26 April 2021, which is almost a year ago now, because we wanted to work with her on the new DEIS model. We have written to the Minister, or an official in her Department, 11 times since then. I raised this again with the Minister in the Dá…

Not these ones.

I did not want to be just briefed. I wanted to play a part. I wanted to help.

That is not good enough.