Many of us would have seen the scenes at the evictions on North Frederick Street, Dublin, in particular, but also in Strokestown, County Roscommon. In many instances, the personnel involved did not conduct themselves in anything like an acceptable way. The behaviour was heavy handed in some instances. It was violent and, in many ways, it was, quite frankly, scandalous. At the time, there was a great deal of disquiet, in particular that the gardaí seemed to have very little ability to intervene or that there was alm…

Since last summer, one of the things that has been repeated time and again has been that education is a priority for this Government. It is a priority for the Opposition as well. We have supported many of the measures that the Government has brought forward in the educational sector, albeit we would have liked to have seen an awful lot of them go further. At times, we listen to what the Government says and believe that there is priority for education. There was a request for greater prioritisation to ensure that sc…

I listened to the Minister of State. She spoke with some feeling, compassion and empathy. From my experience of her, I believe that to be sincere. This debate may be an opportunity to show sympathy and to ensure that people feel heard but it must be a hundred times more than that. The Minister of State has a responsibility to put pressure on her colleagues to end this practice, ensure it never resumes and there is an independent investigation of the kind we have outlined and, most of all, radically transform the cu…

Most of the people I grew up with cannot afford a home and have no hope of ever having a permanent one. Some will. Some will qualify for social housing and may get that after many years waiting. However, for the majority a permanent home is hard to imagine and out of reach. This is crushing and frustrating. It makes people so angry to spend so much money on rent that it stops them putting any kind of deposit together. It is one of the biggest issues that comes to my constituency office and I am sure to the Minister…

There is no question that the best place to learn is in class in school. We have all done our best in recent weeks and during the last year with the home school hub, Seesaw, Jigsaw, Joe Wicks videos and all the rest. There is no substitute, however, for in-school learning. We in Sinn Féin are glad that the phased return to school is under way. In no small way, that is due to the hard work in very challenging circumstances of the entire school community, including teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, school car…

On the music point, I accept that the Minister is examining the matter but something urgently needs to happen. I emphasise the point in respect of high-risk family members. There needs to be a common sense approach from Tusla. What I am seeking in regard to mock exams, and I think students would like to hear the Minister say this, is that they will not happen. Will she say they should not happen?

As the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is leaving, I take the opportunity to join Deputy Fitzmaurice in saying that the situation he and his family faced is regrettable and needs to be condemned. There is no place for it in our society. Criticism of Ministers is one thing, but targeting of a home like that is unacceptable. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan made an interesting point about what we are asking of the Irish people and what we are asking of people taking flights into this country. It is welcome that people in go…

It is welcome that we are having this debate. It is very badly needed. The failure again to ensure that special education would open this week caused immense anger, heartbreak and frustration among staff, stakeholders, the Department and, I am sure, the Minister, but most of all the affected children and their families. For the second time since Christmas, if not the third, a desperately wished for return to school was dashed. Many children will have been waiting for a bus or lift that did not come today. We must r…

I understand the Minister's desire to respond but she has issued press releases. There is three minutes and there were three specific questions.

The Minister is talking down the clock.

I am aware of the facts. I disagree. Will the Minister answer the questions?

My final question was not answered.

I have just finished a telephone call with the principal of a post-primary school. One of the many things we discussed was the pressure and stress her students facing and, in particular, the anxiety and mental health pressures they are under. She has never seen anything like it. It is an absolutely enormous issue. There is no doubt that many of these issues have been exacerbated by Covid. Social outlets have been closed off and the world has seemed very disturbed, disrupted, frightening and worrying. That has cause…

I agree with the point made by Deputy Paul Donnelly now and by Deputy Ó Broin previously. The cost of living and many other costs have increased significantly since 2011. Many local authorities such as Cork County Council, in whose areas rent and the cost of living are very high, are on the second tier where the maximum income for housing eligibility in a particular set of circumstances is only €30,000, as opposed to €35,000 or €37,000. One could be living in Carrigaline or in Mallow where the cost of living is qui…

This is a specific issue that requires to be addressed but it has not been in almost a decade.

It must be said that this has been an extremely challenging year for workers and businesses, but also for the Department of Social Protection. I refer to the landscape that exists now. I acknowledge the work done by the Minister and her predecessor in this regard. I particularly thank the staff of the Department of Social Protection. During the first period of crisis, it was a time of immense pressure and the response times were good in ever-changing schemes. I acknowledge that and commend those involved. This legi…

There is an old cliché about asking for directions only to be told that one should not start from one's particular location. The Irish healthcare system is the classic example of that in policy terms. I speak to constituents who have arrived here from other countries in recent years and cannot fathom the system we have, including the mixture of public and private provision, the cost of visiting the GP - which some people have to do frequently - and the cost of prescriptions. Somewhere in there is an ostensibly publ…

If nurses could be paid in applause and lip service, they would be truly wealthy. The fact is that they cannot. Lip service and applause does not put food on the table, clothe a family or pay the rent. We can call them heroes and thank them for all the wonderful work they do. Unless progress is made on these issues, however, then they are entitled to feel aggrieved. The allowances some student nurses get vary wildly depending on their university, college or hospital. One nurse got in contact with us to say that her…

I wish to make a specific point about the CRSS and how it relates to pubs, but I will first make a general point on an issue that has been widely discussed. There is much frustration among the public. Undoubtedly, we all appreciate the situation we are in and the public health advice, but it is vital not only that the tens of thousands of people who are working in the hospitality industry, and particularly in the drinking pubs that cannot reopen at this point, get the support they need now, but also that there are …

I defer to the better knowledge of my colleague, Deputy Doherty, on the ability of the Revenue to govern this in terms of whether legislative change is required. If such change is not required, that would be a positive thing. The point has been well made. This is a particular category of business. I accept 100% that everything in respect of the CRSS is being done in the interests of supporting business. I accept there is no bad faith and that there is a genuine desire to help businesses. I accept of course that it …