The Chair's ruling is final.

Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for chairing this debate. I commend the efforts of my colleagues, the Minister for housing, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, and my cross-party colleagues on the housing committee who have worked very extensively on this legislation. I note there was some discussion earlier today relating to briefing documents. It is telling that more and more of us want more and more information on this Bill because it is so lengthy. It shows the significance of the …

I ask for an update on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction Bill) 2022. I know this was paused during the summer due to a diversion of resources but I understand that the Department officials are working collaboratively with the Attorney General on this important legislation. The Taoiseach and I know how long families, particularly families through surrogacy, have been waiting and now they are told that things were deprioritised over the summer and legislation we were expecting a number of months ago still has n…

Sadly, one in four pregnancies ends in loss. The State supports women in terms of leave from work who miscarry from 26 weeks on or who tragically experience a stillbirth. However, if someone experiences early pregnancy loss, they do it in isolation and without access to State leave. I have campaigned for early pregnancy loss. One of the challenges I have come up against is the lack of available data. Now, however, thanks to the Department of children and youth affairs and Professor Keelin O'Donoghue, Professor Ruad…

I extend my thoughts and my prayers to the five-year-old girl who remains seriously ill in hospital, to her brave childcare worker and to all those who found themselves in an absolutely unbelievable situation, caught up in awful scenes outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Thursday afternoon. To those who decided that the way to protect those small children and their carers was to riot, to rob, to set fire to public transport service vehicles and emergency service vehicles and to terrorise Dubliners, people who wor…

It is safe to say that in our current journey through a climate emergency and a world driven by artificial intelligence, AI, it is critical that we keep science and research at the forefront of our discussions here in the Oireachtas and in government. Science is not a distant concept confined to lab coats. It is the bedrock of understanding how global challenges impact on our everyday lives. It is our responsibility to ensure that investments in science and research remain strong. In celebrating Science Week, we ar…

This morning we all woke to the horrific news that Israeli soldiers had stormed Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Images of death, destruction and dying babies haunt us all. What Israel is doing is barbaric, inhumane and criminal. I have spent time in Palestine and I have seen at first-hand the utter disdain with which Israeli soldiers treat Palestinians. I cannot begin to imagine the pain and the suffering that they are inflicting on a civilian population now. Ireland has been a lonely voice on the international stage; w…

The Government is encouraging more and more people to use their bike and leave their cars at home. I believe that professional cyclists should be setting a good example to new and commuting cyclists by creating a safe road share culture. Yet many of us will be aware of incidents and near misses involving delivery cyclists who have broken red lights, who have face timed while they cycled or who have cycled the wrong way down a street. I believe we should consider a form of visible identification such as a car or mot…

Next we move to the Independent Group. Deputies Connolly and McNamara are sharing time and have two and a half minutes each.

I thank the Deputy.

I am sorry to interrupt the Deputy. Is she sharing her time?

It is two and a half minutes each, is it not?

It is five minutes between the Deputies.

It is five minutes between the Deputies, but Deputy Connolly may continue. I will allow the extra two and a half minutes.

No. The Deputy had two and a half minutes but-----

That is okay. That is no problem.

The Deputy may conclude briefly, and we will hand over to Deputy McNamara.

I thank the Deputy. He is over time.

The Deputy is over time.

We move to questions and answers.