I am only at the beginning of a five-minute speech that I may not have. Let us look at analysis, best practice and facts. Let us look at Denmark and the northern economies, the so-called socially committed states. I do not have a problem paying more tax if I get the services I need and they are of benefit to the community. I hold that view firmly and strongly. If we really think about it, the value we put on older people in our society is unacceptable. If one has an abandoned home and the roof is gone, the Governme…

If a person has a derelict house, he or she will get a grant of €70,000 to put it back into commission. If a person has a vacant home, he or she will get a grant of €50,000. For an elderly person or a person with a disability living in the home, the maximum grant is €30,000. That is an unacceptably low figure and has not been raised for some years, even though the money being allocated every year has risen because costs keep going up. There is a report somewhere in some Department from 2022 in relation to reform of…

More than 9,278 citizens have died from Covid-19. Each and every one of those deaths leaves broken hearts and shattered lives. In many cases, relatives never got to say goodbye to their loved ones. What is happening to the inquiry which has been long promised? It is four years since we had our first deaths from Covid-19. I wish to know what is happening in this regard. We need to prepare for the next pandemic. Separately, that inquiry has to have the participation of the families of the 23 people who died in Dealga…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Molaim go bhfuil an díospóireacht ar siúl anocht agus measaim go bhfuil tuairimí éagsúla sa Dáil faoin gceist. Is é mo thuairim láidir, ámh, go bhfuil sé an-tábhachtach go mbeimis ag cabhrú leis na tíortha eile san Aontas Eorpach agus go mbeadh an dearcadh céanna ag gach tír agus go mbeidh an polasaí, más féidir é, a bheith chomh séimh agus a bheith ag obair i ngach áit. Is trua liom nach bhfuil an polasaí i gContae Lú, go háirithe, ag obair in aon chor mar tá daoine …

Narrow West Street in Drogheda is an historic street that dates back to medieval times. At the moment, neither traffic nor pedestrians can access it because unscrupulous developers bought and held on to a listed building dating from 1760, which must now be demolished because it has fallen into a very dangerous state. The Derelict Sites Act must be overhauled and action must be taken. Historic buildings and streetscapes must not be allowed to fall into the utter dereliction we see on Narrow West Street. I appreciate…

We could.

I, too, will comment on amendments Nos. 175 to 177, inclusive, in this group. The national planning framework is hugely important and I agree with voices here on the democratic accountability for how it is dealt with locally. The national planning framework decides development in the broadest possible terms. Consider the town of Drogheda, with which the Minister is familiar. The problem is that planning decisions on the size of the town and on how it is going to grow are made not by Drogheda Borough Council, becaus…

The Taoiseach is meeting shortly with the business community in Drogheda to discuss the economic impact of the loss of the D Hotel and €21 million to the local economy. The people of Drogheda remain extremely angry at this decision. The Government needs to intervene and have a package for the tourists and businesses in our town. We need a moratorium on tourist accommodation being provided in the future in Drogheda for applicants under the IPAS, or International Protection Accommodation Services, and the beneficiari…

He is throwing people out of tents all over the city of Dublin at present.

He needs to re-examine this policy and bring ordinary people with him, rather than drive people into the arms of the extreme right which is getting oxygen from his actions.

Is there an application?

It is there today.

I am absolutely appalled at the state of devastation in Gaza, that is, the destruction of homes and the murder of innocent women and children, who are victims of the appalling aggression shown by the Israel Defense Forces. I am also appalled at the lack of a solution at this stage. Notwithstanding the fact many governments, in the Middle East, Europe and other parts of the world, are making every possible effort to find peace and get a ceasefire, that has not been successful or achieved up to now. From talking to y…

Ejiro O'Hare-Stratton came to Drogheda over 33 years ago with the Medical Missionaries of Mary. She qualified as a nurse and has a master's degree in hospital administration. She got married and has four children. Two are doctors and one is a dentist. Her son, who is in his first year of university, represents Ireland internationally in athletics. Ejiro is a fantastic woman. She set up Hands 4 Unity, a group which brings all communities, races and religions together in Drogheda. She is standing for Fine Gael in the…

Alexander is a ten-year-old boy in County Louth. He is autistic, non-verbal and he has an intellectual disability and development delays. His parents very much welcome the statement of the Taoiseach on bringing real and meaningful reform to services for people with disabilities. They believe him and I believe him too. It is the first time the Taoiseach has been made aware of this case. The problem is this family sought respite first in 2022. It was discussed by the HSE in late November 2022 and approved by the boar…

Drogheda is the largest town in Ireland with 40,000 people living in the town and at least 40,000 more living in the surrounding area. We have no driving test centre. We need the Minister to get onto the Road Safety Authority to do its job because so far it is neglecting our town. There are 41 driving test centres around the country. Some are in GAA clubs and hotels. There is even one in Mallow race course, I think. Why can we not have one in Drogheda? It is not good enough. The RSA has looked at ten sites and turn…

He is of course.

There is reluctance.

Exactly.

The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, signed a contract for 500 beds at the D Hotel without consulting anyone, blindsiding everyone. However, it emerged from a letter he sent to me yesterday that the contract was signed without there being an appropriate fire certification in place, meaning that the maximum number of people who can stay in the hotel is 250. In the 51 days since he signed that contract, the taxpayer has been exposed to a loss of almost €1 million. This is disgraceful. Due diligence was not done on the cont…