If we learned anything from the previous-----

If we learned anything from the previous debate, it is that there is no such thing as a point of information.

The recruitment freeze will see dedicated staff pushed to work in increasingly unsafe and unsustainable conditions. It is extraordinary that when almost 1 million people are on some sort of health waiting list the Government has made this decision. We know it will result in further delays in diagnosis and treatment which will lead to worse outcomes for patients. The decision to underfund the health service should be reversed. That is all I want to say. I cannot let this important opportunity pass without making the…

I welcome the Deputy Leader here this morning. I want to discuss the issue of precarious employment in higher education and call for a debate on the recent report by the Irish Federation of University Teachers. I begin by thanking the federation for its work in highlighting the issue, in particular its recent report. We have known for a long time how precarious things are for workers in higher education from Oireachtas education committees and audiovisual room briefings. This report is a clear call to action. One o…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Acting Chair. I will not use all of my time. I commend the work of the Electoral Commission. It is a matter of public record that Sinn Féin argued for six-seaters and to maintain county boundaries where possible but we think the Electoral Commission should be as independent as possible and I think it did a very good job. As this Bill comes before us, I would like to raise one thing that was not in the terms of reference. The Irish language did not feature in the terms of reference for An Co…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We need genuine reform of local government and the power structure in Irish politics. Governance and decision-making should occur as close to the people as possible, and they should be carried out by people elected by the people. The current management structure was introduced in 1940. Consistently, for decade after decade following partition, we followed a colonial policy of centralisation. Looking at it today, where do we find ourselves? We have one of the most centra…

As ever, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House. On behalf of Sinn Féin I welcome today's Bill. I acknowledge the work of Jason and the Poole family, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that Jennifer's voice is heard in this Bill. As other speakers have referenced, the Bill is a reclaiming of Jennifer's legacy, one that will provide protection for all women in Ireland. Women and wider society require a justice system that has the resources and funding in place to deliver fair and swift justic…

This week, the Government chose to reject the Sinn Féin motion on neutrality. Instead, the Government continues in its dying days to push through a fundamental shift in our foreign policy legislation, which will remove the triple lock and, in our view, will undermine our credibility on the world stage. It will push through legislation that is in very stark contrast to Fianna Fail’s recent manifesto and indeed the programme for Government. Our neutrality is long held. It is cherished by the Irish people. Being neutr…

I join others in extending my thoughts to those who were injured at Parnell Square and wish them a speedy recovery. We send every blessing to them. What happened in the aftermath of these horrific attacks was a disgrace. There were burnt-out cars, buses and a Luas tram, smashed-up shop fronts, workers hiding in the basements of shops and restaurant staff from beyond these shores who were afraid to leave their workplaces to go home. Brave gardaí were isolated, assaulted and left high and dry. Gardaí were not even ab…

I welcome the Minister. The Government needs to fulfil our obligations in respect of the Istanbul Convention and the State's strategy for eliminating the epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Earlier this year, the National Women's Council published its report, prepared in conjunction with the Department of Justice, into domestic and sexual violence in particular. It looked at the intersection of the criminal justice system, private family law, public law and childcare processes. The report laid b…

I welcome the Minister of State. I advocate a State-wide sports facility strategy. Over the past two decades more than €1 billion has been invested in sports facilities through various programmes such as the sports capital programme, the local swimming pool programmes, the large-scale infrastructure fund and separate individual programmes for major sports projects. Despite the large amount of money committed there remains no State-wide strategy for the expansion of sports facilities. The Government provided a capit…

And by South Dublin County Council.

South Dublin County Council did not get a mention the first time so I am just putting it on the record.

We believe that the sports capital and equipment programme goes against the National Sports Policy 2018 - 2027. I would welcome the Minister of State's response on that one. Primarily I wish to advocate a State-wide strategy for sports facilities but I will not take up any more time.

I thought Senator McDowell was going to call for squatters' rights as a means to address the crisis in vacancy and the housing crisis but that would not track with his ideology. I thank the Labour Party Senators and I welcome former Senator, Billy Lawless. He was a great advocate for Irish America and the Irish diaspora. He is very missed here. I thank Senators Sherlock, Hoey, Moynihan and Wall for bringing forward the motion. We all agree, in the midst of a housing crisis, that if there are 50,000, 60,000 or 165,0…

I am not here to defend that initiative. The council's 2024 budget will be presented to councillors. It includes €10 million for houses or flats vacated by tenants but not in a condition to be re-let. That is a drop of €15 million on the 2023 budget and a drop of €25 million on the year before. I would welcome a Government response to The Irish Times article last week. I also question the figures for the vacant property refurbishment grant. We hear great things about it but in the 18 months since the scheme opened,…

I have the floor. It has failed to achieve what it set out to do, which was to disincentivise the hoarding of empty homes. If it is to bring about cultural change, the tax must be set higher at a time house prices continue to rocket.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome my comrades from Trinity College Ógra Shinn Féin. There is a Trinity Senator here whom they can meet tonight. I will begin by commending my comrade, Senator Boylan, and Brian Marron in her office who have worked tirelessly and done a very good job on this issue. I do not want to go over issues that have been covered and I am coming in at a late point in the debate but it is no exaggeration to say that, when all of socioeconomic and environmental challenge…

I welcome the Minister to the House. He is welcome here, as ever. Recent Eurostat figures stated that 68% of people between the ages of 25 and 29 still live at home with their parents. In Denmark, I think it was 4%, in Finland, I think it was 5% and in Sweden, I think it was 6%. In Ireland, 68% of people between the ages of 25 and 29 still live in their childhood bedrooms. They can only dream of home ownership. For those who rent, we know they live in a complete nightmare, despite Senator McDowell coming into the H…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House again today. I also welcome the people in the Public Gallery. They are folks from the NYCI, Wexford Comhairle na nÓg and a comrade of mine, James Stokes, a Sinn Féin candidate in Newbridge in County Kildare, who is 18 years of age and has come to the Seanad to witness this debate. This is a very interesting debate, which we have had many times here in this House. To be honest, I am somewhat exhausted discussing at length the merits of lowering the voting age to 16. We ha…