What would the Taoiseach say to those 200 parents outside on the pavement today if he were to talk to them?

Statements on diverting young people from crime is an interesting concept and something I would talk about every day if I could. However, statements without follow on action leaves us nowhere. We have had all the evidence and research and we know what brings young people into crime. We have known for decades now. If you imagine the portrait of a young person, I obviously think about Dublin Central and the north inner city, the places I am familiar with and where I grew up. Imagine them all over the country. No youn…

That is not true.

Investor courts.

Today, we are speaking to a 291-page document that addresses the changing over of Votes under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. Part of this involves the components that deal with whole-of-government responsibility, the strengthening of oversight and accountability, enhanced oversight mechanisms, community engagement and the absorption of current structures into the Policing and Community Safety Authority. It would be absolutely remiss of me if I did not use yesterday's events as an example of w…

Oversight-----

I am not sure how what I am raising is any less relevant or important than what Deputy Kelly spoke about. He was speaking about an issue that was not-----

My opening remarks referred to oversight mechanisms and also changing over from the ombudsman to Fiosrú.

And funding. Let me refer to why an oversight mechanism is necessary. Yesterday a group of women were taken away from a protest on genocide, brought to a police station and strip-searched and cavity-searched. What sort of funding can be given to ensure accountability for these women? There is no means by which what happened is justifiable or acceptable. This is related to the content of the report on profiling by the Irish Network Against Racism, commissioned by the Policing Authority and released just two days ago…

To respond to the Minister's last comment, I would encourage him to go down to Rutland National School in his own constituency. It has just received an electricity bill that creates a risk it will have to close its doors. That is not the issue I intended to raise, however. It has been 157 days since the report of the Dublin city task force was launched to great fanfare. We remember all the Ministers and all the press releases and yet, 157 days later, there is none of the funding. This is not a local issue for me. T…

This is my first time speaking since yesterday and despite the lowering of standards we are seeing from the Government, nothing will stop me coming in here and speaking on behalf of my community. I want to speak to the Minister of State about funding for schools in the north inner city. Schools in the north inner city, like most schools around the country, are at the coalface of many of the issues we hear being talked about. They are dealing with issues of poverty. There are issues of generational trauma and there …

I thank the Minister of State. I assure him my office contacted his office about a week ago regarding that offer. We talked about not wanting to pre-empt any future budget negotiations and in parliamentary form that is absolutely fine. However, if I can pre-empt what happens in the absence of schools being adequately resourced and funded, it is that children are left behind. I will also compound that by saying it will not just be all children who will be left behind; it will be the most vulnerable children who are …

The Minister of State can shake his head and look as bewildered as he likes.

The Minister of State can shake his head and look as bewildered as he likes but here is the simple fact: the Government has no mandate to remove the triple lock. I accept the Minister of State’s party won more seats than we did in the general election but here is what its manifesto said: “Continue to protect and promote ... neutrality including sensible reform of the ‘Triple Lock’ legislation.” Removing the triple lock is not sensible reform. That is another mistruth Fianna Fáil has told the Irish people. Fine Gael…

As we are discussing post-EU Council statements I am glad it is the Minister of State who has joined us. Earlier we brought a motion on the triple lock and during his contribution the Minister of State accused me and members of my party of being anti-EU. He went further and almost compared us to Farage. That was an interesting point. I did not see the Minister of State doing any of the kind of rebuilding that members of my party had to do following the far-right protests and agitation in our constituencies. As for …

I remind the Minister of State it was places in the UK, such as Holyhead in Anglesey, that voted overwhelmingly to remove themselves from the EU precisely because they were not seeing any benefits from it. They were the areas most devastated by poverty and most removed from what we describe as the benefits of that Union. One of the single greatest threats, as we engage in an arms build-up of €800 billion, will be poverty and a sense that people are not feeling the benefits of EU membership. It is therefore okay for…

For many of the reasons outlined, the Social Democrats will not be able to support the reduction in the accommodation payment for Ukrainians. When the invasion began more than two years ago, Irish people on the whole were incredible in how they answered the call. Many opened up their homes and, in doing so, found friends and members of the community who have come in have contributed and made a huge sense of place in our communities, cities, towns and villages. I understand there have been some comments - not so muc…

It is your friends' fault.

When I woke up this morning and the radio came on, the very first story talked about the European Council meeting happening today, which has rearmament on a scale that has not been seen for approximately 80 to 90 years as its first item on the agenda. We talked about the fact that our Taoiseach will be going and that loans will be provided so that European powers can buy military equipment, bombs and systems of obliteration. I almost had to look over my head to ensure jets were not passing by as they spoke. People …

We will not be a military power, despite the fact that the Tánaiste wishes to purchase six jets at some point. Even those six jets will not keep us safe from what the Government fears might happen. They would only allow it to play war games in an area in which we have no role or space. What we are good at, and what we have always been good at, is being people who can actually act in the name of peace and be the people who stand through it even when it is difficult to talk about peace. That does not seem to be what …