I thank all the contributors today, including both Ministers of State. I have to be honest. It was some stroke, was it not? It was almost a stroke of monumental proportions. Having been contacted by parents, as I am sure everyone in the Chamber has been, and in consultation with schools in all of our communities, we brought forward a motion to deal with the teacher supply crisis in our schools. The motion makes 11 suggestions for how the shortage of teachers could be alleviated to some degree. Following an incorpor…

I thank the Minister of State for his contribution. I read through the Taoiseach's speech as it pertained to the topics covered by the European Council summit next week. Russia and Ukraine will of course be on the agenda, as will energy, the economy, security, defence and external relations. The Minister of State might clarify whether there will be a discussion on supporting the thousands of refugees to whom we should extend our warmest welcome. That the Taoiseach did not mention this was surprising. We cannot hide…

We need to be talking to communities and working across the divide. If we do not do so, then we will fail.

Our public services across the board are under massive strain because those we ask to work in them cannot afford to live in our cities and urban areas. One consequence of that where it is most pronounced is in our schools. We have a staffing crisis in our schools for a variety of reasons but predominantly because our teachers, in particular, younger teachers, cannot afford to live in our cities. That is having a massive knock-on effect on students, particular those, for example, with special education needs where t…

I would first like to note that this Bill was published on Friday afternoon. It is simply not acceptable that we would effectively get two working days to look over a Bill of this importance. It is an unfortunate example of how rushed the Government legislative process is coming up to Christmas. I hope that Committee Stage will be taken in the new year so it can be given proper scrutiny. The Minister of State might confirm that when he responds. The Bill is largely welcome. It is a big step forward in how the State…

I thank the Labour Party, including Deputy Ó Ríordáin, for the motion. It is important and I am delighted we have the opportunity to speak about the matter. It is often said, and has been said several times today in the Chamber, that the war on drugs has failed. All of us with good intentions see that it has failed in that it has not done anything to alleviate the suffering of affected communities. When I think of this, I think of the Latin phrase " Qui bono ?", which loosely translates as "Who benefits?". Who actu…

I appeal to the Taoiseach in the context of his role and the responsibility he has for the north-east inner city task force. In the Gallery above us, we have Bobby, Reuben and Christy, along with their coach, Steven, from the Corinthians Boxing Club. This club represents the very best of the north inner-city. More than 40 children train there three nights a week, plying their craft and developing the discipline and responsibility they need. This boxing club is about to close because it cannot afford its electricity…

They have not gone to-----

The funding has not-----

It has not worked.

I had not intended to but I will begin by referencing some of the commentary from a previous speaker, Deputy Richmond. He talked about how important it is to be honest and said that if the Government needs to do more, it will do more. It is an interesting proposition. How much suffering must a parent or family experience before the Government decides to step in? Is there a requisite level of hunger before the Government will say it has the capacity to intervene? It is a logic I want to confront. Deputy Richmond ref…

I thank the Minister of State for bringing this debate forward and for his helpful contribution in listening to the statements of Members. Deputy Richmond is right. We do not say often enough that we love Dublin. As somebody who grew up and spends a lot of time there, it is a place I absolutely adore. It is for that very reason I want to fight for it. There are, without question, some problems that exist on the streets of Dublin. We could talk for hours about its many wonderful characteristics and attributes, and t…

I will begin where the previous Government speaker finished, which was on the recent High Court ruling on CETA. Government Members have said that there is no legal requirement for a referendum. However, enough has happened in terms of public discussion and public discourse. There is probably an ethical and civic requirement. If this is to become law, perhaps there is a requirement for us to have that conversation and a referendum is certainly one way for us to do that. While there might not be a legal requirement, …

This week is Transgender Awareness Week, ending with Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday. According to the latest survey conducted by BeLonG To, the LGBT youth organisation, which surveyed more than 1,200 LGBTQI+ students from across the country, 76% of students reported feeling unsafe at school. As one can imagine, feeling unsafe in a school environment is bound to have a detrimental effect on the quality of education a student receives. The survey also states that three in ten LGBTQI+ students missed at leas…

I am looking forward to and enjoying the contributions from everyone on this important topic. Science and research shape our modern world and its future more than any other profession or area of study. Scientific progress can be a matter of life and death for those suffering from disease, those living in poverty and those plagued by a lack of natural resources, just as it can open opportunities to improve quality of life for all. The kinds of scientific endeavour we commit to mirror who we are as a society. How we …

I want to ask the Tánaiste about Dublin's O'Connell Street. The "RTÉ Investigates" documentary last week encapsulates many of the problems that probably any of us who live or work in the city knew have been happening there for a long time. I put it to the Tánaiste that the issues on O'Connell Street are vast and complex and require a multi-departmental approach. Dublin City Council is pointing at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Garda is saying it cannot police what are ostensibly healt…

It does not cover O'Connell Street.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for attending this important discussion. I am sure we all watched RTÉ's "Prime Time" documentary the other day on Dublin's O'Connell Street. People throughout the country, having watched it, came away with the view that something needs to be done about this. The Minister of State and members of the Dáil Business Committee know I have been asking for the past year for statements in the House on the issue of the city of Dublin as a whole. Many of the issues captured by t…

I thank the Minister of State for his statement, which I will go through in my response. He refers to a multi-agency approach that crosses the Department of Justice, the Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council and the Department of Health. Will he tell me when representatives of those bodies were last in the same room to discuss this issue? If there is a multi-agency approach, when was the last time such a meeting took place and when is the next one scheduled to happen? I am fascinated to hear the answer. I asked for t…

Have they met together yet?