He introduced it that way. He should not make comparisons like that. Do your homework.

My question is to ask the Minister for an update on meeting the cost of disability for persons and families, as committed to in the programme for Government.

I am aware that Indecon was commissioned by the Department to carry out this much-needed research. There was a much higher response rate than expected, and that has delayed the project. I accept that; it is understandable. There were 4,700 responses from people with disabilities received whereas the target was 1,000. I saw the survey and acknowledge the time that went into each submission, and I agree that the substantial information and insight gained will be invaluable. As the Minister stated, the survey was one …

I do not believe we are disagreeing in any way, shape or form here but the original report was expected at the end of 2020. While I fully appreciate that the delays understandable, can the Minister, if possible, provide assurances that the report will be available before the budget to inform it? Furthermore, if the report is not completed, could the Government commit, as an interim measure on foot of what is committed to in the programme for Government, to an increase of €20 per week in the disability allowance in …

Will the Minister for Social Protection outline the estimated costing of removing the 13-week requalification period for those persons on partial capacity benefit, PCB, and the status of removing the 13-week anomaly by early intervention and referral?

It is a very welcome announcement that the Department will not pursue overpayments. That will alleviate the anxiety of many people. Partial capacity benefit was introduced in 2012 when there were 700 recipients. That number increased moderately over the years and now stands at 3,172 recipients. Partial capacity benefit aims to extend illness benefit or invalidity pensions. However, when the entitlement to illness benefit expires, the recipient of PCB is sometimes left without any social welfare payment for 13 weeks…

It is important to clarify that this issue was raised with me very recently by advocacy groups working in the area of disability. It is important that we examine whether that is happening on the ground. It is also important to say that Ireland has the unenviable title of having the lowest employment rate for people with disabilities in the EU. Poverty and social exclusion among people with disabilities is almost 20% lower than the EU average at 50.8%. This is a small scheme, but it is important that we fix the anom…

Last Saturday, on the 16th anniversary of the events that led to his death, I once again marched alongside the family of Terence Wheelock and the community of the north inner city. We met peacefully and in a socially distanced way at the Garden of Remembrance and walked to Store Street Garda station. I was there not only to support a family I have known since I was a child, although that certainly was one of the reasons, and in recognition of the collective trauma that still exists in the north inner city arising o…

Heads of State are today meeting at the European Council. As they do, variants of the virus are rampaging through the global south. I ask again what is the position of the Irish Government on the TRIPS waiver? It is fair to say the vaccination programme here and in other wealthy countries are going well but if perfect incubator conditions are being created in less prosperous places throughout the world, we are all at risk. As a former and potentially future Head of this State, what would be the Tánaiste's message o…

I begin by bringing into the Chamber the words of the American poet, feminist and lesbian activist, Adrienne Rich, who said, "Every built thing has its unmeant purpose." It should be a source of celebration that the Irish State and people should be getting a modern maternity hospital, free of Nightingale wards and with single-room occupancy. The fact that hundreds of millions of euro will be spent to provide the highest standard of healthcare should be a cause of celebration in a modern republic. Yet the dark cloud…

I thank Sinn Féin Members for tabling the motion which we in the Social Democrats will be supporting. As we start to emerge from the pandemic many of us have been forced to re-evaluate what is important in our individual lives and in wider society - family, health and friendship. It might seem simplistic but we need to keep these learnings close to us. At the same time, we need to ensure flexibility and an assortment of values are represented. The value and meaning one derives from work cannot be thought of as univ…

Earlier this week, AsIAm, an autism charity, published its Every Child Counts report, which found that 66% of families surveyed had to wait more than two years to access an appropriate assessment for their child. More than three quarters of those surveyed said they were not in receipt of any support from the HSE's early intervention team, school age team or the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. The last finding I want to mention, which is crucial to this debate, is that 40% of respondents' autisti…

I put it to the Taoiseach that the Government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth on the mother and baby homes report. Today in the High Court, the State will strongly defend the report of the mother and baby homes commission in legal action brought by survivors against the report. Simultaneously, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, has said that he believes survivors and intends to appoint an independent expert to review the testimony of survivors given t…

The people in the High Court will be looking for a voice today.

And there is now a review.

I want to talk about compassion within our education and State examinations system. I am no fan of the current leaving certificate model but it worries me gravely that we are moving backwards and not forward when it comes to compassion for students. Compassionate leave was granted for the first time in 2019 to students who suffered a close family bereavement over the course of their written examinations. I believe that this leave did not go far enough, as it extended only to three days' leave from examinations. Alm…

Deputy O'Callaghan is not here so I am taking his position. Has each Department produced its resource-efficiency action plan for this year? When does each one intend to publish its plan? Much of the heavy lifting associated with biodiversity and climate action is being done by local authorities. They are doing a fantastic job in many instances but they claim they are not being funded. Can we fund them to appoint more biodiversity officers, in particular, to take the pressure off all the staff who are carrying the w…

In the north inner city, sport has always been a great leveller and a great outlet for young people. Yet in the Mulvey report, sport seems to be the great omission. The Taoiseach read out the list of funding initiatives but there is little that pertains to sport. There are two great soccer clubs in the north inner city, Sheriff Youth Club and Belvedere FC. Both play on an astroturf pitch in Clontarf. The pitch is completely outdated. The pitch has a lifespan of approximately seven years but it has been at the groun…

It was Corinthians Boxing Club. It is in the heart of the north inner city. They need a female changing room.

I think it was the council. That will need to be addressed because there is a great desire for boxing in the north inner city. The Seán MacDermott Street swimming pool remains closed. It has been closed for two years. The students in the Central Model Senior School in sixth class are running their own campaign. I would love to see them supported in this campaign to get the pool open so that they can have a swim in it over the summer. It is a really viable facility.