The European Commission has called for a different approach to breast cancer detection. A key recommendation is to extend breast cancer screening to include women between the ages of 45 and 74. In Ireland the screening process for women is between the ages of 50 and 69. A total of 23% of all women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are between the ages of 20 and 50. Will the Minister confirm that the Government will consider the recommendation of the European Commission to lower the screening age for breast…

I welcome this legislation. It is long overdue. It is a lengthy Bill at more than 95 pages. I tried to read it but was limited in what I could take in. It is welcome that the Government is regulating an industry that has been largely out of control. Gambling is a big business and big business is gambling. It is worth an enormous amount, not only in Ireland but around the world, and is highly profitable. The problem that most people have with gambling is its insidious nature. We cannot watch any sport, particularly …

It is almost two years since the death of George Nkencho in Clonee. George's family have been very patient regarding the investigation into his death, but they want to see the GSOC report as soon as possible. Can the Minister shed light on when the report will be published?

The family had this a year ago. They were told that the report would be finalised this time last year, but another year has passed. There were media reports that a draft investigation had been submitted to the commissioners but that report was in the media a number of months ago. Where is it? Has the report of the internal draft investigation been submitted? Has the Minister seen it? That is what the family want to know. The family want answers. They want the State to shine a light on the death of George Nkencho. H…

The circumstances surrounding the death of George Nkencho are extremely troubling, to say the least. George cannot be brought back, but the family want to know what the circumstances were that led to his death and that it will not happen to another family. That is the most important thing. The family want truth and justice. They want somebody to tell them this could have been prevented if something else had happened on that day. Whatever the GSOC recommendations, a public inquiry is needed in respect of George Nken…

I am disappointed that there is not a Minister with responsibility for the health portfolio here. It is not acceptable. We should have been notified before the debate. I am not blaming the Minister of State as I do not think he should be in this position, but we should have been told in advance that there would not be a Minister present. It makes a bit of a mockery of the debate really. The Chamber is empty as it is but to have no Minister for the brief or from the Department is a bit demoralising to say the least.…

I welcome the motion and the good work of Deputy Ó Ríordáin on this matter. He has a good track record in dealing with the issues surrounding drug reform, which is very welcome. Reading the motion, you do not know whether to cry in despair or keep your head up pushing for reform. It is a damning indictment of successive Governments that what has occurred has been allowed to happen. It is extremely sombre to consider that 10,000 people have died of drug-related causes over the past 25 years. These were people's brot…

My question is on the interim report by the independent review group on sexual abuse in the Defence Forces. This is the most serious of matters. The Women of Honour group has brought this to the attention not only of the Army but also the State. It wants an update on the interim report, which the Minister has probably seen.

As the Minister noted, these allegations are of the utmost seriousness in regard to our Defence Forces. There is a frustration in respect of the interim report. The Women of Honour, who have made these allegations, would like to see that interim report and I think they have every justification in that regard. My understanding is that a number of other victims have come forward in the meantime to make allegations of the most serious nature against individuals in the Defence Forces. It is imperative for the process t…

From the outset, there have been issues with the terms of reference of the review. I understand that witnesses cannot be compelled, so there is something of a failure in that regard. If the Women of Honour, at this juncture, do not have full confidence in the review group and its interim report, that sets alarm bells ringing. The people who have made these allegations will not be included in the interim report, and that could lead to a failure. I acknowledge that the Minister said this is neither the beginning nor …

Yesterday, with other Deputies, I attended the launch of the "Final Report – Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme" by Dr. Gabriel Scally. It was an uplifting briefing but it was also sombre. One could not help thinking of all the women who should have been here today had it not been for the systemic failures in the cervical cancer screening programme. A number of issues arose on the recommendations, namely, capacity and there being none and the Coombe hospital is trying to fill that gap; outso…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to enable a person who is at least 18 years of age to have possession, for the person’s personal use, of either or both cannabis and cannabis resin that in each case does not exceed a specified amount and to provide for related matters. I am thankful that I am introducing this Bill today. It has been a number of years in the making. The last Bill which came before the House on this was ten years ago. I think Irel…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

A year and a half ago, the Joint Committee on Justice recommended a special committee on the issue of assisted dying. To my knowledge, there is no impediment to the establishment of that committee. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment to the many people who have been following this issue that the committee will be established before Christmas because it has gone on far too long? We need to have a national discussion about this issue.

I wish to share time with Deputy Bríd Smith.

We will see how it goes. I welcome the motion tabled by the Rural Independent Group. It is a good motion which touches on many issues concerning energy. One of the issues I wish to reference relates to the proliferation of data centres in the country. I refer specifically to the South Dublin County Council area where, currently, there are close to 50 data centres. It has the highest concentration of data centres in the country. The facts are stark in regard to data centres not only in this county council area but e…

My question is on the shortage of secondary school places. I can speak for Clondalkin in the constituency I represent, Dublin Mid-West. The shortage is so acute at the moment that a number of schools have large waiting lists of 50, 60 or 70 students. What normally happens is that most students will find a school in their vicinity. In the academic year starting next September, though, students will not be able to find a place in the area whatsoever. Children not having a place is not acceptable. This is an issue of …

We all knew that this day would come. Her family and close friends knew that this day would come. Vicky herself knew, deep down, that this day would come. We took Vicky into our collective hearts and now all our hearts are broken. I got to know Vicky a number of years ago in relation to the issue around assisted dying and she was vocal about that issue. She said to us that no matter what the circumstances, you need to pledge to keep supporting and campaigning for the issue around assisted dying. Her other wish was …

We all know that there are enormous challenges in our emergency departments currently. Recently, the Irish Examiner reported that over 27,000 people were in emergency departments and they left without being treated. That is extremely worrying and it is a terrible reflection on the Government’s health policy. Is this a reflection that the health policy of the Government has failed?

I wish to express my solidarity with the tech workers this week with regard to the possible layoffs in the tech sector. The last week has shown that tech companies are quite ambiguous about employment laws in Ireland. There are penalties for breaching employment law in respect of notice of redundancy. Has the Tánaiste made the tech companies aware of this law and the penalties for breaching employment law around redundancies?