This case highlights yet again why women rarely feel safe when they are out at night and why we do not jog or run when it gets dark, why we tightly grip keys when we walk, why we rarely wear headphones so we can be alert to sounds around us and why we are hyper vigilant about men walking behind us when we are alone. It is because nowhere is safe. Violence against women is an epidemic in our society. Every day in court and crime reports we read of horrific cases involving women who have been beaten, sexually assault…

I acknowledged that some work has been done in this area. However, when the Minister says the Government will continue its approach of zero tolerance, it is important to highlight that it needs to get real on this issue. He is talking about zero tolerance. Let us compare that with the fact nine counties are without a refuge space. The reality for women in violent homes in those counties is they have nowhere to go and are forced to stay in unsafe homes. There is nothing about this that speaks zero tolerance. We are …

In the lead-up to the last general election, the Taoiseach cynically misled the public about how many homes would be delivered. This was a blatant attempt to give the impression he was turning the corner on housing delivery. In reality, he was driving it off a cliff. We were told 40,000 homes would be delivered in 2024; in fact, it was 30,300, nearly 25% short of the target. The Taoiseach and Government have been consistently moving the goalposts when it comes to housing targets. Now, in the most blatant move to av…

No, that is until 2030.

The only thing more predictable than this Government's plans failing is the Taoiseach's weekly attempt to come in here and blame the Opposition, the planning system or the courts for a mess of the Government's own creation. The fact is the Government is driving housing off a cliff and the best the housing Minister can do is to tell people to hang in there. Hang in there and do what exactly? Should they hang in there and pay rents of €2,000 or €3,000 per month indefinitely? Should they hang in there and pay €500,000…

The list goes on and on. The Government votes them down consistently. I will ask again. What are the Government's targets for the lifetime of this Government, not to 2030?

Will the Taoiseach answer the question?

At the outset, I express my deep sorrow at the loss of five young lives in a horrific car crash in Louth at the weekend. My thoughts are with their families, their friends and their local communities at this terrible time. I want to use this opportunity to wish the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, well as he leaves public office. The Minister has managed something very rare in politics, which is to keep a secret and to surprise everybody today. We obviously do not agree on lots but I know the Minister has worked v…

Further changes have been announced at Cabinet today. The Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, becomes the Minister for Finance, his sixth position in Cabinet in nearly a decade. The Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, becomes the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, has been appointed to the Cabinet as the Minister for Education and Youth; the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, has been promoted to Minister of State for disability; and Deputy Frankie Feighan will be…

I welcome everybody in the Gallery. It is great to have them here today. I thank my colleague, Deputy Farrelly, for all of his passion and hard work on this issue. Sixteen-year-olds in Ireland are mature enough to work, pay taxes, care for family members and make their own medical decisions. If they are old enough to make those choices and contribute to society in those ways, why would they not be allowed to vote? We should be actively looking for more ways for them to participate in our democracy, not to continue …

Very briefly, I welcome my mum, Madeleine, to the Gallery. It is extra special that she is here because she is joined by some of her oldest friends, her childhood friends, who are all very welcome.

Longest term friends. In her inauguration speech yesterday, Catherine Connolly said climate change is one of the greatest challenges of her time. President Connolly intends to make this a key focus of her Presidency, and I really welcome that. This is especially important given that climate change has fallen way down the Government's agenda. I am sure the Taoiseach will deny that but the facts are the facts. This Government is on course to spectacularly miss its climate targets. I read the speech the Taoiseach deli…

There is so much spin in the Taoiseach's reply that it is difficult to know where to start. We have less offshore wind production than we did 20 years ago. That is the reality. I recognise that the climate Act was good but it is about delivery. The target was 51%. The Government made a plan to reach 23% and even that did not happen. The reality is that the Taoiseach's Government's record is one of abject failure. When the Social Democrats try to point that out, his approach is to misrepresent our position. That is …

What is also a fact is that this Government is leading farmers to a cliff edge. If the derogation is not renewed or is further cut, what is the Government going to do?

The Taoiseach did not answer my question about whether we are going to reach the 51%, and how we will get there. Maybe he can answer this question.

What is the plan B for farmers when the derogation is inevitably cut?

Could the Taoiseach answer the question?

First, on behalf of all of the Social Democrats, I extend a very warm welcome back to Deputy Boyd Barrett. It is great to see him back. We are hurtling towards a catastrophe. A new UN report published as COP30 is about to begin makes that clear. Plans to limit global warming to 1.5°C have failed. That threshold will be breached in the next decade. We are now on course to see temperatures rise by 2.3°C to 2.5°C. This is an existential threat to our very existence on this planet. Too many world leaders either do not …

It feels like I may as well be talking to the wall. We are nowhere near reaching our targets. It does not feel like the Government really understands the consequences of that. The Minister is talking about the huge amount of work on offshore wind but the reality is we generated more energy from wind 20 years ago. The climate crisis could not be more serious, and it is very obvious that it is not being taken seriously by this Government. There are no new ideas or no meaningful attempt to address it. There is absolut…

For decades, Sr. Stan was a campaigner and advocate for the most marginalised in our society. We could all learn from her. Our thoughts are with her family today. I congratulate President-elect Catherine Connolly. She will be a President for all and will be missed in this House, but we know she will serve with the same integrity, diligence and compassion she served with here. “The house is on fire ... Please answer". This is what a terrified 12-year-old child texted to her mum on Friday after an arson attack on her…