The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, concluded there is a massive gap between the target of cutting emissions by 51% by 2030 and the actions needed to deliver on it. Even in the unlikely event that every measure in the climate policy and climate action plan is acted upon, emissions will fall by only 28% by 2030, just over half of this supposedly legally binding target. Let us be clear: even if all the Minister's current plans are successful, they will still result in only half of what is required. The next eig…

I thank the Regional Group for the opportunity to discuss the importance of the housing aid for older persons grant, the mobility aid grant, and the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities. The Social Democrats fully support the motion. Last week, the Irish Examiner reported on the case of a family with a child with spina bifida who had to raise €50,000 and get a credit union loan of €30,000 to pay for essential renovations to their home despite availing of the housing adaptation grant scheme. This ca…

I am deeply worried about this Bill. When I was driving up from west Cork this week I was trying to think about how I could convey my profound concern for what the Government is doing. This Bill will have far-reaching consequences for disabled people, older people and individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. It affects how they can make decisions about their lives. This Bill should have been developed in partnership with disabled people. Instead it is being rammed through, ignoring their calls for a tra…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: ""Just transition" means a transition that ensures the economic, environmental and social consequences of the ecological transformation of economies and societies are managed in ways that maximise opportunities of decent work for all, reduce inequalities, promote social justice, and support industries, workers and communities negatively affected, in accordance with nationally defined priorities, and based on effective social dialog…

On amendments Nos. 5, 6 and 8, I am delighted to see the Minister has accepted some of Deputy Whitmore's amendments, including reference to various important national strategies such as the national biodiversity strategy, the national disability inclusion strategy, and the roadmap for social inclusion. This will help ensure the Bill is poverty-proofed and conscious of disability matters. It is further welcome to see the inclusion of the Government amendment No. 10, which will ensure the Minister will engage with in…

I move amendment No. 17: In page 13, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(o) to facilitate and support initiatives undertaken by communities or organisations which promote the principles of a just transition and climate justice;”.

I move amendment No. 30: In page 52, after line 28, to insert the following: “PART 6 AMENDMENT OF CLIMATE ACTION AND LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT ACT 2015 Amendment of section 1 of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 41. Section 1 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 is amended by the insertion of the following definition after the definition of “joint committee”: “ ‘Just transition’ means a transition that ensures the economic, environmental and social consequences of the ecological t…

The rising cost of living, especially as it relates to the cost of food, is an incredibly serious issue affecting households across Ireland. I thank Deputy Kerrane and Sinn Féin for the opportunity to discuss this important matter and for the practical and considered solutions they are offering. Rising energy costs, skyrocketing rents, childcare fees that are more expensive than mortgages and families forced to pay for expensive private healthcare because public services are practically non-existent are all contrib…

I thank Deputy O'Callaghan and his team for their work on this Private Members' motion. At present on daft.ie there are 11 properties advertised for rent in Cork South-West. There are fewer than 80 homes to buy for under €250,000 between all of the major towns in west Cork. It is a beautiful part of the world with strong communities. It is the type of place people want to live in. Unfortunately, like many areas of Ireland, young families and others simply cannot afford to buy a home there. Affordable housing is rar…

The current structure of the summer programme for children with complex needs is not working and only a minority of schools are running it. This leaves children who desperately need it without educational and developmental support for two months, which we know is detrimental to their progress and well-being. Despite pleas from parents, the Minister has been unwilling to change the programme so far. Responsibility for organising it is put on overstretched principals and teachers, while special needs assistants, SNAs…

Less than 20% of students can access it.

We have had incarceration, mass graves, forced family separation, physical, psychological and sexual abuse. The history of partnerships between church and State concerning maternity and women's healthcare represents some of the darkest parts of our past. It is a tragically recurring pattern when men in positions of power collaborate to make decisions about women's bodies. This oppressive regime was often subtle and invisible. It was enforced by social norms wrapped up in caring language and it was found in the limi…

Hear, hear.

The pandemic should have been a wake-up call to improve our food systems. It highlighted the importance of farmers and producers and our overdependence on imports. Policies from successive Governments and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have eroded crop and livestock diversity and left us vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains. We have become largely dependent on imported crops that we can grow here. Ireland is a net importer of potatoes, cabbage and many other vegetables. This situati…

Drimoleague is a vibrant village in west Cork with a very active community. However, the speed and scale of traffic going through the village is a major safety concern. Its location on one of the main roads in west Cork means it has considerable through traffic. Residents are especially concerned about the safety of children, older residents and people with disabilities, as well as the overall quality of life. Unfortunately, this issue is found in villages across Cork South-West, from Belgooly to Kealkill. I have r…

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am raising this matter because of the urgency involved. As I said, dedicated locals in Drimoleague have highlighted the issues and now the council and the Department of Transport need to act to prevent injuries or fatalities and improve the quality of life in the village. I thank the Minister of State for recommending the safety improvement scheme. I know Cork County Council has applied for other funding streams but we will ask the school to submit an application under…

Any defamation law has to carefully balance freedom of expression and the protection of journalism as well as the constitutional right to a good name. To say our current defamation laws have gotten that balance wrong is a gross understatement. When we have people with very deep pockets potentially putting a title out of business by virtue of a successful action in the courts, it goes beyond the question of protecting a person's good name. The cost of a single case with high payouts and legal costs could bankrupt sm…

Last week, Deputy Whitmore asked if either the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health had spoken to the two members of the HSE board who did not sign off on the national maternity hospital deal - law professor Deirdre Madden and patient advocate Dr. Sarah McLoughlin. The Taoiseach bristled at the very suggestion that it was "a new departure to even consider hearing from individual board members who happen to take a particular stance on a particular issue". Imagine my surprise when I opened the Irish Examine r today a…

That is a direct quote.

Could the Taoiseach answer the question?