This is no country for young people and we have more evidence of that today. A new report has shown that the number of first-time buyers aged 30 or under has collapsed in the past 16 years, falling from 60% in 2004 to just 27% in 2020. These figures, while shocking, are just further confirmation of what we have all known for some time, which is that young people in Ireland have been handed a poisoned chalice. They will be the first generation who are less well off than their parents. Stagnant wages and soaring hous…

It is very telling that in response to three very important questions, the Tánaiste used his time trying to slate the Social Democrats in regard to what our approach to housing might be in government. He says he believes in home ownership and the Government's policy is aiming for that and will achieve it. However, its big idea to boost affordability for young people is the shared equity scheme, which fails to make houses more affordable and heaps extra debt on first-time buyers who must, in effect, pay for the unaf…

Will he please answer my questions?

I am talking about young people aged under 30.

This redress scheme comes after years of shocking headlines and devastating revelations. It comes after countless survivors bravely telling their stories, incredible work by journalists and researchers, a deeply flawed commission of investigation and a consultation process run by the current Minister. After all of that, it is simply unbelievable that the scheme does not do survivors justice. After everything they have been through, the very least they deserve is a comprehensive scheme that properly compensates them…

The Bill seeks to put in place standardised and evidence-based relationship and sexual education. It is designed to give all students access to the same information to help them understand health and develop respectful social and sexual relationships. This is not controversial. The vast majority of the public agree with the need for all young people to be provided with age-appropriate, scientifically accurate relationship and sex education. Again, we have a situation whereby the Oireachtas is catching up with socia…

The Taoiseach will be aware of a situation in Riverstick, County Cork, where a large section of publicly owned forestry is for sale by Coillte. Ballymartle Woods is an incredibly important local amenity and biodiverse environment that is used by the community for recreation and by schools for education. A group of residents showed me the beautiful mature mixed forest on Monday. There is considerable local opposition to the sale and at a time when the State needs to drastically increase its afforestation, it is unbe…

Every time I stand up in this House to talk about mother and baby homes I feel the weight of it. It is always hard to know where to begin when talking about something that has caused generations of trauma for so many people. It is difficult to convey the hurt, the bewilderment and the sheer rage that no one is actually being held accountable for these crimes and it does not look like anyone ever will be. The scale of what went on in these institutions is staggering. It is horrifying. There were forced adoptions, fa…

Can anything be done now? Is it too late to change it?

If there is an issue with the Order Paper or if there was a misprint, could we not change it?

It was obviously submitted on the basis that it was an amendment.

The stand-in chairperson’s forward to our pre-budget submission notes that a key measure to aid translation of the UNCRPD into law is ensuring that adequate funding is allocated in the national budget, while the UN human rights document, Realizing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a handbook for parliamentarians, identifies budgetary measures as being central to realising the rights of people with disabilities. The Oireachtas has an obligation to ensure that appropriate funding is assigned to the different s…

I will raise a range of mental health topics, including suicide. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for including this matter in today's Topical Issue debate. International Men's Day is on Friday, giving us a chance to reflect on issues relating to men and boys. Mental health is one of these issues. While it is a significant matter that affects everyone, a focus on men's mental health is important this week. The majority of people who end their lives in Ireland are male, being as high as 80% in some years. As of Sep…

I thank the Minister for her response. That is welcome and I encourage her to push for the necessary resources and services to be allocated and spent. In response to a parliamentary question, I learned that the non-spend of the €1.6 million allocated to eating disorder treatment in 2019 happened because HSE and departmental officials assigned it elsewhere. When we have these allocations, which are so welcome, we cannot allow this to happen again. Services and groups that help address the larger societal issues are …

That is not true.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Local Government Act 2001 by making further and better provision in respect of certain absences by a member of a local authority from meetings of the authority and, for that purpose, to provide that such a member may apply for and be granted maternity leave, adoptive leave or parental leave or force majeure leave as is appropriate in respect of any such absences and an application for such leave shall, in so far as is practicable, be in …

I move: "That Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time".

The Bill, although very short, will be a considerable source of relief to families, landowners and farmers who are concerned with the looming deadline of 30 November to register rights of way acquired by long use. The 2009 Act attempted to codify and update disparate and archaic land and conveyancing laws but it remains a highly complex and often contested subject. Rights of way are necessary for people to access land for their livelihoods and even to get to residences. In an agricultural setting they are often ass…

I know I do not need to convince the Taoiseach of the gender balance problem in Irish politics. Of the 18 Deputies representing our home county of Cork, I am the only woman and my colleague, Councillor Clare Claffey, is the only female councillor on Offaly County Council. If we are serious about increasing the number of women in Irish politics, we need to identify the barriers and remove them. The lack of any maternity or adoptive provisions is a glaringly obvious barrier. I first raised this with the Taoiseach in …

I will leave it with the Taoiseach.