No reference to the shocking figure of 5,000 children in homelessness. No reference to the proposal to introduce a second tier of child benefit, which is a really meaningful way in which we could have tackled child poverty. As Deputy Sherlock said, this could have been the game-changer for children and child poverty. Instead, the Government has chosen to give over €600 million in a giveaway - a whopper of a giveaway - for big fast-food chains and big business in the hospitality sector. That is a choice the Governme…

There was €600 million in the hospitality package.

Not substantial.

That is not true.

I first want to thank the Tánaiste for updating the House on the situation with the five Irish citizens illegally detained by Israel on the flotilla. We all think of our colleague, Deputy Heneghan, but also the writer, Ms Naoise Dolan, and the other citizens who were detained. Israel must be held accountable for the breaches of international law. The Tánaiste might please keep us updated on the fate of the Irish citizens. This is a budget, as Deputy Nash so memorably said, for burger barons and big builders, with b…

It just came out this morning. The PBO tells us that child poverty will increase next year as a result of the budget measures. The Tánaiste said that we should look at the Government's documents. I have looked at this document. We see middle-income households are also hit. The guide provided at the back of the tax policy change document shows this. It shows the changes for different income levels and family types, but there is a deliberate omission: there is no reference to couples with two incomes. Why? It is beca…

The Taoiseach said the Opposition was anti-enterprise and not supportive of job creation. The Labour Party-----

Excuse me. Labour is the party of jobs. We have a proud record, uniquely in opposition, of job creation. We have a proud record of standing for workers' rights. We do not take economic growth for granted. We welcome measures to support innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the development of AI. We absolutely welcome these, but these positive moves the Government has made are overshadowed by what is clearly the worst political choice in this budget of bad political choices. Its VAT cut for hospitality and hairdressing…

It is an increase.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

First, like others, I acknowledge the horrific attack on a synagogue in Manchester. I send me deepest sympathies to the families of the two deceased. I understand there are a number of other people injured. It is horrific. I condemn outright what appears to have been a blatantly antisemitic attack on Yom Kippur. I also acknowledge the importance of having made time for this debate today. This is unprecedented. The circumstances are extraordinary, as we see a rapidly evolving situation and a number of Irish citizens…

I thank the Tánaiste.

The recent RTÉ “Prime Time" programme into the purchase of mobile phone location data was shocking. For very little money, and with very little effort, journalists were able to buy data which tracked the journeys of smartphone users across Ireland, based in different locations. They even tracked naval vessels, people in Irish prisons and phones here in Leinster House. Using this data, as we know, they were able to trace the residential addresses of political representatives. The Minister and Deputy Barry Ward were …

I thank the Minister for that response. It is welcome to hear that his officials are engaging with the DPC on this and that the DPC is using the statutory powers. I am also glad that the Minister confirmed to me what I had said at the start, which is that the DPC does have adequate statutory powers and that the issue is about the usage and application of those powers. The Minister said that one of the brokers is based here in Ireland. That is welcome because clearly enforcement proceedings will be more straightforw…

But the consent does not cover sale.

We know that workers and organisations in the community and voluntary sector provide essential supports to victims and survivors of sexual, domestic and gender-based violence. Yet organisations under sections 39, 56 and 10 are continuing to suffer from severe uncertainty in terms of their finances because of the Government's failure to clarify matters. As of last week, Cuan, which is the Minister's Department’s statutory agency tasked with reducing the incidence of gender-based violence, had made no contact with mo…

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I ask that we step aside from the cheap political point scoring for a moment. I want to raise a very serious issue on which I think there is commonality across this House, which is children's health. Specifically, the issue of children who have been suffering with scoliosis and spina bifida who have been failed for far too long by this State. I welcome the announcement this week that an inquiry will be held into the care of these children. This followed a long-awaited meetin…

We all agree that the healthcare system, in particular children's healthcare, should be managed according to patient need, and not institutional need. As the Taoiseach has acknowledged, that has been a failing in the past. We welcome his commitment to engagement between the Minister and parents on the shape of the inquiry. Transparency must be at the heart of the inquiry for parents. Coming back to CHI and the institutional change that has now been announced, back in April our health spokesperson, Deputy Sherlock, …