Yes.

Israel is perpetrating a genocide; a genocide upon the people of Gaza. This motion recognises that. As we watch in horror the new atrocities being committed upon Palestinian civilians each day, there are more children and babies killed and injured and starving before our eyes and families being wiped out like the family of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar. We must do more and we can and must show leadership. One year ago today, Ireland showed leadership in recognising the State of Palestine. That was hugely welcome and this Labo…

I thank all of those across the House who supported Labour's important motion on Gaza today and I thank the Government for not opposing it. I look forward to working with the Government and the Opposition to bring about an end to the suffering and genocide being perpetrated upon the people of Gaza. Ireland has shown leadership but we can do more. We want to work constructively and collectively to do so. I will raise the issue of housing with the Taoiseach. This Friday, the latest homelessness figures will be publis…

Of course, the answer is supply. We all acknowledge that but the issue is that the Government is not doing anything to bring forward supply or to increase the delivery of homes. I watched the Minister for housing give an interview last night. I heard no new ideas to address the situation facing the family I have described, a family who are in the same situation as far too many others. They are facing eviction and a cliff edge and no State support is available to them. They certainly have no housing or alternative p…

I wish to raise my concerns about the future of Irish rivers, in particular in the context of a plan apparently being put forward by the Fianna Fáil housing Department to redesignate a large number of rivers as heavily modified water bodies. I refer to rivers like the Boyne, the Barrow, the Corrib, the Dodder, the Liffey, the Lee and the Shannon. Concerns have been raised by Friends of the Irish Environment and the Sustainable Water Network to the effect that the redesignation of a large number of rivers - 433 wate…

The controversy surrounding Children’s Health Ireland has somehow managed to escalate yet again over the recent days. Instead of focusing on the vital task of caring for our children, CHI is presiding over an increasingly chaotic string of failures, failures with devastating consequences for sick children and their families. The Taoiseach mentioned breaches of trust, which are clearly evident too. We have had the use of unapproved non-surgical springs in children's surgery, and horrifically the carrying out of unne…

I agree with the Taoiseach that this is clearly an environmental, cultural and systemic failure. Of course, the parents and children most directly and desperately affected urgently require an independent review. However, we need to hear more from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health – the Taoiseach is, of course, a former health Minister – about the systemic changes that will be made to address the much bigger failing that is clearly at the heart of these terrible individual tragedies for children who are now …

What about the HSE?

We must do more to stop the horror in Gaza. Yesterday, we learned of the horrific situation of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a doctor in Gaza who was working to save lives in a hospital when she learned that nine of her ten children had been killed in an Israeli bombardment, that her husband, another doctor, was critically ill, and that only one child was left alive. Thousands of children have been killed or left orphaned by the devastating genocide by Israel. Tomorrow, we will use Labour's Private Members' time to call on t…

I thank the Taoiseach.

I thank the Taoiseach for the report on the engagement with the US President and, indeed, on the issue of Gaza. I note that he raised that with the US President. The Palestinian ambassador and Palestinian representatives specifically asked that Ireland would use all diplomatic means at its disposal, including our connection with the US, to raise the need for peace and for a ceasefire for the people of Gaza and an end to Israel's genocide, so I hope that was part of that conversation. The Taoiseach also mentioned th…

In the context of trade and the proposed CETA agreement, I understand the Cabinet was to approve an arbitration amendment Bill today due to serious concerns about the investment court system proposed in CETA. Will the Taoiseach confirm whether the legislation was approved today? If so, when will the draft heads of Bill be published? I also want to ask about concerns that the Government is rowing back on workers' rights commitments and commitments to recognise collective bargaining and on sick pay. The Government ha…

It was Deputy Byrne.

I pay tribute to you Lucia and the O'Farrell family, Jim, Gemma, Pia, Aimee and Hannah, for your unwavering quest for justice for your son and brother, Shane. You have fought so insistently and so strongly for so long. Shane's life was cut short so cruelly 14 years ago on 2 August 2011 and I know from meeting with you so many times over the years just how much your grief and sorrow at his loss was compounded by that sense of injustice at the multiple failings of the State that have been outlined comprehensively by …

I join in welcoming Cara Darmody and her father Mark to the Public Gallery. I commend them and their family on their tireless and fierce advocacy for children who so desperately require additional services and supports. We will continue to work with them. Ten years ago today, we the people of Ireland used our votes to make marriage equality a reality and to make grá the law. I had intended to raise this happy anniversary with the Tánaiste today and to speak about the policies we still need to implement to realise t…

I thank the Tánaiste for providing a little more clarity. I appreciate it is an evolving situation. There is, however, a very specific question here about the particular flight I raised with the Tánaiste. We have seen that court order from the US. I appreciate that the Tánaiste will keep opposition parties updated as the situation evolves. We certainly require much greater clarity on the broader picture of US aeroplanes refuelling at Shannon Airport where they are en route to drop bombs or to provide bombs to Israe…

The United Nations warned this week that 14,000 babies will die in Gaza if humanitarian aid is not allowed to enter. Last night, there were more child casualties, including a week-old baby. There are no words to describe the horror that Israel is inflicting on the people of Gaza. The wickedness of using starvation as a weapon of war against children cannot be overstated. It is a weapon of genocide. Human suffering at this scale requires us to do all in our power to stop it. Ours is a small country but we have fierc…

I said that. We said that.

I have acknowledged Ireland's leadership at EU level on Gaza. That is welcome but we can and should do more. The Taoiseach used strong words, which I welcome. He acknowledged that what Israel is carrying out is a war crime. Of course, like the Taoiseach, I have condemned Hamas outright. Of course I have called for the release of all hostages. What Israel is doing now, with impunity, while we see 14,000 infants on the brink of death through starvation, has to stop. Ireland has to do more at international level and h…

On Monday, we learned that average rents nationally have now surged beyond €2,000 per month, a new all-time high. Renters in different counties are seeing shocking rises. Limerick, for example, has seen yearly increases of more than 20% on rents. The Taoiseach said earlier that housing is all about supply and we, of course, agree. However, he has accused the Opposition of having no new ideas and not being solution focused. We have offered lots of ideas. The Labour Party offered very clear ideas for a State-led inte…