The revelations in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme last night told us that parents who are desperate for diagnostic assessments for their children are being exploited by people who call themselves psychologists but who do not have any real qualifications. This is nothing new, but the failure to regulate the use of the title "psychologist" has caused considerable distress to many. When is the Government proposing to take action to address this issue? The Labour Party has campaigned for years for the registration an…

Tá cearta tithíochta ag gach duine ach tá an cosc ar dhíshealbhuithe ag críochnú ag deireadh na míosa agus tá géarchéim na ndaoine gan dídean ag dul in olcas. The news today that the eviction ban will not be extended is devastating for thousands of individuals and families who thought it might be because the Taoiseach had been indicating to me and other Opposition leaders in recent weeks that a decision would be made by Government and that Government was actively considering an extension. We understood that such an…

I welcome the opportunity to speak for the Labour Party on the Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023. Our party whip, Deputy Duncan Smith, has already expressed frustration at the fact the progress of this and other legislation relating to energy has been compressed into such a short timeframe. Indeed, during the debate on the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act 2022, I expressed frustration at the tight timeframe in which we were expected to submit …

We know the protection of our children is vital for the future of our country. Mar a deirtear, is todhchaí na tíre iad ár leanaí. We are failing some of our most vulnerable children. On Monday I visited Sligo with our local area representatives Nessa Cosgrove and Bernie Linnane. I visited an important childcare and family support service, Sligo Springboard Family Support Service, which is based in Cranmore in Sligo town. It has provided vital services over the past 20 years for local children and families in a disa…

-----is not being guaranteed the long-term and ongoing funding that it needs to make a difference for children in the area.

Yes.

But not ongoing.

I will return to the issue of homeownership. We are all aware that those who aspire to own their homes, and are simply being priced out of being able to do so, are being failed by current Government policy. We all hear from constituents, young and old but particularly those from the younger generation, who cannot afford to buy their own homes and see no prospect of doing so, or of ever being able even to aspire to homeownership here and are looking at emigration as a result. Another group of people, who are already…

My office is inundated with correspondence from householders and small business owners who cannot pay their energy bills. We know that there is an energy bills crisis and that the crisis is not new. Indeed, it is now 13 months since we in the Labour Party brought forward a Dáil motion on the cost-of-living crisis and energy prices. While the situation was severe a year ago, it is intolerable now. We saw the latest Central Statistics Office, CSO, survey on income and living conditions confirm that the number of peop…

We know that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has called on electricity and gas suppliers to cut prices for everyone as soon as possible. Is making calls on providers the best the Government can do? It is simply not good enough. In December, Electric Ireland announced that it would forego some of its profits to give a €50 credit to household customers, which was welcome. However, customers are now paying approximately 90% more per unit of electricity-----

Somebody in Electric Ireland is trying to get through - that is all I will say - and they will not take no for an answer. A Cheann Comhairle, you might give me a little latitude-----

-----given that somebody's phone has gone off. I jest. I do not think it was Electric Ireland, but you never know.

It never answers its phones and we are hearing about that from many people who cannot get through to Electric Ireland so it is supremely ironic to have a phone call cutting across a critique of Electric Ireland. Customers are paying, as we have heard, approximately 90% more per unit of electricity than they did in the spring of last year and families are facing very significant annual bills. Where is the fairness in that? We are looking for a sense of urgency from the Government and we are looking for a sense that …

I am glad the Taoiseach acknowledges that not enough is being done but the Government is not just a bystander in this. It is time for a more urgent sense of intervention by the Government on this issue because it seems to people nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh aon rud. The Government is not doing anything for people who are seeing this inequity. It is amounting to a quadruple whammy because we have seen the magnitude of energy providers' profits and we have seen the inertia and delay in the Government's approach …

It is a temporary emergency measure.

It would be useful for the Taoiseach to outline when we will have the opportunity to have statements on the Windsor Framework. Will it be this week or early next week? It would be good to hear that being confirmed. I also ask whether arrangements are being made for the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to make a statement to the House. I understand he has indicated he wishes to do so regarding planning application allegations. It would be good to hear when that is to be taken and whether the Minister of Stat…

I think we will agree yesterday's Windsor Framework announcement represents a breakthrough and a chance to restore the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, and I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement that he will provide briefings to Opposition parties. I would ask that that might be done this week given the statements are to be taken, as we understand, in Government time next week. As Claire Hanna MP, a member of our sister party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, has said, the framewor…

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Sligo to meet our local representatives, Nessa Cosgrove in County Sligo and Bernie Linnane in County Leitrim. As part of our meetings, we met staff and management in Sligo University Hospital. Some of the issues they raised with us are common throughout the health service and are a concern to all those working in front-line healthcare provision. They include issues with waiting lists and delays in the delivery of the necessary infrastructure, which includes a new unit to pr…

I want to ask the Taoiseach about two of the referendums he referred to. First, on the housing referendum, we are anxious to see that take place as soon as possible to enshrine a right to housing in the Constitution. I note the Taoiseach indicated that the wording has not been received but that he expects to receive wording from the Housing Commission by July of this year. That is welcome but we hope to see speedy progress after that. Turning to the gender equality referendum, this is a topic that is particularly c…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for enabling us to mark the anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine with a minute's silence today and a powerful exhibition in Bucha. The Labour Party lends our unequivocal support and solidarity to the people of Ukraine. I also wish to express sympathy for the PSNI officer injured in the horrific shooting in Omagh, John Caldwell. I offer my thoughts to his family, friends and community. I want to raise the situation pertaining to adult education tutors, many of whom I met on …