I thank the Senator for highlighting this serious issue and concern. I know it is ten years ago, as the Senator said, but I also send my sympathies to Tadhg's parents. It does not matter how many years ago it was, it is still very emotional. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, because she cannot be here. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. First, I express my deepest sympathies again to all those affected by the deeply troubl…

Again, no words can ever make up for the distress experienced by affected families who have lost a loved one, particularly bereaved parents. The inappropriate retention of organs only added to the families' distress and grief. Dignity and respect for parents who have experienced the loss of a child is of paramount importance. This is why it is so important to commence the provisions of Part 3 of the human tissue Act which will establish a regulatory framework for the conduct of post-mortem examinations that embeds …

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to be here today to introduce the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill to the House. The purpose of the Bill is to reduce the appeal and accessibility of e-cigarettes, vapes and other nicotine products such as pouches to young people. This Bill and the single-use vapes Bill together with the 2023 Act mean that we will have one of the strongest regulatory frameworks in the EU on these products. According to …

I thank everyone who spoke today in the Chamber. We can see the passion on this and the urgency of the Bill. A lot of issues were raised. I only have ten minutes. The issue of flavours was the big thing. As for why we are banning all flavours except tobacco, this is what is most likely to reduce the appeal to our younger people. Today is about children and young people. In balancing this protection of young people with the help for adults who smoke, which came up today, we have found that vaping is not being substi…

I also welcome the ladies to the House. I spoke to them earlier. I thank Senator Duffy for highlighting this important issue. I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. The State is aware of the importance of access to new medicines for patients and acutely aware of the plight of patients diagnosed with diabetes. There has been significant investment in new medicines in recent years. In 2023, nearly €1 in every €8 of public money spent on health was spent on medicines. This level …

I thank the Senator for highlighting the case for the family. As he said, €600 per month is a lot of money. I will definitely go back to the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, on this; I assure the Senator of that. I thank him again. The State has made significant investment into the medicines pricing and reimbursement system since 2024, including funding to recruit an additional 34 staff across the pricing and reimbursement system, which includes an 80% uplift in the number of staff in the NCPE. We also h…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Football is one of Ireland's most popular sports and we as a Government are proud to back it at all levels, from grassroots clubs where our youngest players take their first kick to professional academies that will shape the next generation of our Irish international players. Football is a hugely popular sport in Carlow and I could take up my entire time slot here naming every football club in the county. The work our football clubs do within our community is extremely important. …

We are facing a global crisis in the supply and the cost of fuel. This is the reality here in the Chamber. The situation in Iran is unpredictable. Nobody knows. It is global. The Government did introduce the package aimed at easing the impact of the cost-of-living increases with cuts to excise on fuel and further supports for those to get their fuel allowance. This was only ever going to be the first package of supports, and I welcome the further packages announced by the Government this week. The total package of …

The Government is really showing support. It wants to work with our hauliers, our farmers, our agricultural contractors and our bus operators. It is important that people have certainty, particularly those involved in businesses and who are the hardest hit. I know that some are struggling. We all know that. Some people in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny have come to me over the past few days about the cost of heating oil, and that is a concern. This is why it was important to delay the increase in the carbon tax…

-----and I understand more supports are needed.

I spoke-----

I spoke to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, today-----

There are supports for energy bills there through the local enterprise offices-----

-----but the Deputies do not want to hear that.

Why would they not want people to get help and support?

As a Minister of State in the Department of Health, there are real concerns. We had several meetings over the past week. We were working as well.

We had several meetings. We had meetings with the Department-----

We have seen the impact-----

We had people waiting to go to hospital appointments and people waiting to get their cancer treatment and we were making sure there was fuel to get nurses and carers to the homes where they needed to be.

This is about everybody working together.