The Minister did not give the figures for greyhounds.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for animal welfare considerations in the operation of dog breeding establishments, including but not limited to a cap on the number of breeding bitches, the age of bitches allowed to breed, the age of pups when removed from their mothers, a staff-to-bitch ratio, and to prohibit the use of surgical artificial insemination; and to provide for related matters. There really is nothing cuter than a little puppy - all big paws, big ears, wet nos…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

I want to raise the issue of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, portal. The council has a new process in place to identify and ensure there is capacity for children who need special classes as part of their education. In moving to this new system, there has been a major gap in the process, which I am really worried about. Essentially parents were to upload the information and medical reports about their child's diagnosis into the Parent Notify portal on the NCSE website. Once that was assessed by the…

I absolutely understand the need to forward plan and it is welcome. I have spoken to school principals who say that when this process is up and running properly, it will be a huge help to them, but as the Minister of State said, in the first year of this process, there are clear flaws and gaps in it and, unfortunately, children with additional needs or special needs are falling through those gaps and their parents are absolutely stressed to the eyeballs trying to figure out how they can get their children into a sp…

I welcome this motion and the opportunity to speak on this really important issue. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing it forward. The Social Democrats will be 100% supportive of this motion. Objection to the Mercosur free trade agreement is not just a matter of trade but of principle, sovereignty, environmental integrity and protecting our indigenous industries. This deal is a direct threat to our beef and poultry sectors, to our rural communities and to the standards we have fought so hard to uphold in food safety, an…

-----in relation to ensuring we have a robust farming sector that works with our environmental sector, where are they tonight?

I am not specifically talking about the Minister of State. I am talking about the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae. Where is he tonight? He is not here for this debate. Where is his support for rural communities when it comes to Mercosur? Is he just going to roll over and accept it because Europe says so? In relation to this deal, the numbers speak for themselves. The Mercosur trade deal will allow 99,000 tonnes of beef into the EU annually at a reduced tariff rate of 7.5%. These will not just be low-val…

Is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle allowing that to happen?

Are you allowing him to come in here and interrupt this debate?

Stay in your seat and stay quiet.

Stay in your seat and stay quiet; it is not your time to talk.

Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

-----this is unacceptable.

He is completely interrupting this debate. He does not know when it is his turn to speak, and it is not his turn to speak now.

Sit down and be quiet.

Sit down and be quiet.

Sit down and be quiet.

I never mentioned your name at all.

It is your brother sitting on the ministerial benches that I mentioned.