I genuinely fear that we are facing into a winter of discontent due to the increase and the plans this Government has put forward. The decision to restore fuel excise duty increases from September onwards may be insignificant around the Cabinet table, but it is very significant in the parts of the country I represent and for the people I represent, the workers commuting every day, the parents dropping their children to school, families travelling to hospital appointments or just in general for people living in rura…

We never did.

No, I said they did not get anything from the €50 million package. You just heard it wrong.

I did not.

I second the amendment.

I welcome the Minister of State. As has been said, we are an island nation and depend on connectivity. Aviation in this country is not a luxury but an essential part of the Irish economy, tourism sector, exporters, diaspora and our ability to attract investment. We cannot pretend otherwise. That is why Sinn Féin agrees that the current 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport is no longer fit for purpose. The cap was introduced many years ago as a planning condition linked to the construction of terminal 2 and wa…

If the Government wants public confidence in this legislation then meaningful engagement with local residents cannot be optional and must be built into the legislation. That is why Sinn Féin will bring forward amendments that require meaningful consultation with local community groups, and the strengthening of community mitigation and compensation measures. Second, the Bill raises important questions about ministerial powers. While we recognise that the Government needs a mechanism to address an outdated passenger …

Many of us often raise issues with and concerns about our health system. I for one do not have high expectations when it comes to certain areas in health. We raise concerns, whether it is about cancer care or medications for rare diseases. Last Thursday, I had first-hand experience of the health system. On my way back from Dublin, my dad rang me and said he was not feeling great, his blood pressure had been over 220 all day and he needed to ring an ambulance. I told him I was still on the road and would not get to …

Nobody disputes that when families or businesses lose power through no fault of their own they deserve fair treatment. If people are left without electricity for hours or even days, particularly following severe weather events, they should not be expected to pay standing charges for a service that they cannot use. While there is merit in ensuring consumers are compensated during outages, we must also be honest with people. Refunding a standing charge for a period without power is a very small measure in the context…

In response to Senator Mullen, I for one am delighted to see that the legislation might pass and the three-day rule might stop because I do not know of any man who walks into a doctor’s surgery and is told to go home and think about it for three days. Yes, there is strain and mental stress for women on both sides: women who may have had an abortion and maybe were not 100% swayed that way and maybe regretted it afterwards, but also women sent home for three days, with the stress on their bodies that involves, who ar…

As has been said across the floor by many speakers, this very wide-ranging Bill covers a variety of matters across criminal law, civil law and defence. There are provisions within this that Sinn Féin does agree with and will support. There are also areas where we will be seeking significant improvements as we push through with this legislation. My principal concern today, however, relates to one of the most sensitive and important issues combined in this Bill, which is the disclosure of counselling and therapy reco…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. As my colleague Senator Tully said, we will support this on Second Stage because the private home care sector must be regulated and families deserve basic assurances of safety, standards and accountability. Supporting a Bill is not the same as applauding the Government's record on this. The legislation is necessary but it is also a stark admission of how little has been delivered and how low the Government's ambition has been and has fallen when it comes to home care.…

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to take No. 12 before No. 1. No. 12 is the Electoral (Amendment) (Voting Age) Bill 2026, which is straightforward legislation that seeks to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 for local and European elections. There has been a debate going on for years about those aged 16 and 17 who contribute to our society and pay tax when they are out working, whether they start in transition year, go into apprenticeships or work on family farms. If they are paying taxes and contri…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electoral Act 1992 to reduce the age at which a person may be registered as a European Parliament Elector, and a Local Government Elector, and to provide for related matters.