-----to answer questions about the whole affair. I will conclude. I welcome the work that has been done but the people in RTÉ know what they have done and-----

-----they need to come forward to both committees and fully participate in the reviews to ensure we get to the bottom of what is going on.

I ask the Minister for State for an update on the commitment that was made to develop a communications strategy so that a coherent message can be delivered to communities in relation to new communities moving into the area. A commitment was made that a coherent communications strategy would be developed.

As the Minister of State is aware, there has been significant turmoil in communities in recent times, particularly here in the capital. Much of that has been exploited by extreme right-wing groups. Unfortunately, some communities have been caught up in the middle of that. Far right groups have exploited a vacuum in terms of a lack of coherent communication coming from Government. These groups have seized upon vulnerabilities within communities, whether it is a lack of resources or a lack of amenities. That is why i…

I acknowledge that there is some communication in relation to new centres being opened. That is to be welcomed. I agree that fantastic work is going on in communities where there are welcoming groups that are visiting people and bringing goods and whatever is needed for refugees and internationally displaced persons. That has to be welcomed, but there needs to be a collective approach to tackling that false narrative that some groups are looking to spin. We, in the Opposition, want to be part of that. The communica…

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Sexual Liberation Movement in Dublin in October 1973. This followed a meeting of a group of academics and activists in Trinity College to establish what was a short-lived but highly influential sexual liberation movement, which mobilised for systemic change on a range of issues. These included reproductive rights, access to contraception, better sexual healthcare and reform of the archaic British law that criminalised gay men. This year also marks the 40th…

Here is one of the pagers belonging to the firefighters for the Minister. They asked me to give it to him. There will be a lot more of them next week unless the Minister intervenes.

This is a life-and-death issue and that Minister is sitting there and ignoring the firefighters of this country.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." In 2021 a report from Gamma location services identified some 70,000 homes in Ireland are at risk of flooding which could result in an estimated cost of approximately €2 billion. In a contribution to the 2019 Department of Finance public consultation on climate change and insurance, a member of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency described flood insurance as one of the key indicators of community flood resilience. In the years and decades ahead, there can …

The Minister of State is acutely aware that this legislation has been brought forward out of pure frustration.

There is absolute frustration from homeowners and businesses that unfortunately continue to be discriminated against in terms of extortionate premiums being offered or else are simply not given the opportunity to get a premium in the first instance. This legislation follows on from a previous attempt in 2016 by the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, who brought forward more or less identical legislation. It was a problem in 2016. That legislation moved to Second Stage and ultimately went to Committee Stage. All the …

I acknowledge the members of the retained fire service who have travelled here from throughout the State. I acknowledge this is the last place they want to be. I also acknowledge the many more hundreds who are on picket lines across the State and would like to be here. They do not want to be on picket lines and they do not want to be here. They want the Minister to do his job. I also acknowledge the work done by SIPTU and the National Retained Firefighters Association, NRFA, in mobilising and representing the retai…

There is no trust.

I want to ask the Minister about the plans he may have to develop effective communication with communities with regard to the accommodation of asylum seekers and refugees. We have seen the need for dialogue or communication with communities over the past number of weeks. What plans do the Minister and Department have for effective communication?

I want to be very clear. No community has the right to veto anybody living in that community. When I talk about communication, I am not referring to dialogue or negotiations; I am very much referring to communication. There has been a real failure by Government until this point to engage with communities and have proper communication. There are genuine concerns about a lack of services, whether it is public transport, GPs or children trying to get school places. I appreciate that there is an emergency situation in …

I agree it has worked well in many areas. However, there are communities that feel they are not listened to and have past experience of commitments given by previous Governments and Ministers for services to follow, such as centres that would open up and GP and education services and teachers for when new communities come into their communities. Many of those failed to materialise. Alongside the dialogue and communication, we need a cross-departmental approach and solution. What engagement is there with other Minis…

Will the Minister tell me the level of co-operation between Departments to face down the emerging right-wing threat, which we, unfortunately, saw play out on the streets of this capital a couple of weeks ago when vulnerable people were burnt out of their homes - their tents - and their personal belongings by fascists and racists? What cross-departmental engagement has taken place to face down the threat of this minority of right-wing activists?

I agree that most right-minded people would condemn what we have seen happening on our streets. Attacks on vulnerable people and burning them out of their tents on Sandwith Street in the capital have no place anywhere in the world and must be condemned by all right-thinking people. It must be said that a small number of bigots, fascists and racists are intent on sowing hatred on our streets and in communities across the State. They are intent on exploiting a situation and communities for their own political agenda,…

I believe the vacuum that exists relates to an earlier question of mine regarding communication with communities. Unfortunately, up until this point, there has not been appropriate or adequate communication with communities and this has allowed a vacuum to develop and some of these minority groups have filled it with misinformation and preyed on the vulnerability of communities experiencing challenges due to a lack of services. We need a very strong communication strategy from Government to challenge the misinforma…

What steps is the Minister taking to address the accommodation crisis for refugees and asylum seekers? There is certainly a crisis and we are seeing it play out on our streets throughout the State.