It is right and proper that we acknowledge International Women's Day in this House, and statements are the appropriate way to do that. Some Members have doubts about that but I think it causes us to pause in what is normally a busy schedule in politics and to reflect on a particular issue. It allows us to give our own opinions as to how far we have come and whether we have advanced any further than last year or ten years ago or whatever, and then to look to the future and see how we can improve things at a faster p…

-----how we interact with someone who holds office and is interested in change-----

Perhaps the Deputies would have respect for me. I listened very carefully to them.

I strongly believe that in this House we have to lead by example, regardless of how we feel about each other politically. Looking back on my career, in my years on Kilkenny Corporation I was influenced by the likes of Margaret Tynan, who was a trailblazer in her own way and encouraged women to stand for politics, Evelyn White, Carmel Boyd and other strong characters who formed policy at local level, were constructive and blazed a trail. I also wish to emphasise the changes that we could bring about with regard to m…

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy. The debate has now-----

-----and I put the question on Aontú's-----

Okay. As the debate is concluded, I must deal with Aontú's amendment to the Minister's amendment.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 5 March 2025.

Yesterday, the Minister stated that he would listen carefully to what was said by Members in this House because they are on the ground experiencing all of what is happening in respect of crime and so on. I will take him at his word. To learn to improve the morale in An Garda Síochána, we need only go to John Barrett, who did a great service in exposing many controversies and scandals within the Garda, only to find himself booted out of the force and out of his job. I ask the Minister of State to reach out to him an…

Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo inniu chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh. Tréimhse iontach atá inti a thugann deis dúinn ár dteanga agus ár gcultúr a chur chun cinn. Is cuid dár n-oidhreacht í an Ghaeilge. Tá sí beo agus bríomhar agus is teanga ár sinsir í. Tá sí le cloisteáil inár gceol, inár litríocht agus inár logainmneacha. Tá sí linn i ngach áit, sna hamhráin a chanaimid, sna seanfhocail a úsáidimid agus ar TG4 agus Raidió na Gaeltachta. Ní gá a bheith líofa chun páirt a ghlacadh. Is minic a chloisimid duine …

Go raibh maith agat.

We have five.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 5 March.

Go raibh maith agat.

Thank-you.

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State well in their work. It is a hugely important area and they are going to need all of the breaks and support that they can get in this House and in councils. When I think of local authority housing, I think of the question I am often asked, which is: why, in the 1950s, were we able to build so many well-structured houses for people who were able to avail of them from the housing list? There was a tenant purchase scheme to allow them to move on in their lives, buy the prop…

Gabhaim buíochas le Deputy Kelly.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Anois, ag dul ar aghaidh go dtí Sinn Féin, glaoim ar an Teachta Mary Lou McDonald.