I will not take lectures from Deputy Donnelly.

Deputy Donnelly does not know that.

I just want to mention the service from south Kilkenny to Waterford and from Gowran to Kilkenny. It requires immediate attention because of the number of families affected. I ask the Minister to bring before the Dáil the complete details of the school bus system, its costs and so on and I ask that we put the school bus system out to public procurement as soon as possible.

Of course we raise it at the parliamentary party.

First, I commend both committees of the House on the manner in which they have conducted the meetings to date. I wish to support the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy Stanley, in his request today regarding those who should appear before the committee and regarding the paperwork he has requested. Moreover, the powers given to the Committee of Public Accounts need to ensure that it has compellability and that the committee has the right to send for persons and papers, as is the case with an invest…

I support Deputy Murnane O'Connor in her efforts on behalf of women and the supports they need in County Carlow. I also wish all women best wishes on this International Women's Day and encourage as many as possible to consider a life in politics, whether it be local or national. I want to reflect on the State itself. What record can we point to in the context of the State - Ireland versus the people? Let us look at the Grace case. We debated it at length in the House and it was said by the Ceann Comhairle that, bec…

I welcome the Bill and acknowledge the huge amount of work the Civil Defence undertakes and has undertaken since 1951. It is a significant organisation in those counties that have been fortunate to have volunteers organised through the Civil Defence. I would not miss the opportunity in the debate on this Bill to pay tribute to all of those involved in the Civil Defence in Kilkenny and the work they do. It is an active organisation at county level with 42 active members, a number of whom are young. The interesting t…

We should understand that the reason we are here today is because of Mr. Shane Corr and the articles in the Daily Mail , which carried banner headlines about rights delayed, justice denied, revelations, memos and the whole lot; front-page stuff. If we want to understand this, we only need to go back to contribution made by the then Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, to the Seanad in March 2005 when she set out the history of this issue and referred to the High Court decision that was upheld…

I welcome the discussion on this Bill. I welcome the discussion about An Bord Pleanála, local authorities and the delivery of houses. If one reflects on what was said yesterday during the debate on the motion of no confidence on the Minister, one will realise that most of the problems we have stem from local authorities or the bureaucracy of the State being inefficient and not fit for purpose. It is those issues we should be addressing. During my time in local government and the Dáil, I always told anyone who came …

I welcome Helena and all of the Aylward family and extended family. I am reminded of the chill that runs down your back when you hear the next generation or the generation after that making their first contribution to Dáil Éíreann. I am sure that would not be lost on Bobby, if he were here today. I served with Bobby on the county council and in the Dáil. I also served and soldiered with his brother Liam as a young man in politics when he addressed meetings in the Metropole Hotel, and I knew his father, Bob. In all …

It is good to have the Ceann Comhairle back. I wish him well. I, too, wish to refer to community welfare officers and the work they did in the past. When a person applies for supplementary welfare now, he or she has to wait a considerable time before getting approval. It is normally the case that when a person applies for supplementary welfare allowance, it is a matter of great urgency. An issue linked to that relates to volunteers at the Citizens Information Services. In Kilkenny, there are two and a half members …

I welcome the fact that this Bill is before the House and that I will have the opportunity to address issues within it on Committee Stage. The Bill is long overdue. We witnessed a massive financial crash from which we are still recovering. That still has consequences for individuals in this State, particularly those trying to raise a mortgage and paying high interest rates. While the short note on the Bill, at least, says it will hold bankers to account, I hope it does. What steps will the Minister take in regard t…

I raise an issue with the accommodation being provided for the Ukrainian people who are coming here. The majority of it is up to standard but there is a significant number of locations where the accommodation falls well short of standards we could be proud of. I ask the Minister of State to look in particular at a location in Carlow and some locations in Kilkenny. It is reported the accommodation at these locations is mainly occupied by women and children but they are sharing it with men. There are poor facilities,…

There is no doubt that the overall economic performance of the country has stood the test of Covid-19 and the war and so on. That is being shouldered by many of the small to medium-sized businesses that all of us know within our own constituencies. They are, if you like, hiding the fact that they are experiencing enormous difficulties just to continue in their development and hold on to jobs. That must be recognised. The National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, has done very well in the context of the overall nat…

This House means something to me. It means something to the people who elected me and to the country generally. Deputy Boyd Barrett is on the Business Committee. He should do something about it instead of slagging me about it.

The fact is that we have to do something as a Parliament. We have to be heard, and we are not being heard. The other frightening aspect of all this is that real detailed budgetary matters, this summer economic statement and policies that would make a difference to the country and the people who live in it are now not being debated even at those parliamentary party meetings, and I am speaking for my own party. That is a disgrace because people believe this legislation or any other legislation is being scrutinised to…

There is no doubt that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, which dealt with the Bill, did a very detailed analysis of it and that most of the recommendations made in its report were taken on board by the Minister. During the course of the hearings, the sincerity of the Minister was clear with regard to stating he would seek legal advice on applying a retrospective position. I have not seen the legal advice. I do not know whether it was published. A debate on this…

I agree with Deputy Howlin. The amendments that come before the House deserve to be analysed and the Minister should be probed on all the issues that arise from them. We have not been able to do that in the case of many Bills. The point made by the Deputy is correct. If we cannot do it, then who will after it passes through the Houses? The President has already complained about the number of Bills that arrive with him. He does not have time for them. We are elected to legislate. Passing legislation that we do not s…

On the matters raised already by other Deputies and the response given by the Minister, I accept there has been a considerable improvement all round. The special classes are really exceptional when they get up and running and so on. What happens when a school is not happy and requires further supports or further SNAs, and school representatives come to Members of the House to raise the issue directly with the Minister and, of course, the decision on that is outsourced? We can learn from our mistakes, if you like, b…

I have to disagree with that, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.