I thank my colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, for bringing this Bill forward at such a crucial period in ordinary people's lives. It is a time when people are facing into a winter dominated by the cost of living crisis. Inflation is running at 3.7%. Petrol and diesel prices have increased day by day, with forecourts displaying prices of €2.14 per litre and upwards. Electricity, gas and other fuels are up 8.5% while rents increased 9.1% alone in the past year. Public transport fares are being increased by 15%. Carbon…

I welcome this motion and thank my colleague, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, for tabling it at this important juncture in the era of generative AI. This motion sets out the bare parameters to protect our artists in their struggle to earn a living through their creativity, culture and to safeguard a human connection that they share with the rest of humanity, and indeed the unique and special place they hold among the people of Ireland. These are the fundamental issues that we must address as a nation. The right of consen…

The primary care service operators in County Wexford are creaking at the knees. Occupational therapists, OTs, in the community health organisation, CHO, 5 south-east area are burned out and under enormous pressure due to the current workload from a long list of clients waiting for appointments and treatment. The integrated health area, IHA, in County Wexford has a total of 1,643 children on waiting lists, almost double that of any other area. There are 132 children aged five or under waiting over 12 months, while 4…

Childcare is a cornerstone of society. It promotes and nourishes child well-being, gender equality and a sustainable work-family balance. Not many institutions or organisations can claim that. They are the backbone of our economy. If they do not operate tomorrow morning, the economy would collapse and half the workforce would not be able to go to work, yet childcare services are coming under enormous financial and structural pressure. In most parts of the country, childcare costs are in excess of €800 per month, an…

The recent severe storms have dramatically accelerated erosion around our coastline. The coastal erosion at Rosslare Strand has reached a critical level that is endangering the entire community in the area, no more so than at the well-known and well-established tourist destination of Kelly's Resort Hotel, which is a family business that was built up over decades. This is a thriving community that services the entire country. It is a natural beauty spot with easy access to beautiful white beaches. The Coast Protecti…

This motion calls for major reform of dental care in Ireland because the current system is systematically broken. The HSE dental lists are evidence of this, with 11,000 people, most of whom are children, waiting for an appointment. Some 8,000 are waiting more than a year, while 40% of children are waiting more than two years. In fact, we had a well-known and reported case in my own county of Wexford, where a pensioner, Mr. Hayes, pulled out his own teeth because he was in excruciating pain and had tried in vain to …

I too congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment. I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the motion. I am a member of the Oireachtas committee on AI. We have listened to many academic and expert contributions concerning data centres, energy and climate change. As stated, 22% of our electricity is consumed by data centres. The country coming anywhere close to this is Singapore. To put this into context as it stands, this is an unprecedented percentage per capita in a developed economy. The Minister…

Everyone understands the definition of genocide, the definition of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the definition of enforced apartheid. Everyone also understands the definition of goods and services and what that exactly entails. Most countries in the world, as a rule of thumb, trade on the basis of 70% services and 30% of goods, which roughly equates to our trading position with Israel. If the Government is committed to upholding international law and international human ri…

I would like to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of increased funding for family resource centres around the country, but in particular those operating within my county of Wexford. The newest family resource centre is within Templeshannon Community and Childcare Centre, Enniscorthy, and is a most welcome addition to the east side of the town. Family resource centres are at the heart of our communities, from providing counselling and therapeutic supports to community inclusion and well-being, to essential front-li…

I thank Deputy Pa Daly and my colleagues for bringing forward the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026. It is to monitor and regulate hedging practices, monitor anti-competitive behaviour, and force energy companies to provide data on pricing strategies to the regulator. It also provides legislation to regulate standing charges through the regulator. The current power of the CRU is minimal, to say the least. As someone said, it is like a dog with no teeth. Its public enforcement action is weak and limited. …

I raise an important issue in my constituency. I have been contacted by principals in two of the main schools in my area, namely, St. Aidan's primary school and St. Senan's primary school in Enniscorthy. St. Aidan's school has 861 pupils and St. Senan's has 435 pupils, operating seven special classes and four special classes, respectively. Both schools have expressed utter dissatisfaction at the unprofessional conduct of the NCSE. Both St. Aidan's and St. Senan's primary schools sought a review and asked for the ra…

I also wish to welcome the trade unionists who are in the Gallery tonight. I thank Deputies Conway-Walsh and Guirke and the Sinn Féin team for bringing forward this motion. It is a very apt and important motion as we approach 1 May, which is workers’ day around the world, and celebrate trade union week. It is a time when we remind ourselves of the working class struggle when citizens were treated no better than slaves, working themselves to the bone for a few scraps from the rich man’s table to feed their families.…

I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. Many of the measures in the motion align with proposals Sinn Féin has previously brought before this House, including energy credits and supports. At present, the Irish people are facing unprecedented challenges. They are trying to make ends meet in the face of an ever-expanding cost-of-living crisis. Workers and families the length and breadth of the country are being hammered by soaring prices. If it is not rents, student fees, voluntary contributions or insur…

One in two people in our country will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. This is a stark but factual figure. Every one of us in this House, unfortunately, knows someone who has had this awful disease or has died from it, including my own father. I am sure the Minister of State agrees there is a chance to change things with a new cancer strategy, as outlined by our spokesperson on health, Deputy Cullinane. We can put in place a world-class cancer service with properly ring-fenced and sustainabl…

In the HSE Capital Plan 2026, a new ten-bed specialist community mental health unit has been included in the plan for Wexford, which is more than welcome. Since the closure of St. Senan's acute mental health beds in 2009, Sinn Féin representatives across the county and I have campaigned for their replacement, which was promised by the Minister for Health at that time. In fairness, the Tánaiste visited Wexford last week and stated that the lack of 24-7 psychiatric care in Wexford is a major concern. I come from the …

I know the Minister of State is doing his best, but it does not take a genius to recognise that the fisheries of Ireland have been sold down the swanny. The latest cuts to Irish fishing quotas constitute the straw that will break the camel's back. With a massive cut of 57,000 tonnes, estimated to be valued at €94 million, and an overall loss of €200 million to the industry, how can the fishing sector and small coastal communities survive this huge drop in income and the loss of jobs that will directly follow? Irish…

As the Minister of State is aware, the floods in the south east were the severest in many years. Unfortunately, my hometown of Enniscorthy, along with Bunclody, Bridgetown, Our Lady’s Island, Kilmore, Kilcarberry and Killurin experienced extensive flooding with some roads obliterated altogether. Sixty businesses were affected, some of which have stated they will not open again. Some 35 homes were destroyed by water and contaminated effluent. A local postman told me that he delivered letters to homes where the muck …

My hometown of Enniscorthy is in a state of devastation. The people on Island Road on the quays of the River Slaney have experienced awful destruction and major damage to their homes and businesses. This is not the first time; it has happened 16 times since 2000. How can this be allowed to go on for decades? The town needs help and it needs it now. I know the Minister and the Taoiseach visited the town, and I thank the Minister for that, but people are sick to their stomach with statements, promises and platitudes.…

The Bill before the House is plain and simple. It amends what is known as Coco's Law. The purpose of the Bill is to clear up a grey area of whether the 2020 Act explicitly covers the creation of intimate images. However, it fails to state that the generation or creation of deepfake sexual images of adults is illegal. This must be remedied immediately. We witnessed the Grok controversy in December and January. Researchers estimated that 6,700 sexually suggestive nudified images were created hourly. These mainly depi…

I am sure the Minister will agree that the chairman of Bord Bia is responsible for upholding accountability, managing conflicts of interest and maintaining high ethical standards. Surely, if the chairman of Bord Bia is importing Brazilian beef through his own company, that is a conflict of interest and a breach of ethical standards. This is a serious matter. It is a matter of utmost importance to the reputation of Ireland's food and drink exports and our domestic market. Bord Bia holds Irish farmers to some of the …