I refer to a recent An Bord Pleanála decision to refuse permission for the development of 800 new homes in Cork docklands in the Taoiseach's constituency. The area has seen substantial investment, including commitments exceeding €600 million for the regeneration project. Would the Taoiseach agree that An Bord Pleanála's refusal to outline case 313142 undermines these efforts and hampers Cork's potential to deliver urgently needed houses? Does the Taoiseach accept that this planning rejection not only stalls the hou…

We are not simply facing a housing shortage, but confronting a failure of governments, of planning, of priority and of moral seriousness. This motion shines a light on a scandal that should never have been allowed to become routine. There are 2,656 vacant council homes across the State. Nearly 800 of them have been empty for over a year while nearly 4,000 children sleep in tents on cold streets and the lucky ones sleep in emergency accommodation. The average letting time in a local authority is now 33 weeks for the…

I rise today not merely to contribute to the passing of a technical amendment but also to underscore a broader truth the legislation reveals, which I am sure this Government would prefer was overlooked. At the heart of this Bill it seeks to strengthen the protection for employees where their employers become insolvent, and it finally gives fuller effect to the Directive 2008/94/EC. This directive was adopted by the European Parliament 17 years ago. Let us sit with that fact - it was 17 years ago. I put it to the Ce…

To sit still while children are cut open without cause is not policy; it is barbarism masquerading as procedure. The nation watched in horror as more than 500 children, babies and toddlers were subjected to major hip surgeries without proper medical justification. This is not just clinical error; this is systemic betrayal and a violation of duty. The Department of Health and the HSE knew. They were warned by whistleblowers - we congratulate and thank the whistleblower today for that - but nonetheless, the HSE did n…

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, outlined significant changes in UK immigration policies, including tightening of visa controls, reduced post-study work rights and a longer route to citizenship, going from five years to ten years. While these are UK domestic decisions, they have a serious impact on us here in the Republic of Ireland, particularly because the UK still occupies part of this island for the moment. This is what I am asking the Tánaiste. We are hearing reports …

I move: That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges: — the vital role played by carers and front-line healthcare workers in supporting older people, people with disabilities, and those with high care needs within their homes and communities; — the indispensable contribution of these workers in alleviating pressure on hospitals and long-term residential care facilities through early intervention, continuity of care, and dignified in-place support; and — the rapidly increasing care needs of an ageing population and a growing num…

I take a bit of umbrage at what the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, said. Perhaps it was just a slip of the tongue when she mentioned the number of people who have spoken on the motion. The majority of those who have spoken on it are from the Opposition benches. Only two from the Government benches turned up for this debate, with the exception of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, and the other Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. That just shows what the Government thinks of this debate. I…

Thank you, Deputy. You are out of time.

Deputy, you are out of time.

You are now 20 seconds over time.

You are now 20 seconds over time.

Do not tell me to calm down. Please, Deputy.

Have a small bit of respect. I appreciate you do not have any respect for me but have respect for the Chair.

Have respect for the Chair. Everybody prepares and makes their speech in the time they are allotted.

You have been a Member of this House long enough to know those rules.

I welcome Cara and her dad, Mark, to the Public Gallery, as many of my colleagues on these benches have. When Cara walked in to Leinster House today, I noticed that she passed a painting of Countess Markievicz and busts of Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, women who have left indelible marks on this State. Cara’s name is up there with those great women who have left an indelible mark on this State. I honestly mean that. I wish that was not the case, however. A 14-year-old child should be at home meeting her friends,…

I raise an issue with the Minister that has gone unaddressed in this House for far too long. It is a blatant discrimination built on the taxation regime targeted squarely at citizens with no children in this country. I ask her plainly if it is acceptable for the Government to oversee, implement and defend a taxation system that discriminates against people purely based on the fact they do not have children. Every day in Ireland, those without children are treated as second-class citizens under the capital acquisiti…

This is not a hypothetical or abstract policy debate. This affects hundreds of thousands of people in this country. On 19 March in the Upper House, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe said he would address the fundamental points of discrimination. He also made the statement that it seemed to be constitutional, yet he has not provided any proof or legal argument and no documentation has ever been published by this Government or previous Governments to support that claim; there is absolutely none. I ask the Gove…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss wages of early childhood educators and staff shortages. Deputy Eoghan Kenny - To discuss multi-annual funding for residential placements for adults with disabilities. Deputy Brian Brennan - To discuss discrepancies in the rate of housing assistance payment limits between local authorities. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss …

Discussion on this Topical Issue matter has concluded. The Minister might respond to the Deputy privately on that.