They know what it is about.

I do not rate you, Tánaiste-----

------but when it comes to misrepresenting people you clearly know what you are talking about.

We know that the Tánaiste's party has carried out an internal investigation into the inappropriate behaviour of a sitting Fine Gael Senator towards a female member of staff working in the Oireachtas. We know that a very substantial sum of money was donated to a charity on foot of the outcome of that investigation. We know also that the Senator in question was selected by the Fine Gael Party and endorsed by the Tánaiste, as its leader, on two occasions after this investigation. What we do not know is what the Tánais…

That is not acceptable.

I was not here for all of this debate but I listened to most of it and I heard Deputy Barry Ward refer to home ownership as giving you a stake in society. My God, I do not know what that says about the thousands of young people the Government has locked out of home ownership. It does not give you a stake in society. It is absolutely classist to suggest that it does and that home ownership somehow makes you more equal than other members of society. That view is espoused by Government Members out of one side of their…

I am very privileged and proud to represent the people of the constituency of Dublin Fingal West. We are a very young constituency, one that is growing and expanding. We are also a constituency and a community that faces many challenges. I get that some of the challenges cannot be foreseen. I do not blame the Government for things that are outside its control. However, there is nothing more certain that on the day when a child is born, in approximately five years' time that child will need a place in a primary scho…

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. He spoke about some of the pressures being created, such as those caused by the duplication of applications. I have sympathy for parents who make duplicate applications, particularly because they feel they have no choice. When they come into my office, we have a conversation and talk about what they are doing. They are being told by the schools to collect their refusals and then lodge a section 29 appeal. That is really stressful. This is for something very basic, namely…

I welcome the victims, survivors and their families in the Gallery. I thank Deputy Coppinger and her group for bringing forward this motion and providing us with the opportunity to have this important discussion. In November last year, Focus Ireland published a report which found domestic violence is a significant factor in making mothers and their children homeless. I will, if I can, illustrate this point by using just two of the many examples I am dealing with now in my office. I take this opportunity to remind t…

Hear, hear.

Was it like that when you got here?

The Taoiseach is publishing a report.

You are the Government.

I wish both the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Minister all the best in their new respective roles. In her opening remarks, the Minister referred to a renewed sense of optimism. That optimism really not shared by people with disabilities in my constituency because they are living with the consequences of the policies of the Government parties and their attitude to persons with disabilities. They tell me that they are close to losing hope. With the greatest of respect, the Minister's remarks are not going to do much to r…

Based on the figure of 40,000.

I thank my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, for bringing this motion forward this evening. I represent one of the youngest constituencies in this State. There is an urgent and desperate need for more spaces for kids with additional needs in Dublin Fingal West. I want to talk to the Minister about Kaylen. Kaylen is a lovely bright five-year-old boy. His mam is Jodie and he lives in Balbriggan. In 2022, Kaylen was diagnosed with ASD and GDD along with other delays deemed severe. Kaylen is currently non-verbal but he is as…

I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this motion. I also take a few moments of my time to thank my colleague an Teachta Ó Broin for the honest, straightforward solutions and focused proposals he has consistently put forward. Before I came in here, I called Marian, who is my constituency manager. I got her to run through just the cases that have come in during the last couple of days. One concerns a woman I met myself. She has multiple sclerosis and has been on the housing list for 14 years. It has been seven y…

Forty thousand houses.

He meets everyone.

He did make the remarks.