The Minister tells me research is being conducted into the impact of paid sick leave. I could have saved the Department a fortune: the impact of paid sick leave being available to workers is that people who are sick can afford to not go to work. Hopefully they can afford to stay at home and get better and not bring whatever it is they have into their workplace and potentially infect other people there. The Minister says the data is being analysed. Perhaps it is, but he has already announced that he is not going ahe…

That is not the case.

I met a mother in my constituency at the weekend. Out of respect for her and her family, I will limit the details I put on the record. This woman has recently lost her teenage child to suicide. I cannot imagine, not for a minute, not for a second, the utter grief, pain and torment she and her family are going through at this moment. She told me in no uncertain terms that her child had been failed by the mental health services. She cannot understand why money can be found to buy these pouches but not for proper ment…

Hear, hear.

We did, yes.

Hear, hear.

It is not a point of order.

This is not a point of order. The Deputy should not be allowed to continue.

Yes, €64 billion.

Another budget and another round of short-term supports for business. It appears that the Minister for enterprise massively overestimated his capacity to influence his Cabinet colleagues because he was all over the media publicising his own down-to-the-wire negotiations pleading for the VAT reduction sought by some in the hospitality sector, but he failed to convince anyone. It looks like a back-of-an-envelope scheme, although I hesitate to even call it that, that was cobbled together at the last minute. It is anot…

The Irish Rail timetable changes have been an unmitigated disaster. On the northern line, trains are delayed. When you eventually get on the train, as I did this morning, it can be delayed for seven or eight minutes. This morning, we waited outside Connolly Station and the train itself was dangerously overcrowded. There is a massive gap in the morning schedule, leading to overcrowded trains, frustrated commuters and overcrowded platforms that are dangerous for commuters, other passengers and staff of Irish Rail. I …

I thank the Minister of State for outlining the provisions of the Bill and the officials for all the work that went into it. We do not see a lot of what goes on behind the scenes, but we know that a huge amount of work has to go into getting to this stage. I am also conscious of the consultation. This Bill is largely technical in nature. We look forward to engaging with it as it makes its way through the House. I will keep my opening remarks brief. I am minded by the pre-legislative scrutiny that was conducted by t…

It was the use of the word "simple".

I wish to make a brief point of order.

I wish to clarify my remarks. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae referred to people as “simple”. He used the word “simple”. That is a very unkind and a gratuitously offensive term. He should reflect on his use of that. That is what I was referring to. It is a very unkind term.

The Deputy is literally interrupting me now. It is not appropriate language to use in this House. It is deeply offensive and very unkind terminology to use. It is not appropriate to apply it to anyone in this House or indeed outside of this House. I would be grateful if Deputy Michael Healy-Rae reflects on his use of that terminology.

The Deputy used the word.

Does the Deputy know where that word comes from?

The Deputy has been caught-----

He is trying to deflect.