Yes.

They are not public service organisations but they are providing public services. They are doing it on wage rates that are way behind those who are their exact and direct equivalents within the public service. The Tánaiste said it is his hope that the dispute will be resolved, but he could do a little bit more than hope. He could actually be proactive about it, and that is what the families want to see. Let us bear in mind that these workers do not want to be on strike. That is the last thing they want to do. I kno…

Some weeks ago, the medical technology company Merative contacted approximately 250 workers to notify them that their positions were at risk. Thereafter, the statutory 30-day consultation period relating to collective redundancies kicked in. Unfortunately, at-risk workers have contacted my office to say they are concerned that no meaningful consultation is taking place and the company is also refusing to engage with their trade union, Unite. Will the Tánaiste join with me in calling on the company to engage with th…

I support the amendment. As the Minister of State has pointed out, it arises from an amendment I proposed on Committee Stage. I thank the Minister of State, the officials and the staff of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for their work on this. It is very important that sanctions from the EU, UN or International Criminal Court should also be notified to the Minister. If we are going to assess, investigate, authorise, condition or prohibit third country investment based on a range of security or public order …

It is not agreed. On 17 October, workers in section 39, section 56 and section 10 agencies will be taking industrial action. As the Taoiseach and I know, this is the last thing they want to do. It is very much the last thing that service users and their families want to happen. Can we put time aside this week to discuss that dispute? The families are watching this debate and feel like they are being ignored. We cannot let the two weeks that are left go without us having an intervention. We need to make time for a d…

I very much welcome this debate. I wholeheartedly endorse Deputy O'Dowd's call for change. It has never been more needed. I am also trying hard not to enjoy all the Government speakers coming to the House to speak about the deplorable state in which the Government has left transport for kids trying to get to school. We all know that school transport is an essential service, particularly in my constituency and constituencies like it. Vast swathes of north County Dublin are rural and we have urban areas, towns and vi…

I thank my colleague, an Teachta Kathleen Funchion, for bringing forward the motion and all of the work she has done and engagement she does on a daily basis with providers and early childhood educators. We all know it is an essential service, but like many essential services in the State it has suffered from significant neglect by successive Governments. It has been more or less left to the private sector to deliver the service. This has resulted in many areas lacking a functioning childcare service to meet the ne…

I start by acknowledging Emma Reidy and the staff and volunteers who run the Aoibhneas domestic abuse support service in my own area. I am sure we all acknowledge this because we know the work they do. Many of us will refer people from our own constituency offices to the local service so there is nobody under any illusions about how acutely underfunded and under-resourced they are. As Deputy Daly has pointed out, there is an epidemic of DSGBV in this State and it is only when one comes across a case that one actual…

I bring to the Minister of State’s attention issues that occur regularly in my constituency regarding the provision of public transport. I am lucky to represent one of the youngest and fastest growing parts of this island. The needs of the communities I represent are many and varied but the one thing that comes back time and again is dissatisfaction with the quality and frequency of public transport. I have already corresponded directly with the Minister for Transport regarding the famous north County Dublin disapp…

The Minister of State will forgive a little bit of cynicism on my part when she mentions projects like MetroLink. There are people in my constituency who bought houses off the plans from brochures that had a picture of MetroLink on them. They thought their kids might be able to use it to go to school and perhaps college, and maybe at some point their kids might be able to use it to get into town to collect their pension. There is a lot of frustration on behalf of my constituents because when a big project is planne…

They are not agreed. Yesterday Fórsa, SIPTU and the INMO announced three weeks' notice of their intention to take industrial action in the voluntary and community sector. They have been in discussions to resolve this dispute for years. This matter is now incredibly urgent for service users and for their families who rely on these agencies for supports, day services and respite services, basic interventions that keep their families going. The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Re…

The Minister for Health needs to be here. He needs to answer questions. We can read in the media that the families of the children who have been left waiting despite all of the promises and have been drip-fed information, as is the form with this Government, want information. The man who can provide that is the Minister for Health. He should be here. There should be nothing more pressing on his agenda.

I thank Deputy Doherty for this motion, and for all of the work he continues to do on behalf of mortgage holders. Earlier today, the senior Minister told us he had convened a meeting of stakeholders, who told him that there is an increasing number of borrowers encountering difficulty meeting their mortgage repayments. They also noted cases where borrowers are prioritising their mortgage payments, but that financial difficulties are arising in other areas because of this. They are fancy words, but what do they actua…

Yesterday I met with the Tesco Dot.Com pickers and drivers and their trade union Mandate. Tesco management have imposed roster changes without consultation, much less any agreement. These changes will cost workers thousands and they are, naturally, extremely extra distressed about this. They told me yesterday that when they are out protesting, management are employing tactics of intimidation, which is making them incredibly fearful. They are worried for their livelihoods, for their jobs, and for their future. I hav…

I am glad to see the Minister here. I thank him for his work on this. This is an important piece of legislation and incredibly welcome. I also thank Together for Safety, which has been absolutely outstanding. I thank Karen and Yvie in particular, along with all its other members. Their lobbying has been incredibly effective. It is part of the reason we are here, and we would be foolish to not acknowledge that. I also acknowledge my colleague, Senator Gavan, who along with others sponsored legislation similar to thi…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute. I wish to declare an interest. My grandson is a rising star for the Corinthians football club in Cork, as indeed are all of the under-8s whom I had the pleasure of watching play recently. Irish football is at a crossroads and the direction it takes will be influenced by the support it receives from the State. That is a fact. Irish football has suffered from chronic underinvestment by the State. It is not the only sport that has suffered, but it ha…

The Taoiseach is-----

Did the issues facing the Tesco.com pickers and drivers come up during the work of the social dialogue unit? Some months ago, Tesco Ireland announced a decision unilaterally to impose significant changes to the rosters of Tesco.com pickers and drivers. These are the workers who fill the orders when people place an order online. The move, which workers and the Mandate trade union have described as out of the blue, will potentially cost workers thousands of euro in lost income. The changes will not only have financia…

Following the publication of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, High-level Analysis of the Irish Grocery Retail Sector report, will the Minister commit to convening a meeting of large food companies and large food processors regarding possible profiteering in the sector?

I am on record as having welcomed the establishment of the agrifood regulator. At the beginning of March the European Central Bank highlighted that corporate profiteering was contributing to price rises, as firms are using inflation as an excuse to increase profit margins. To be clear, I am raising this issue on behalf of consumers and also on behalf of retailers and primary producers. What they are telling me is they are getting squeezed at both ends and the big food producers are in the middle. I welcome the Mini…