The Department’s strategy statement makes no reference to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, despite the commitments made by the current and former taoisigh of their office's significant role in the implementation of the third strategy. When will this be rectified? The Taoiseach knows that it is the intention of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that victims will avail of a reduced amount of pay for the five days that they may need to take domestic violence leave…

There are 663 patients without beds in hospitals across this State today, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO. Its members continue to be concerned about their ability to provide safe care in what the INMO describes as an intolerable situation for vulnerable patients and front-line workers alike. After a month-long consultation, the INMO executive has sanctioned a campaign of industrial action on safe staffing, with ballots to take place on a location-by-location basis. Nurses are reportin…

Not a day goes by that I am not dealing with people in insecure accommodation in my offices in Swords and Balbriggan. It is without doubt the number one issue we deal with. It is no surprise the Government representatives in my area are largely absent when their constituents are looking for answers or help. The situation is desperate for many. The latest family to cross the door of my office live in Balbriggan. They have been issued with a notice to quit and are frantic because they have to vacate their home in May…

I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion and giving us the chance to have this discussion. It was slightly less than edifying to see the senior Minister appear to make light of some of the pleas from the Opposition. It does not surprise me coming as it does from that particular quarter. I note that the Minister did not stay for the full debate as he has left the Chamber. Sinn Féin will support this motion. We are on record for a long time as calling for an energy price break and a windfall tax …

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to speak to this important legislation which, as has been outlined, we will support. There is not a Deputy or member of the public who has not witnessed the Civil Defence at work, often at times of need or crisis. What many people do not know is that the Civil Defence is a volunteer-based organisation and that these men and women put themselves on the line in helping emergency services and local authorities deal with severe weather, flooding, major accidents and searches for mi…

If anyone needed proof of how out of touch the Government is, they got it in spades this evening. I hope the Minister is proud of herself. There has been a lot of speculation recently about the Government’s intentions regarding people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The Government has told homeowners they are on their own if they are struggling to pay their mortgage because it rejected Sinn Féin’s motion on mortgage interest relief. It tells renters that, while it recognises rents are too high, it refuse…

One of the Minister’s colleagues specialises in renaming government services that have failed. She did her magic with the Passport Office. She needs to get another campaign going to rename the emergency payment as a “wait until your emergency is a crisis” payment because people are left waiting weeks for it.

I spoke to a young mother in my constituency last week. She lives in Swords and has a daughter who is autistic and needs supports. She has been forced to cancel the therapies she pays for privately for her child. She said to me - forgive my language, Leas-Cheann Comhairle – “I have been made to feel like a shit mother.” She is not a "shit mother". She is doing her damn best and the only thing she had left to cut were the therapies. They are gone now and her child will wait four years.

I apologise, Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It was a direct quote.

I commend my colleague, an Teachta Doherty, on his work on this matter and on tabling the motion so that we can have this important debate. There have been five hikes in the past seven months, with another on the way. That is more than many families are able to take. Under pressure from Sinn Féin, the Government moved to provide a modicum of relief for renters. This was an acknowledgement that, to fund the cost of keeping roofs over people's heads while they also dealt with other pressures, the Government needed to…

The changes being brought forward here were suggested as part of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Moves in the direction of using body camera technology can be of benefit to both the public and the Garda, so long as gardaí receive sufficient training and so long as data are treated sensitively and protected. I echo the points made by Deputy Catherine Murphy about the lack of detail. It is quite difficult to engage where there is that lack of detail. Body camera and dashcam technolo…

I am glad the Minister is here to take this legislation. I understand he has had a busy week so it is very welcome that he found the time to come in. This Bill is very simple. I thank my comrade, Deputy Cronin, for the work she has put in on this Bill, not just here but also, as she has alluded to, at the committee. This issue is important. We are lucky and thankful, and I am as a parent, that this is not something that will be used by a huge number of people. For those who will use it, it is essential. This will p…

I am sharing my time with Teachta Cronin. A little like my comrade, Teachta Andrews, I still do not understand. I will go through what the Minister said. I am very glad he recognises that none of the types of leave that he spoke about, and read out from his script, will address the issue of bereaved parents. That is a very important clarification that I am glad he made because, to be fair, he spent a lot of time talking about leave that would not apply to this particular group. I understand that context is importan…

How many posters?

Hear, hear.

The dental waiting lists are chronic. Constituents of mine, from Balbriggan to Swords, cannot get a dentist. There actually is not a dentist in my constituency who will take a medical card at present. We have tried and tried. The result is that we have an unusually high level of extractions. That is really not good. It is a major sign of a failure within the system and of Government policy. Those affected are not just figures on a page; they are real men, women and children. I want to share with the Minister some e…

The Minister is not answering questions.

The Minister is wasting the time. He should be answering questions. He has not done so. He has not answered one question.

It is a "Yes" or "No" question.

It is a simple question.