I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution to the Bill. The cost of insurance, as we all know, is one of the most frequently recurring matters raised with us as politicians and with policymakers by both individuals and businesses. To that end, effective insurance reform and the speed of that reform should be at the forefront of the work carried out by the Government. While we do not oppose the legislation, as my colleague has advised, or its provisions, it must be pointed out that what is before us, particula…

The question is fairly straightforward. It is similar to a question I put to the Tánaiste on 30 July when I asked whether the State has a trade-at-any-cost position. I ask the Tánaiste for an update on the policy of the Department with regard to trade agreements and trade missions to countries that have been found in gross violation of human rights.

I thank the Tánaiste. On 30 July the Tánaiste told me the Department pursues free trade and open market policies but these policies are subordinate to Ireland's responsibility to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to promote regional stability and to promote and protect human rights. It is similar to the response the Tánaiste has given now. It outlines that we implement the trade elements of EU sanctions, formerly known as restrictive measures, and this is welcome. In the Russian war of aggre…

I do not know that I would draw the same equivalence between Saudi Arabia and the United States as the Tánaiste has done. That is fair enough; that is his opinion. I am referring to what Amnesty described as acts that are protected by the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, in other words gross violation of human rights. I refer specifically to the trade mission the Tánaiste himself led. I am concerned about the message it sends. I understand from media reports the Tánaiste said he r…

This question is fairly straightforward. There are what could be called mixed messages from the Government. On the one hand, the Tánaiste himself is saying that workers need a pay rise but, on the other, the Head of Government is preaching wage restraint. What is the Tánaiste's view on collective bargaining rights for trade unions to allow them to secure better pay and conditions for workers in view of the comments he has made and the contradictory comments of the Taoiseach?

Along with members of Viktor Orbán's Government in Hungary, the Austrian Government and a few others, the Tánaiste is a co-signatory to a letter to the Commission seeking to water down the provisions of a draft directive aimed at ensuring that at least 70% of workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements. I may have some difficulties with how the directive is written myself but I certainly would not seek to undermine it or water it down in any way, shape or form. My question was specifically on creating t…

I think the best way to do it is to create the conditions for workers to organise. That involves recognition and protection for those who are seeking to bargain collectively on behalf of their members. I have stated previously that the best way for any worker to secure a pay rise is not just to join a trade union, but to be active in his or her trade union. Is it the Tánaiste's intention to move ahead with collective bargaining rights, or is he going to wait for the directive to be transposed? We have a unique oppo…

I apologise to the Tánaiste that I will not be able to stay in the Chamber for the full debate. I have another meeting to go to. I will look back over the Official Report. Sinn Féin supports a statutory sick pay scheme. I do not think that will come as a surprise to anybody. We have argued for this for quite a long time now. The fact the Government is moving on it in any small way is proof that the trade union movement, ourselves and others have won the debate on this important workers' right. I cannot let today pa…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete the following words: "— extend the Help to Buy scheme to first-time buyers of second hand and vacant properties;" I thank the Regional Group of Independents for bringing forward this motion. It is a very timely motion. We in Sinn Féin welcome any opportunity to contribute to a debate about vacant homes and how we need to do better on being in a position to return them to use. GeoDirectory indicates there are around 90,000 vacant properties across the State. This is a scandal. No-on…

I was the first person in my family to go to college. I cannot say that loudly or often enough and I am very proud of it. I would not have been able to do it without access to affordable childcare. At the time, the crèche in UCD was subsidised from the student hardship fund. One had to make an application but getting it was pretty much a foregone conclusion. There was recognition that people like me who were young and had children would need extra help to get through college. Without that access to affordable child…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Employment Equality Act 1998 and to provide for related matters. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to introduce this Bill. Simply put, this Bill seeks to abolish the mandatory retirement age contained in workers' contracts. Similar Bills have been introduced down through the years, and while successive Governments did not oppose them, they did not support them to the point that they brought them to their conclusion an…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

We expect much of the Minister but we do not expect him to master the art of bilocation, and we thank him for his apology. I welcome the publication of the women's health action plan. It is a positive step and I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss it. It is a good plan but, as the Minister knows well, it will succeed only if it is backed up with funding, commitment and dedication driven by him and his team in the Department. In 2018, when both the Minister and I were sitting on the Opposition benches, I laun…

I came into the Chamber to hear some answers and, unfortunately, I have not heard any. We might as well say that. We had hoped to get answers from the Minister. I do not think anyone in the House disputes the need for a new maternity hospital. I gave birth in Holles Street in 1995 and we needed a new hospital then. My daughter gave birth to my grandson in Holles Street in 2015 and we needed a new hospital then too. Nobody is disputing that this hospital is necessary. We know how necessary it is. We know that the me…

At the outset, I offer my support and my sympathy to the people of Ukraine in the face of the vicious war of aggression caused by the illegal Russian invasion. I also thank the Deputies who have brought this Bill to the floor of the House and who have given us the opportunity to have this very important debate. Many progressive Deputies down through the years, including some of whom have been in my own party, have produced similar Bills to enshrine our neutrality into the Constitution. On these occasions, those pol…

I thank the Deputies who brought forward this legislation. I also thank the Irish Examiner and specifically Ann Murphy for her work on this because she doggedly pursued this issue, brought it to public attention and should be acknowledged for that. I am glad the Government is not opposing the Bill. It would be better if the Government supported it. I think we are all getting a bit tired of coming in here to be told the Government is not against it but is not actually doing anything about it. I welcome the fact that…

Sinn Féin will be supporting this Bill in principle. We welcome the regulatory framework for assisted human reproduction, which will standardise access to and rights around IVF surrogacy and related research. This is a piece of legislation on which people have been waiting a very long time. The Minister of State and I can agree on this. People who have been in this Chamber much longer than us have been having these debates for a long time. It is very welcome, therefore, that we have reached this point. Notwithstand…

As we can imagine, the news that Roadbridge entered receivership came as a massive blow to the workers and their families, and also to the subcontractors who are now in a state of incredible uncertainty. It is scandalous. While the receivers, Grant Thornton, go through the necessary processes over the next 30 days, it is important that affected workers and subcontractors can have access to social welfare. They are in the most awful form of limbo at the moment. If they want to take on new employment, they should not…

I would like to say I was shocked, but I probably was not, at the remarks of the Minister of State indicating a belief that workers are going to accept that the past two years did not happen. They are not prepared to accept that. They have had the experience of not just working remotely, but working well remotely. They want that experience to inform the legislation, which it clearly does not. Nobody is going to stand in here and say the legislation is perfect or indeed adequate. Deputy Troy was very quick to emphas…

I welcome the extension of the tax warehousing arrangements for businesses impacted by the new restrictions that were introduced in December 2021. This is a practical move and it will benefit many of the businesses affected by the severe but very short-term changes. More broadly, we need to look at the serious issue of hidden debt for SMEs and microbusinesses to ensure it does not hinder their recovery in the medium term. Increased energy and fuel costs, a shortage of materials and goods, inflation and a host of ot…