The research on familicide and domestic homicide reviews. It was expected in months but years have now passed. There are some reasons but they do not account for all of the delays. I wish to mention briefly the Tusla review of refuge accommodation. It had been expected that the review's publication was imminent but it has been mooted that the Minister is considering delaying it. I cannot overstate the alarm that this has caused across the sector, particularly among service providers. Will the Taoiseach confirm whet…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to make a brief contribution this afternoon. The Minister of State said the programme for Government commits to retaining access to private healthcare services for people in Ireland and ensuring choice for those accessing healthcare and that while such a high proportion of people hold health insurance across Ireland, it makes sense to maintain a community-rated health insurance market. It would make more sense to have targeted investment and specific planning in…

This day 22 years ago my grandmother died, unfortunately. We all miss her greatly. When she was sick she was taken to hospital in a Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance. That is the experience of my family: the care we got, the compassion with which we were treated, the speed, efficiency and all-round decency of the men and women who turned up. That is the experience of thousands of Dubliners. The Minister knows this and is proud of the Dublin Fire Brigade, as I am. It is an important service, not just for who its members…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue and the Minister for being here to discuss it with me. I want to say at the outset that I am 100% aware of her role in the allocation of resources. I know what she can and cannot do. What I am asking her this morning is to give consideration to the needs of the people I represent in Swords and the surrounding area, specifically in relation to Garda resources. While I understand the Minister does not get into the details of resourcing, there are a number of issues…

I join the Minister in commending the work of An Garda Síochána throughout Covid, in Swords and across the State. She is bang on; its members did a fantastic job. I want to return to the issue. There is a difference, and the Minister and I both know this, between being safe and feeling safe. I do not want anyone to panic but people do not feel safe and that is a concern to me, because obviously I am sent in here to represent them. There are two cars. It is not sufficient that an area the size of Swords, that has ho…

I will need a maximum of three minutes.

I take this opportunity to bring to the Minister's attention, as others have, a matter arising relating to the Land Registry. This is where a mistake has been made with what is registered with the Land Registry compared with what is contained in the deeds of the original contract for a home. If everybody complies, the process is quick, smooth, efficient and relatively painless, without much cost. I have an example where a neighbour is not inclined to co-operate, which forces a person who has done nothing wrong in b…

I wish to address something I would like to think the Minister of State is aware of, which makes me very disappointed that he is prepared to do nothing about it. Perhaps he is not aware of it. Every winter, in homes up and down the State, people do not get formally disconnected but many people are on a meter because they have fallen into arrears. The Minister of State will acknowledge we are in the grip of a cost of living crisis. While he may not want to acknowledge the part he played in the crisis, it certainly e…

As my colleague, an Teachta Cronin, has outlined, this is legislation we dearly hope no person will ever have occasion to avail of. We know, as I do personally, that there is no greater loss for parents than the loss of a child. In circumstances where a person is grieving the loss of a child, we should not add economic difficulties to their stress. As Deputy Cronin outlined, the vast majority of employers will behave decently. The Bill gives people comfort in knowing they will not rely on grace and favour arrangeme…

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

I wish to share time with Deputy Gould.

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak this evening about Science Week. I will use the short time I have to speak about investment in research, development and innovation, RDI. Recently, at the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, the independent body that reports in an advisory capacity to the Government on competitiveness and productivity in the economy, outlined the need for increased investment in RDI by the Government. It is clear from …

I move amendment No. 1: In page 12, line 34, to delete "6 months" and substitute "12 weeks". This is a resubmission of an amendment I proposed on Committee Stage, with an adjustment to specify 12 weeks instead of eight. Its purpose remains the same, namely, to reduce the duration for which a person can act up as member of the board of the corporate enforcement authority, from six months to 12 weeks. As I said on Committee Stage, as I am sure the Minister of State recalls, six months is a very long time to be acting…

I am not a pessimist by nature. I am an optimist who has a bit of experience. I have seen acting up used again and again. I appreciate what the Minister of State said about an instance whereby a person, unfortunately, has to leave suddenly. In this instance, we are saying in the case the person dies, but let us say he or she wins the lottery and goes to the Caribbean and does something nice. However, the person is gone and there is no notice. I urge the Minister of State to keep an eye on when retirements are comin…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 17, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(fa) the Central Bank,”. I withdrew this amendment on Committee Stage and the Minister of State indicated he would consult with the Department of Finance and the Central Bank to ascertain whether it could enhance the authority and the Central Bank's ability to exchange information with the corporate enforcement authority, CEA. Therefore, I have put the amendment here again, primarily to get an update from the Minister of State on…

I thank the Minister of State for clarifying that. He understands from where my concerns were coming. I did not come in with a bag of unintended consequences. I am sure he can appreciate the rationale for the amendment. On the basis of the clarification received, I am happy to withdraw the amendment.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 26, to delete lines 23 to 37. The Minister of State will be aware I raised this on Committee Stage and during pre-legislative scrutiny. I have strong feelings about this. I do not know why we are anonymising the details of these offenders. I know what the broader benefit is and it is to them. I do not see any benefit beyond that. The idea a person cannot be named because it might jeopardise the stability of financial markets or where it "would cause disproportionate damage to the rel…

It is not lost on me, and will not be lost on others that, following the Zalewski judgment, people who take cases that often involve small amounts of money to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, will now have the whole proceedings published. At the time, I expressed concerns about that judgment. I am aware of the root of that and that it comes from a decision by the Supreme Court. However, I expressed a reservation at the time that it might potentially have a chilling effect on workers taking cases to the Work…

I am satisfied he Minister of State has heard my concerns. I appreciate his response. I note his reference to how co-operative I have been. He might mention that to the Taoiseach at some stage. The Taoiseach does not often see that side of the Opposition. I appreciate what the Minister of State says about the administrative sanction, etc., as he has outlined it. That being said, I am still deeply uncomfortable with this section.

I will press it.