I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to respond to budget 2022. My colleague, an Teachta Doherty, summed this up quite well when he said never has so much been spent in the pursuit of so little. The Government budget has failed, by all accounts, across the pressure areas in our society and economy. We were told this budget would deliver for workers and workers' rights. However, two days have passed. I have been looking at and examining it and I cannot see where workers or their rights are represent…

Are you sure?

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 to prohibit the practice of designating employment as self-employment; to bring the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and doctors in training under the protection of the Act; to limit the race to the bottom on workers’ rights by extending elements of the Act to the self-employed; and to provide for related matters. Before I introduce the Bill, I wish to be associated with the remarks made previously…

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

I recognise the work of my colleague, an Teachta Cullinane, in this regard. It is important legislation and, indeed, as the Minister herself has stated, media plurality and freedom of the press are essential parts of a functioning democracy. I am a bit confused by her contribution. She said she wanted to draw our attention to the adoption of the Council of Europe resolution on the safety of journalists, and went further to state that journalists "also require an enabling environment for freedom of expression and me…

I do not mean this disrespectfully in any way to the people who sit opposite, but it is regrettable that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is not here to take this Topical Issue. Anyone from the Dublin Fire Brigade who is watching will not be surprised. They have sought a meeting with the Minister. I would be very grateful if the Minister of State could pass on that request directly to the Minister and underline for him that it is important that he meets the men and women, and their representatives, from the Du…

As the Ceann Comhairle said to me once here, a Deputy is entitled to a reply but not necessarily an answer. We asked what would be done to future-proof and to ensure Dublin Fire Brigade has not only the physical resources it needs but also the manpower and womanpower it will need to do its work. The Minister of State gave a list referring to recruits and the recruitment campaign. I have told her very clearly that there is a staffing crisis. Whatever is happening in terms of recruitment is not keeping pace with reti…

Outside this building shortly, thousands of women and their partners will be protesting the failure to resolve the harmful maternity hospital restrictions. We are now almost 20 months into the pandemic yet women are labouring alone and seeing their partners leave after a mere hour spent with their newborn child. The demand of the campaigners is to return to pre-Covid circumstances for one essential partner. This is in no way unworkable. The fact is that the HSE and the Minister for Health have not pursued this as a…

That is not what this is about.

Who is in charge here?

I commend my colleague, an Teachta Funchion, not just on this motion but on all the work she has done and continues to do with regard to childcare. The cost of childcare has come up often in my time in this Chamber. It is one of the most recurring issues we discuss week after week. The crisis across the childcare sector has been raised in this House and, indeed, across the airwaves. It is a crisis that affects workers, parents and providers. Childcare costs in this State are among the highest in the world. They are…

We are having this discussion in the context of a broader discussion on fuel poverty. I heard one of the Minister's colleagues, a junior Minister, last night, on a show I do not often watch, advise people who cannot afford to heat or light their homes that they can access an exceptional needs payment. Heating your house is not an exceptional need. It should be a basic right. If that is the advice coming from the Government, we will do nothing to control the cost of energy. If people find themselves this winter in a…

Hear, hear.

Eight affordable houses.

Of eight houses.

Not many blocks.

Well, fix it then.

Will the Government consider a moratorium?