I join my colleague an Teachta Ó Snodaigh in paying tribute to our comrade and friend, Deputy Joanna Byrne, who stood up not just for the grassroots of football, as she does every single day of her life, but also stood up for Palestine and paid a heavy price for it. We thank her for her advocacy. I would not claim to be the biggest soccer fan. I would not dare to. I am here in my Bohs jersey in honour of my grandad who played for the team, although I am reliably informed that I live in a Rovers house, apparently, s…

And 17,000 are homeless.

How many more bouquets are you going to throw at yourself?

They really are.

He is finished in every sense of the word.

Half measures.

Time is up, Deputy Lowry.

You do not get to vote on that-----

Sit down.

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.

The 2 cent cut on home heating oil is an absolute slap in the face for people as it is. The fact that the Government is going to take it back off them in a couple of weeks makes it worse. It is going to give a very meagre amount with one hand and it will take it back in a couple of weeks knowing, as it does, that going into this latest crisis that 320,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills, knowing that people are already under a severe amount of pressure and knowing that we are in the middle of a cos…

I thank my colleague Deputy David Cullinane and for bringing forward this motion this evening which gives us the chance to have this very important discussion. I also thank him for the proposals he has consistently brought forward which would make a real and meaningful difference not just for patients but also for people working in our health services. As was rightly pointed out, the issues that are faced in the cancer control and the cancer care programme are not caused by the men and women working hard in it. The…

This is my tenth time to speak on statements on International Women's Day. On International Women's Day, I generally pay tribute to women activists. I am really lucky that there are loads of them in my party, in my family and in my life. However, this afternoon I want to record the loss of an activist, a feminist, a trade unionist, a campaigner and my own mam, Mary O'Reilly, who died last September. However, when I look at my daughter I know that my mother's legacy will live on in her activism, in the way that she …

There is legislation.

I start by thanking Deputy Doherty for tabling this motion and for tabling legislation which I think the Tánaiste was unaware of but, happily, he is up to speed with now.

This afternoon legislation was tabled and this evening we will debate a motion and there will be a voice vote later.

That is how it is going to work. I will very clearly thank Deputy Doherty because he recognises there is an emergency. The Tánaiste's response is that the Government actively prepares for a variety of scenarios. I can tell the Tánaiste what scenario is unfolding in homes the length and breadth of this State this evening. It is husbands, wives and partners sitting down and talking about how they are going to be able to pay their bills, how they are going to make ends meet and what more they can cut. When they look, …

The Minister will be aware that last month, as I have done many times before, I raised the issue of victims and survivors of domestic abuse being able to carry time they have accrued on waiting lists from one local authority to another, primarily where that is necessary for their own safety and that of their children. The Tánaiste confirmed that the Minister would be issuing a direction to rectify this. I am looking for an update on that.

That is not exactly what the Tánaiste said. He said, "the Minister for housing has said he will issue a direction to all local authorities to make sure that issue is rectified." It should have taken the Minister two seconds rather than two minutes to answer. Either it is going to issue or it is not. What the Minister is saying is that a protocol is being developed. That is very welcome, but the Minister might provide some clarity in his follow-up. It seemed there was a little bit of slippage there as regards the no…

I fully agree with the Minister. The officials I deal with in Fingal County Council lack neither understanding nor capacity but they do lack basic direction from the Government. As the Minister has said, basic and all as this is, it will take at least until this year to get that done, although it is welcome. As I have said, it is an issue I have raised many times. The Minister will be aware of it. It is not going to affect a huge number of people but it will have a serious impact for some people. I trust it is in o…