I welcome the Minister. I echo what others have said about thanking those who have been vaccinating and running the vaccination centres. I drove someone to Citywest to get a vaccination. There is definitely a lovely atmosphere there and it is well organised. We are lucky that we have low vaccine hesitancy rates and that most people one talks to are chomping at the bit to get the call to get their vaccine. That is to be welcomed because we know that the more people who are vaccinated the more we can open society and…

I thank my colleague for saving the day. I think everybody in this country would agree that the civil legal aid system is in drastic need of reform. It is not just the issue we are discussing today. It is under-resourced and restrictive. There are delays of up to 42 days, according to Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC. Access to justice is a fundamental human right and is recognised as such under a range of regional and international instruments, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of…

I thank the Minister of State for addressing much of what we asked, as set out in my opening statement. I do not mean this in any combative sense but while Senator Gallagher is correct that a Fianna Fáil Government introduced civil legal aid, it is important that we give credit to Josie Airey, the woman who took the case to the European Court of Human Rights. Ms Airey, like so many women in the history of this State, was met with closed doors from the entire political establishment when she sought a separation, hav…

As I said, I was being pragmatic in bringing forward this Bill, which has just one line of text. The reason for that was that I was informed that this problem could be fixed overnight by regulation in the same way access to legal aid for the Stardust inquest was fixed with a regulation. Members of the Opposition cannot change regulations so we have to amend the Act to render it out of synch with the relevant regulation. I take on board the Minister of State's points that there could be consequences if my Bill were …

Next Monday.

I thank the Minister for Justice for finally signing the regulation to facilitate the progression of the Stardust inquest. I have spoken many times in this House on how the financial eligibility test was causing huge distress to families and how they were being asked personal information down to the type of car they drove. The signing of the regulation has lifted that distress and the families can now focus on getting justice for their loved ones. However, it was deeply disappointing to see that the regulation is s…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this legislation. As we have heard, the Bill will allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Notwithstanding my concerns regarding the constant moving of the National Parks and Wildlife Service from pillar to post over the years, it is at least somewhat reassuring that there is now a Minister of State such as Deputy Noonan, who clearly cares a great deal about the brief. Sinn Féin will n…

Only this morning, the International Energy Agency, IEA, released a report calling for radical change if we are to reach net zero emissions and stay within the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. The IEA stated, "If we want to reach net zero by 2050 we do not need any more investments in new oil, gas and coal projects". If ever there was a clear signal that Ireland and the EU need to unshackle themselves from the Energy Charter Treaty, ECT, this is it. The ECT, which was sneaked into Ireland without an Oireachtas …

I thank the Minister of State. He did not answer my question about the ISDS mechanism in the ECT. Does the Government support the removal of that system? Even if it excluded fossil fuels, is it right that investors have that power over states? We do not know what the future holds in terms of hydrogen or renewables. In fact, RWE, which is a renewable energy generator in Ireland, is riding two horses at the moment because it is one of the organisations taking a case against the Dutch. It is also interesting the Minis…

I will speak about health infrastructure in Gaza but I also want to make a point on the seemingly increasing trend of elected representatives making veiled threats to public bodies with regard to their funding. It is not a good look for any democratically elected representative. I want to focus on the health infrastructure in Gaza. Last night, we heard how Gaza's only Covid-19 laboratory was destroyed by an Israeli air strike. There is now no clinic to carry out testing for the virus. Gaza was already facing a surg…

When people resort to shouting insults, it shows they are on a very weak footing.

We desperately want to solve this housing crisis. I did not interrupt the Senator and I would appreciate the same respect from that side of the House. This Government has failed. It has failed on the housing crisis. Despite all the rhetoric it brings here, the truth is it has failed. The Minister has missed every deadline he has set. He said he would have an affordable housing Bill in September. Then it was the budget and then it was the new year. Weekend after weekend we see more infuriating stories about home buy…

I am accusing you of-----

I am not a bully. The 1% did not-----

Okay. It is a distortion of the truth.

I withdraw "lying". I will say it is a distortion of the truth. The 1% did not refer to price inflation. The detailed analysis of this scheme was carried out by the London School of Economics and Political Science and it found that house prices increased by 6%. Sinn Féin has an alternative. We would oversee a doubling of direct capital investment, at least €2.8 billion annually, in public housing to meet social and affordable need. It would deliver a minimum of 8,000 affordable homes each year, with 4,000-----

You can bully all you want. We know Fianna Fáil has an issue with women. You can bully all you want. You are not going to silence me. Okay?

The Senator has an issue with strong women. We know that from the history. Sinn Féin would deliver a minimum of 8,000 affordable homes each year, with 4,000 affordable cost rental-----

What accusation did I make?

Yes.