I use today's Order of Business to ask the Deputy Leader of the House if she supports the comments of her party colleague, Deputy Marc MacSharry. Deputy MacSharry, on a salary of approximately €96,000, has accused public servants of laziness and using the Covid-19 crisis as an excuse to lie on the couch and watch box sets. Apart from the ignorance and offensiveness of those comments, it is worth remembering that those who are working from home are doing so because they are following public health advice. Public ser…

I thank the Minister for making time to come in. I will talk a little bit about the broader issue of direct provision. As awful as the situation at the Skellig Star centre is, it is simply the outworking of a cruel system. This cruel system will be a stain on the State for years to come. It is a system that belittles and demeans residents. I will give an example of the experience in direct provision that I have come to know about through my work and volunteering with Homeless Period Ireland. One woman who is incont…

As a person new to the House, I would like to know whether it is normal practice that amendment deadlines fall prior to our receiving the substantiated text of a Bill, as is the case with the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020 that is coming before the House on Friday. If it is, it seems a very bizarre way to do business. I want to raise the issue of the mid-Shannon wilderness park in County Longford. In 2013, the senior planner in Longford County Council brought forward a detailed proposal for a wildern…

On Tuesday, EU leaders hailed an agreement on the Covid recovery package and the multi-annual financial framework. However, what slipped under the radar was the slashing of the just transition fund and an undermining of its implementation. The flagship just transition fund was promoted by the EU and was set up to start help carbon intensive economies ditch fossil fuels. On Tuesday, its total budget fell from almost €40 billion to €17.5 billion. A just transition has to be central to climate action. We have to be ab…

I offer my condolences to the Keegan family on the passing of Christine Keegan. She had to fight for 39 years for justice for her two daughters, Mary and Martina, who perished in the Stardust fire in 1981. For decade after decade, this State has treated the families of the victims of the Stardust fire shabbily. It tarred a working-class community with lies and subjected it to cover-ups. Never did the families give up, however. Christine Keegan was a leader in the campaign. In September 2019, the then Attorney Gener…

I know the purpose of today's Bill is to amend the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 to facilitate the establishment of the climate action fund on a statutory basis. Given that we are in a climate emergency, a climate action fund is essential so we can carry out the necessary mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce our emissions and to protect those communities most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Sinn Féin is happy to support this Bill but we would like to make several recommendations and obse…

It is a privilege for me to second the nomination of my friend and comrade Senator Warfield for the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach. I have known him for many years and we have campaigned together in south Dublin. I was proud to see him take on the role of mayor of South Dublin County Council when he was only a newly-elected councillor. One of the things that stands out about Senator Warfield is his humility. He is a very humble and very thoughtful person. During his time as mayor on South Dublin County Council he cham…

Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I also offer my congratulations on your election to the Chair. You were a great ally to me when we were doing the "Free Ibrahim" campaign and I hope we can continue to work together on such human rights issues. I remember in 2009 when I was tallying in a community centre in Kerry and I realised then that there is no challenge more futile than a Dub trying to get elected in Kerry. That is my Kerry story for the record today. It is an immensely proud day for me. I am from a working-class b…