Today we heard the powerful and moving testimony of President Zelenskyy. We all expressed our solidarity and support for Ukraine and its people as they suffer during this brutal war. We need to do all we can, even as a militarily neutral country. That starts by looking at domestic policy and legislation. We know that the International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, has become a major offshore financial centre for the Russian economy and I have been raising this issue since 2020. Most people are now aware of it as…

Last month one of the local papers, The Connaught Tribune, reported there were 7,500 vacant properties across Galway. According to daft.ie there are fewer than 150 properties for rent in Galway today. The Irish Times reported this year that almost 45,000 properties in the west, north west and midlands are lying empty, although these figures are frequently disputed. Some say they are too high while others say they are too low. Some say that the GeoDirectory database from which these figures are often drawn is not ac…

I want to raise the ongoing industrial action at Lisk in Gort, County Galway. The company is refusing to engage with the workers' trade union, SIPTU, despite a Labour Court recommendation that the company should recognise the trade union and negotiate with it on worker's concerns. Of course, companies like Lisk have representative groups, such as IBEC, and should, therefore, give the same opportunity for representation to their workers through their trade unions. I ask the Taoiseach to use his office to encourage t…

Tá imní ar mhuintir Inis Oírr nach bhfuil an t-iarratas iomlán do cheadúnas imeall trá curtha isteach go fóill agus go mbeidh moill eile do bhliain eile leis mar gheall go gcaithfear, de réir rialacháin an Aontas Eorpaigh, an staidéar timpeallachta a thabhairt suas chun dáta. An feidir leis an Aire a dheimhniú go gclúdóidh an maoiniú na costais ó tharla go bhfuil ardú tagtha ar phraghsanna? I know the Minister has an interest in the question but I am aware of timing.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. That is something the people of Inis Oírr will be glad to hear. It has been great the Minister has taken this project very seriously, as it deserves to be. It is interesting to hear of the gap analysis study the Minister expects to be completed by early May because the people of the island were in contact with me and were concerned the analysis could take another year. It is welcome to hear the Minister saying the money should be there. Tá sé go maith a chloisteáil go gceapann an tAir…

The Minister has outlined clearly the situation and the people of the island will be glad to hear that. The issue, as the Minister knows, is the whole health and safety aspect, and they are really concerned about that. We have seen with storms in the past how badly it is impacted. That has an impact on the community in terms of being able to come to or leave the island, and there is a real-life health and safety impact. People from the island are wondering if, given the health and safety element, there is a way to …

Ba mhaith liom aird an Taoisigh a tharraingt ar chúrsaí séarachais ar Inis Mór, atá ag truailliú na timpeallachta agus ag cur isteach ar shláinte mhuintir an oileáin. Tá leithris phoiblí nua, córas séarachais chuí do thithe Chill Rónáin agus córas séarachais rialaithe ag teastáil, chomh maith le plean do chóras cóireála fuíolluisce. An ndéanfaidh an Taoiseach fiosrú ar an bhfadhb seo agus an gcinnteoidh sé go mbeidh an obair atá ag teastáil ar chóras séarachais Inis Mór déanta i gceart?

Tá a fhios againn le fada an lá go bhfuil daoine ag fulaingt mar gheall ar an ardú ollmhór atá tagtha ar an gcostas maireachtála. Bhí a fhios againne i Sinn Féin go mbeadh an ráta boilscithe ag ardú le hathoscailt an tsochaí, ach is léir nach raibh an fios céanna ag an Rialtas nuair a cheangail sé praghas cíosa leis an ráta boilscithe. Tá sé tar éis éirí níos measa mar gheall ar an gcogadh san Úcráin, ach caithfimid a bheith ionraic faoi seo. Bhí géarchéim sa chostas maireachtála roimhe seo ar fad. Bhí na cíosanna …

I want to raise the issue of the difficulties patients are facing in trying to access dental care through the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. I have been contacted by many people in my own constituency. They are finding it extremely difficult to find a dental practice that is taking part in the scheme. I contacted the HSE for a list of dentists who are participating in this scheme in County Galway. I received a list of 24 in total. However, after contacting each of these practices, I understand that only 14…

All of us will be aware from our work in our constituencies and from our clinics that the most vulnerable in our society often rely on moneylenders. As a result, they lose large amounts and pay large sums attempting to repay these loans. We have all heard horror stories of people stuck in that cycle. It is welcome that we are here today to try to make some effort on this. However, the Bill is a poor cousin of my colleague, Deputy Doherty's, Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2018. It is something that the Deputy has …

I commend the Labour Party on bringing this motion forward. If there is one thing that came out clearly from Covid-19, it is that workers are able to work from home and indeed that for many it gives a far better work-life balance. No sooner had the Tánaiste's right to request remote working Bill been introduced than the Tánaiste said it needed changes to be fit for purpose. I think describing it as not fit for purpose is actually too charitable. It should have been described as dead on arrival. This raises a simple…

The Assembly passed a motion last year calling for direct dialogue between it and the European Parliament. Assembly Members recognise the need for representation of the views of citizens of the North within the EU institutions. In this regard, Sinn Féin has made several proposals, including on observer status, representation at the European Committee on the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, the ability of Executive Ministers to participate at Council of Ministers meetings, and the participatio…

On launching the framework's first report, the Taoiseach emphasised that its approach is fundamentally about making people's lives better by better understanding people's lived experiences. Next week will mark Brain Awareness Week. I want to commend the work of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Irish Dementia Working Group, whose members are incredible advocates and activists. Covid presented a unique and distressing challenge for people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Government can an…

Accessing the almost €1 billion in funding under the NRRP requires the State to undertake multiple reforms.  Priority No. 3 of these reforms includes commitments on anti-money laundering and aggressive tax planning.  I have repeatedly raised the issue of billions of euro of Russian money going through the International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, over the past two years. A fortnight ago I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of opaque shell companies.  These companies are used for aggressive tax planning by fir…

The issue is the opaque structure.

I worked in the financial services sector. This is specifically about section 110. They do not employ people under section 110.

They can do it under section 110; that is the issue.

It is section 110.

In fairness, this is not something I am raising now since the Ukrainian situation arose.

It is section 110, specifically. I am not saying that it is all the fault of the entire financial services sector. I worked in financial services, so I am not saying that. It specifically relates to section 110 of the tax code. Can we at least have a cost-benefit analysis?