I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, line 25, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, line 27, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, line 11, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 14, to delete "28 February 2026" and substitute "23 June 2028".

I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: " Report on ban on rent increases 5 . Within a week of the passing of this Act the Minister for Housing will publish a report on the introduction of an emergency ban on rent increases for all private rental tenants, including existing tenancies, new tenancies in existing rental stock and new tenancies in new rental stock.".

I will start with Grace in mind. One of the things that defines us as human beings and sets us apart from all other creatures is our ability to communicate and give voice to our experiences, fears, suffering and hopes. The very act of being heard is central to our humanity. For those who cannot speak or whose voices are not heard, they are utterly dependent on all of us, including the State and its institutions, to protect and advocate for them and act in their best interests. Grace could not speak for herself and …

I rise today furious about the "RTÉ Investigates" programme into Emeis nursing homes, one of which is in my hometown of Portlaoise. Since the broadcast aired, I have been contacted by many families of loved ones who are resident there at present and residents who have passed away. They have no answers. They are devastated and retraumatised. They are demanding answers, as they should. We cannot dress this up as poor standards or under-resourcing. What we saw was abuse, pure and simple. Older people and vulnerable pe…

I acknowledge the Tánaiste’s opening speech on this. I find this a very difficult topic to talk about - 19 months of genocide, 55,000 dead, 50,000 children killed or injured, and if the bombs do not kill them, starvation will. They have no food, no water and no medicine. The word "horrific" does not even feel adequate as it is just so awful. We must play our part in doing what we can as a nation to oppose this genocide as Israel continues to act with impunity. I feel so ashamed to be a public representative looking…

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I am glad to speak to this Bill today. Having so many vacant or derelict homes rotting away in our towns, cities and villages while families are living out of tiny hotel rooms in homelessness is absolutely shameful. Definitely having boarded up homes at a time like this is like hoarding food in a famine. For far too long the Government has been failing to properly resource local authorities to bring empty social homes back into use quickly and efficiently. Figures receiv…

I am delighted the Minister is back in this House. I am deeply troubled by what I am witnessing in our community in Laois and surrounding counties. I am not alone in this concern. Over the past week, I have received numerous calls from frightened and frustrated residents who feel like prisoners in their own homes, living in fear of reckless behaviour and repeat offending. One constituent said to me that the State is absent when it is needed most. This issue is all over our local media, including the Laois Nationali…

I thank the Minister and appreciate that he gives a thorough response every time he is here. I agree that we need to consider diversion and engage better with the youth diversion services but the issue of youth crime reached crisis point in Laois this week when there was no option and people felt that the youths got away free. There was no deterrent, leading to uproar in the community because so much car theft and other criminality was going on under our noses. There is work to be done. I am delighted that the Mini…

I speak today about one of the most shameful ongoing failures of this Government, namely the persistent and unlawful delays in completing assessments of need for children with disabilities. I have just come from outside Leinster House where I talked with the father of Cara Darmody. They are all exhausted. This is a 14-year-old girl who has to sleep outside Leinster House to fight for services for children with disabilities. Under the Disability Act 2005, it is not a suggestion but the law that an assessment must be…

I second the amendment.

The ARP scheme is actively distorting the rental sector and creating serious inequalities. Let us call it what it is: the ARP in its current form is deeply unfair. It was introduced in good faith to support people opening their homes to those fleeing war. Let me be clear. We commend every family and individual who did just that but the scheme has spiralled beyond its original purpose. Sinn Féin has consistently raised red flags. We warned that without reform, this payment could create an incentive for landlords to …

I rise with pride to speak in support of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, introduced by my colleague Chris Andrews. This is important legislation, simple in its construction, yet powerful in its intention. It seeks to do one vital thing, namely, to finally recognise socioeconomic disadvantage as a ground upon which discrimination can occur and outlaw it under equality law. Right now, it is not illegal to discriminate against someone because he or she is poor, because of his or her address, because…

I will share time with Senator Collins, if that is okay.

Yes.

On behalf of the Sinn Féin group, I extend my condolences to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, on the loss of his sister. I am happy to talk about biodiversity. In Laois, and nationally, we have a real opportunity to tackle biodiversity and the climate crisis in a meaningful way. We must follow on from the work our colleague, Senator Noonan, did when he held the brief. In my county there is a visionary proposal to develop a greenway through Cúl na Móna, linking Cashel and Ross bogs, along disused Bord na Mó…

I am wearing a pair of shorts, not as a fashion statement but in solidarity with the camogie players of Ireland who are simply asking for a choice. I acknowledge the Laois camogie players who are in the Chamber. During their match with Kilkenny on Monday, they took a stand by wearing shorts in protest of the outdated skort rule, just like the Dublin and Kilkenny players the day before, who were told to leave the pitch unless they changed. This is not a new issue. Players first challenged the skort rule in 1959. Som…

I want to talk about special education places once again and existing commitments to schools regarding prefabs that have been in place for years and in respect of which there is still no movement. I am going to talk particularly about County Laois. I have mentioned St. Francis School before. It has been waiting on its modular build since 2021. Forty-five children are on a waiting list there and there is nowhere for them to go. While I welcome the fact that new prefabs and new modular builds have been announced for …