I also want to welcome firefighters, especially the Tipperary boys, the Tipp boys, here today. They should not have to be here. I was talking to a retained firefighter this morning whose family has a history of being in the fire service. He told me that the tradition ends with him, because it is not viable anymore for his son to become involved. This sums up what we are talking about, namely, a service that is understaffed because its pay and conditions cause it to leak staff - it is continuing to leak staff - and …

Hear, hear.

I do not have long so I will not delay. A mother in County Tipperary is caring alone for her son who has very specific needs, including an uncommon disease involving abdominal deficiencies alongside autism spectrum disorder. In the past she has had to cancel her own appointments because she cannot find anyone suitable to look after her son. The typical response we are all used to hearing when we inquire about people in this situation is there are not sufficient respite replacements to meet demand. In this case, the…

What about reimbursement?

I welcome the motion tabled by the Independent Group. We hear a lot from the Government about care in the community being a way to take pressure off acute hospitals and emergency departments. I have no issue with this. There are communities, some of them in Tipperary, that shudder to hear the excuse of providing care in the community when centres that do precisely this are targeted for closure. We had this argument about the Dean Maxwell community nursing unit in Roscrea. We heard it when St. Brigid's District Hosp…

He is telling the truth.

Hear, hear.

Rural decline is a genuine concern for many communities. We have all heard of GP clinics closing because of the inability to attract GPs to rural areas. A case of this in County Tipperary has gained national attention as being symptomatic of a national problem. We have heard farmers speak of their concerns for the future, while investment in some rural towns and villages is seen as effectively being on the back burner. Tackling depopulation to ensure that we sustain communities is a focus of Sinn Féin. Ensuring new…

The launch of the European Year of Skills is designed to put skills centre stage, helping people get the right skills for quality jobs and helping companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, and to address skills shortages in the EU. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science website outlines the key features of the OECD skills strategies which include developing relevant skills over the life course, using skills effectively in work and in society and strengthening t…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the European project on Europe Day. Peace is something that the EU has at its cornerstone. We see that in its support for the Ukrainian people in the face of the Russian aggressor and we see it in the way the EU has defended the content and context of the Good Friday Agreement, because the context is important. These are to be welcomed. When Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU, addressed Oireachtas Members towards the end of last year, many fine words were said about …

I also commend Deputy O'Reilly on bringing the motion before the House and wish the Minister of State well in his new post. Throughout the cost-of-living crisis, one matter we have consistently raised with members of the Government is the urgency of the issues facing people and the need to act accordingly, but the Government consistently fails to do this. It ended the eviction ban with no preparation made for the surge in homeless presentations, it dragged its feet on imposing a windfall tax on energy companies tha…

We have had this discussion on numerous occasions in recent months. I want answers from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, this evening because a public meeting is being held in Cashel tomorrow night. The public of the town and the staff in St. Patrick's Hospital deserve answers at this stage. Public representatives belonging to the party of the Minister of State and other Government parties have been giving false information, as far as I am concerned, in Cashel about money being ring-fenced and parking faciliti…

When will the design stage finish? We were told recently that funding depends on the design stage. When did the issues with the suitability of the site first emerge? Will reports that back up the HSE's decision that the St. Patrick's site is too small be provided? Do they even exist? How much has been spent on the preliminary stages of St. Patrick's to date? How far along are negotiations on the greenfield site? Can any indication be given to us as to how close to the town the greenfield site is? Will the Minister …

We are facing a range of challenges, one of which is that our housing stock is limited and homelessness is at an all-time high. There is a need to increase stock safely and effectively. Construction has never been as important as it is now. Therefore, we must ensure that, during an increased demand for house building, no chances are taken with safety or competence. Developing criteria further is important, not just for the reasons I have outlined but also for making the sector safe, recognising workers' skills, pro…

The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is quoted this week as saying that in light of a mere 0.2% fall in food inflation, the Government will be monitoring any signs that any part of our economy may be benefiting from inflation. Is he serious in his comments? Has he failed to witness the disparity between costs and profits posted recently? I am afraid the Minister present seems to be in the same boat with the statement he has just made. Does he not, like the rest of us, k…

We have had this discussion on numerous occasions in recent months. I want answers from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, this evening because a public meeting is being held in Cashel tomorrow night. The public of the town and the staff in St. Patrick's Hospital deserve answers at this stage. Public representatives belonging to the party of the Minister of State and other Government parties have been giving false information, as far as I am concerned, in Cashel about money being ring-fenced and parking faciliti…

When will the design stage finish? We were told recently that funding depends on the design stage. When did the issues with the suitability of the site first emerge? Will reports that back up the HSE's decision that the St. Patrick's site is too small be provided? Do they even exist? How much has been spent on the preliminary stages of St. Patrick's to date? How far along are negotiations on the greenfield site? Can any indication be given to us as to how close to the town the greenfield site is? Will the Minister …

The Government is not conscious of it.

I also acknowledge the people in the Gallery and wish them all the best. I also acknowledge Deputy Whitmore, chair of the committee, and all of the members of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy who compiled this report. I recognise the great lengths they went to. A total of 11 public meetings were held to examine issues arising from international surrogacy and to make the 32 recommendations to deal with those matters. Like everybody else, I hope the Minister will accept all 32 recommendations because we…

Like other Deputies, every day I deal with families who are finding it impossible to find rental properties that are any way affordable. The low availability of rental properties coupled with incredibly high rents relating to those properties that are available often results in these families living in totally unsuitable properties that are not fit for human habitation. I have seen the mould, condensation, lack of heating, broken doors, draughts, etc. This is how some people are living in 2023 under the Government'…