You put "Deputy" and "Kenny" together and got "Kennedy".

The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 is very welcome. It is clear to all of us that this legislation is coming from the pledge that we will implement a zero tolerance strategy, particularly in regard to violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and violence against women. It is very welcome in respect of that. Anything that can support victims of stalking, harassment and gender-based violence is, of course, welcome. I would also like to commend the many people who have advocated and worked s…

This legislation comes from the European Union directive. It is welcome that progress is being made on all of these issues. The notion of work-life balance always comes to the fore, as has been mentioned by colleagues, particularly for women who have to balance family life and incorporate work into that life. As the price of houses and the cost of living soar, few families can survive on a single income. Therefore, both partners in a relationship usually have to work. That means if the employer is difficult to deal…

In the context of a budget, we first look at the overall budget and we then get into the detail of each particular section of it. I commend the budget spend this year in the area of justice. There is a clear commitment to provide the numbers of gardaí that we need to see. That is welcome. All those we talk to, whether rank-and-file gardaí or senior members of the force, tell us the one thing they need is more numbers and more gardaí out on the beat, in the community and doing the job. That is what we need to see. I…

I raise the issue of section 39 workers, some of whom are considering taking industrial action in the coming weeks because of the situation they are in. They cannot get a pay rise or increments. We all know and understand that the work they do is vital to our society. They work with people with disabilities, children with autism and so on. Most of them are professionals who are very qualified, such as nurses and other healthcare professionals. They do this work through a block grant that comes from the Government t…

I welcome the Minister of State to his new post and wish him all the very best for the time ahead. This legislation is clearly necessary. We have had considerable direct investment into Ireland, the vast majority of which has been very successful. IDA Ireland has done an excellent job. International corporations have employed many people in many regions of the country and have not just generated income for people but also new skills that would not otherwise have been created. We have to recognise and understand. Ho…

I am pleased to speak to this legislation. Online safety affects all of our lives and we all experience the issue. It is particularly acute when we think of children and young people at a very vulnerable age. All of us can be annoyed and frustrated by things that are said about us online and so on. For adults it is not as big an issue but it certainly is a big issue for younger people. Teenage bullying, which has resulted in suicide in some cases, is one of the issues that needs to be dealt with in this legislation…

I commend my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, on bringing forward the motion. It is very clear that the retrofit scheme the Government has in place is not working and not delivering for very many people the length and breadth of the country, particularly those on middle incomes, who may be paying down a mortgage and who have all the other various issues in life to try to deal with. They cannot afford to take out another loan, which is what the Government insists they have to do to be able to retrofit their house properl…

In the past year, on numerous occasions, I have raised with the Minister of Justice and, indeed, the Minister of Transport, the need for a public transport policing service to be put in place in this country, especially as we have seen, over the past number of months, serious attacks on people both on the public transport service and on some of the drivers of buses etc. A driver in Cavan was seriously attacked. I understand, if media reports are to be believed, that the Taoiseach is taking an interest in this at pr…

I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, which was launched before the summer. Of course, the decision by the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to publish the strategy’s implementation plan was also welcome. It placed an emphasis and on obligation on all relevant Departments, including the Taoiseach’s Department, with regard to that. I understand that the oversight of this legislation and policy rests with the Cabinet commi…

Nearly a year has passed since the Government agreed the redress scheme for mother and baby home survivors, many of whom are elderly and getting on in life. I seek a reassurance from the Taoiseach that the legislation to progress this scheme will be published and that the scheme will be opened as a matter of urgency. As we know, many of the unfortunate survivors of these homes are at the gates of the Dáil again today, as they have been many times in the past. I also want to briefly raise with the Taoiseach the matt…

I understand that.

It meets so infrequently.

The review of the confidential committee testimony.

Iron lady.

I also raise the issue of energy. We know the emergency meeting of EU energy ministers last week in Brussels was to discuss a cap or some way to control energy prices across Europe. That is welcome and needs to happen. It is accepted the challenges may be long-term in nature. The Taoiseach referred to that today and we all know that. Much of this comes from the brutal war being inflicted on the people of Ukraine and its outcome across Europe. We all understand that but the most vulnerable people are being hardest h…

As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle was reading the list of various Topical Issue matters, it brought into focus what we are talking about here. While the summer economic statement may paint a rosy picture, when you listen to those matters raised, you hear of all the various issues throughout the country that are affecting people. These are the issues of services mainly that are so devoid in so many areas throughout the country. While summary statistics may paint a certain picture, they often hide the reality for so many …

We support the Bill. We see spiralling rents in every part of the country. I raised Knocknashee and Tobercurry with the Taoiseach a couple of months ago. People there were paying €800 a month in rent, then the landlord increased it to €1,500 a month overnight. That happened to ten people in a housing estate, because the landlord owned many houses there. The Government made an excuse that it is not part of a rent pressure zone, so there was nothing it could do about it. That is the situation for people in many parts…

I welcome this Bill and the moves to resolve many of the issues outlined. I will deal first with the issue of the Stardust inquest and the coroner’s court. The Stardust tragedy happened 41 years ago when 48 people went for a night out and did not come home. It has influenced and impacted not just the people of Artane and that part of Dublin but the whole country. I remember that Saturday morning. A television programme, the exact name of which I forget, was on, but Aonghus McAnally used to be on it. I think it was …

I suggest that the Member should make his contribution without interruption.