That is scandalous.

We have heard a lot from Sinn Féin and Independent Ireland about ordinary hard-working people. They say this Government will not listen to hard-working people. They say this Government has lost touch with hard-working people. They seem to think they have a monopoly on hard-working people. Well, I am a hardworking person. I worked a counter and managed a family retail business for 17 years, through good times and bad. My family are hard-working people. Since the day he started working shifts at the age of 16, my hus…

-----cornerstone of our democracy and always will be. It is one of the many rights we enjoy in a free society. Sinn Féin and other agitators on the Opposition benches try to frame the illegal blockades of critical public infrastructure as a legitimate form of protest.

Members of Independent Ireland used wardens to determine who got healthcare in Limerick hospital.

Sandra Broderick, the regional executive officer of HSE Mid West, had to issue correspondence to politicians to allow people who did not have their appointment letter in the car to access the hospital. Last week, Sinn Féin publicly endorsed illegal blockades which infringed upon the fundamental rights of ordinary hard-working people in this country. Sinn Féin supported hard borders on this island of Ireland - the ultimate hypocrisy. These discriminatory blockades threatened fuel supplies and food security. They den…

Elderly people in west Clare were denied home care.

I sat with a family whose 12 hours of support at the weekend for a child who is autistic were reduced because the people did not have petrol in their car to visit. That is the reality of Independent Ireland and Sinn Féin.

I thank Senator Kyne for raising this issue today and highlighting Aoife's case in the Seanad. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I will make sure she knows from the Senator’s advocacy the impact that Friedreich’s ataxia has on Aoife and her family. I was struck by some of the statements the Senator made about how her life has changed and how every day brings further loss and her future seems frighteningly limited. How brave she was to focus on he…

I thank the Senator. I agree wholeheartedly with every word he has said. In the context of rare diseases, we do have a real and active focus on improving how we support people living with these diseases. Since the launch of the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030, an implementation oversight group has been launched. It met in February to begin work planning for 11 recommendations. As implementation of the strategy progresses, it is intended that patient representation, which is important, will be a key feature…

I thank Senator Costello for raising the really important issue around providing an update on the establishment of a cross-border scheme for oral immunotherapy treatment for food allergies. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I thank the Senator for the opportunity. I was struck by what she said: that she had never really thought about it. We do not really think about it unless we have a person in our family who might be impacted by so…

Yes, or that they were not entitled to it.

There is no cure for these conditions and those affected must continue to avoid the foods that make them ill. This is a daily challenge not only for them but for their families as well. To stay healthy, they must have accurate information on the foods they buy and eat. It is really important to mention the teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, and school secretaries who play a huge role in regard to any child who might have an allergy. It is important that those selling or providing food in any scenario are awa…

I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. I compliment him on his advocacy for the families and the children over many years. As he knows, a report relating to another group of children who unfortunately were harmed by the mental health services in Kerry was published recently. I visited and met with some of the families. At that time, I said that I would be coming forward very soon with a new compensation scheme. I will be able to announce the details of that tomorrow. Again, it will be a non-adv…

I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. Primary care psychology and the CAMHS teams are two separate services, as the Deputy knows and understands. The majority of the children on the waiting list are for the primary care psychology team. They are not for the CAMHS team. We are trying to reduce the number of children waiting for CAMHS. I visited over 21 teams in the past six months to see what we could do to support the teams on the ground. There are a lot of culture issues and different challen…

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta Hearne as a chéad Bhille. The Bill is not opposed.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate) - Motion re Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of the Data Protection Act 2018 under (Section 60(6)) and (Section 51)(3)) Regulations 2026 (without debate) - Motion re Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform (without debate) - International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (to conclude after the first round, not to exceed 3 hours and 34 minutes) - Financial Mo…

I will offer some clarity about what will transpire later today. There will be a motion regarding Financial Resolution No. 1 this afternoon from the Department of Finance. Sixty minutes have been allowed and we are votable immediately afterwards so I expect there will be several votes at that time. I want to be clear on that. There has been a change to tomorrow's Order of Business. The National Oil Reserve Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026, which will be allowed 204 minutes and a ten-minute wrap-up, will be taken instea…

The Order of Business stands.

It is not opposed.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approve the following Regulations in draft: Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) Regulations 2026, Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Scoping Exercise in Response to Requests from Dignity4Patients) Regulations 2026, Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Children's Health Ireland Inquiry into Spina Bifida and Complex Scoliosis Services Scoping Exercise) Regulations 2026, and Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(…