I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome his clarification of the situation with regard to the bus lanes. That is an operational matter and it is important that there is clarity around that issue. I also welcome the supports the Minister of State mentioned and the fact that taxi drivers can earn up to €120 a week. However, they cannot do so because there is no business. That is the truth of it. They have fixed costs of €11,000 a year. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Transport is willing to…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, for coming to the House to deal with this matter, which relates to the proposed MetroLink service. An underground, integrated rail service for Dublin was first proposed in 2001. Twenty years later, we are still talking about putting in some sort of frequent underground service. MetroLink is progressing. I understand Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has been progressing its plans and intend lodging a railway order application. With the MetroLink project there …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I appreciate his response. It is important that we note that, as the Minister of State said, this is going to be the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the State. Metro systems were built in London back in 1863, in Paris in 1900 and in New York in 1904. They are more than 100 years old. We are building infrastructure that is going to be here for decades to come. It is going to be here in 100, 150 or 200 years. I ask the Minister of State to go back to TII with rega…

I extend my sympathies to the family of Jennifer Poole. It is a terrible reminder to all of us of the increase in domestic violence during the pandemic. I urge anybody living in fear or under threat to contact the Garda immediately. As we commence this new term in the Seanad, I want to turn to another casualty of Covid, which is the housing crisis. It has not gone away and has been compounded by the pandemic. Estimates are that the shutdown of construction would cost somewhere in the region of 700 to 800 homes a ye…

I will adhere to the Standing Orders but there is a consensus in this House that what happened is unacceptable, particularly if it happened in the way it is being portrayed in the media. The legitimate questions that are being asked must be answered. If the Leader, on behalf of the House, can ask those questions directly of the CEO of the HSE and the CEO of whatever organisation it is that operated in that way, which we all recognise as being certainly questionable but potentially-----

Absolutely, I did not mention it. On a more positive note, normally I would be standing in Cabra collecting money for the Irish Cancer Society. I am delighted to be here. I wish I was standing on the streets like thousands of other people who give of their time voluntarily for the society and cancer research. This has been a hard year for all of us, and particularly hard for cancer sufferers and their carers, be they family members or professional carers. Cancer research is incredibly important. As a House, let us …

It is not the only-----

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. Fianna Fáil will be supporting the extension of the protections for renters up until 13 July, as this Bill proposes. It is important that we are very clear with renters. I deal with people every day who are either homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or in inadequate housing. Unfortunately my constituency is one that has suffered from the decade of under-provision of housing. I know how valuable the protections this Government has, rightly, afforded renters d…

I am delighted to support this Bill. It is important that the Government is extending parental leave and adoptive leave for married same-sex couples and that we are supporting the work of Tusla by increasing the board membership. Having a child is the greatest life-changing thing that any of us can do and the riskiest and most ambitious thing that any of us can aspire to. I think it is important, as a republican, that every child has an equal opportunity for the best start in life. That we are supporting parents to…

I commend all my colleagues who have spoken on International Women's Day today. I wish everybody well on the day. I wish to particularly commend our male colleagues who have joined in the celebration with such enthusiasm and sincere interest and commitment to raising the issue of equality. I look forward to speaking on International Women's Day later today. I wish to draw attention to the fact that the period for public consultation on the report commissioned by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, on the Phoen…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. Truly blessed is he among women today. We are delighted to have him. I also welcome my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and thank her for joining us for this discussion on International Women's Day. I am very proud and delighted to stand here today. It is a huge honour for me. As I have often said, I live closest to Leinster House, but it has probably taken me the longest to get elected. Every day when I get here I take great pride in taking my place among …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "notes that:" and substitute the following: - the Government remains fully committed to ensuring an increase in the supply of affordable high quality rental accommodation through continued significant capital investment, including cost rental and other means, and in a manner that respects the security of tenure for renters by ensuring equity and fairness for landlords and tenants; - the recent rental reforms introduced, in particular the development and expansion of…

For more than 15 years, I have worked with the people in the north inner city and Dublin City Council to try to address dereliction in the core of our capital city. I would like to share some fantastic news with the House today. After years of all our efforts and struggle, this Government has recognised the enormous potential for the regeneration of the north inner city. This morning, it announced an historic commitment and investment of €120 million in the regeneration of our capital's north inner city. These fund…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Wall for tabling this legislation, which is important. It is appropriate that the Seanad should deal with it because it deals directly with our local authorities and, therefore, in talking about this issue today, we are not only serving the local communities represented by members of our local authorities, but serving those elected members themselves. I welcome the discussion. This is very constructive legislation. Before I continue to talk about the legislation, I…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad this morning. Senator Seery Kearney and I wish to address the issue of the precarious nature of employment being experienced by front-line delivery workers who work in the gig economy. The Minister of State will be aware from going through Dublin city that the streets are empty except for front-line workers such as the emergency services, taxi drivers, bus drivers and bicycle delivery workers. The bicycle delivery workers have provided a vital and essential ser…

I thank the Minister of State for his response, but I concur with Senator Seery Kearney. The world has moved on. The gig economy is real, it is alive, and a great many of our citizens are earning an income and a living in the gig economy. The Government needs to respond to that reality. I appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House, I appreciate that the House has given time to this important issue but I would ask the Minister of State to continue to engage with me and Senator Seery Kearney on this issue. …

I welcome the White Paper released by the Government outlining a plan to end the temporary arrangements which were put in place as an emergency response by way of direct provision. I also welcome the commitment to State-provided and NGO-supported accommodation for those seeking asylum in our country. Those seeking asylum will be staying temporarily in this accommodation. Wrap-around services will be provided to them in order that they can actually get on with their lives, integrate, assimilate, take up employment a…

I support the issue raised regarding the Deliveroo front-line workers. I have submitted a Commencement matter, which the Cathaoirleach may consider for debate later this week, with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Leo Varadkar. This is a huge issue affecting not just the northside and southside of Dublin, but other cities around the country. I express to the Leader of the Seanad the feeling that people have expressed to me over the last couple of weeks. We have been dealing with the pandemi…

Those contributions are spot on. I was first elected as a city councillor in 2004. Over the past 16 years, I experienced at first hand how the role and its associated demands have changed. I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House today to address this important issue which goes to the core of our democracy. I thank the Independent Senators for facilitating the House with this debate, but there is unanimity among Senators regarding the importance of the role of our elected local representatives and th…

Today, I would like the House to remember that 100 years ago tomorrow the Irish Republican Army in east Cork suffered the largest loss of life of volunteers at Clonmult, some 7 miles outside of Midleton, when 12 young men - two of whom were my grand-uncles - were killed and eight were taken prisoner. The defeat was a great boost to the British at the time. The event has largely been forgotten because it did not end in victory for the republicans. It is important, however, that this House remembers these people. If …