In respect of posters, the putting up, taking down, disappearing and reappearing, all need to be addressed. I am an ordinary person who cares. I happen to wear a badge that says Fianna Fáil. It is a republican party, which means that it is motivated to actually serve the people. When I think of the other members of Fianna Fáil in Dublin Central, I do not think they differ much from any other group of ordinary people in Cabra, Phibsborough or Drumcondra who want to address housing poverty, end illegal dumping and ad…

This morning, I renew my request for this House to debate the issue of homelessness, particularly homelessness in Dublin city. This week, the deputy chief executive of Dublin City Council, Brendan Kenny, issued the latest report from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, which documented that, as of the last count, there are currently more than 6,227 homeless people in Dublin. There are more than 856 families with more than 2,000 children, and close to 3,000 single people are homeless in the city. I commend the Gov…

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I share all the concerns and frustrations that have been well aired. I spoke to the Minister about this. This is not how I would like us to do our business. A matter of this seriousness and importance should not be rushed in any way. The survivors and everybody involved have been waiting far too long for justice and reparation. As we have already had a few hours of debate on it, I will not rehearse those lines. I welcome that the Minister has listened to some of what we…

I asked the Minister to indicate if he was pursuing with the Attorney General amendments to allow for an anonymised index. I did not hear him reply to that query.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House and bringing this very important legislation for our consideration. I thank the members of the commission, the three judges who have worked for five years and who will produce a report that will document such a dark piece of our history, spanning 75 years, 18 institutions and more than 70,000 lives, most of them women and children. I thank the 4,000-odd people who sent me emails. I have no doubt they are all heartfelt. Most important, I want to speak for the survivors an…

I thank the Minister of State for attending. This is my first time to speak in the Seanad Chamber. It is a great honour. Before the Minister of State came in, my colleagues very passionately articulated the stress and strain experienced by the hospitality and other sectors owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. I want to use my time to propose what might be part of a solution to a crisis faced by inner-city areas and rural towns. One element of that crisis that the Minister of State and anybody coming to Leinster House th…

I thank the Minister of State for his response and I appreciate that his remit is on the financial and the tax side. However, the Government needs to recognise and accept that as well as dealing with Covid-19 we have a massive housing crisis. It has not gone away. We need to respond to that housing crisis and to the crisis faced by our independent small traders and inner city and rural town commercial operators. The Minister of State said the issue is the cash flow and having the money to undertake the work. I have…

It has not worked.

Absolutely.

Go raibh maith agat.

Today is the last day of September, but since August residential communities right across Dublin city have been tormented and terrorised by the sound and the sight of illegal fireworks. This is not limited to any one part of the city; it is taking place right across the city and, I am sure, in other residential areas around the country. The fireworks are illegal. It is illegal to purchase them, sell them or set them off. The Garda can respond to illegal activity, but that is all it can do - respond. Fireworks are n…

I call on the Leader to use her office to call on the Minister for Finance, who has publicly said he is engaging with the banks, to engage on behalf of borrowers and mortgage holders, whether holders of home mortgages or business borrowers. When the Covid-19 pandemic broke it was welcome that the banks supported borrowers. However, the deadline for applications to mortgage breaks is 30 September. As the pandemic has progressed and persisted, many of those who have managed financially to keep going have fallen into …

I support the comments of the leader of the Green Party in the Seanad, Senator Pauline O'Reilly. It would be helpful if the Leader wrote to the President of the European Commission and emphasised the importance and urgency of a progressive migration programme for the European Union. Europe should be leading on this. It has been far too slow. We should call on the President of the European Commission to take immediate action. Nearer to home, Dublin city is more my concern this morning. I would like the Leader to be …

I would like to draw the attention of the House to the wonderful State-sponsored free amenity that is the Royal Canal. It runs all the way from the Liffey, at Spencer Dock in my constituency, to Longford, a distance of almost 150 km. During the pandemic it has been an amazing amenity for the people of the north inner city, providing a space for walking, cycling and picnicking. It has taken more than ten years, but today will see the official opening of a section of the Royal Canal running from Sheriff Street to the…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thank the Minister of State for bringing this legislation to the House. I have not had the opportunity previously to address him and I thank him for coming in. I am speaking as Fianna Fáil spokesperson for housing, local government and heritage. I was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2004 and was in Dublin City Council for more than 16 years when it was essentially established as a housing authority. For more than 16 years I have been dealing with people and tr…

On the issues raised, I sense the passion and real concern Senator Higgins has about these two issues. I am new to dealing with legislation. I have been dealing with people all my life. In the constituency in which I live, 77% of the population identify as non-Irish and there is a very high level of disability. Historically, we had very high levels of illiteracy also. The housing crisis is most acute in my constituency and every day I would help people who are struggling either with the threat of homelessness or ar…

I think 28 days is a very short period of time for anybody to get anything done when he or she is dealing with public administration or complex issues like this. Any low-income worker will already be on a housing list. He or she should already be on a local authority or voluntary housing list. He or she will be in receipt of HAP or rent supplement and if the HAP or rent supplement is insufficient, there is facility to have it increased. I have helped many people do this. They have had to do this because of all of t…

I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to bring forward an affordable rental scheme early in autumn. Ensuring that the housing crisis is tackled is a key objective of the Government. The issue of supply is fundamental to achieving that aim. Critically, the State must address the issue of supply. The commitment of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Fine Gael is to use public land to deliver public housing. Key to that objective is an affordable r…

This morning I draw the Seanad's attention to the tragic loss of life of five homeless people in Dublin city this week. They were five people under 40 years, most of them women. That tragic loss of life in one week in this city is unprecedented. I would like the House to join me in offering sympathy to the families and friends of those five people. I want us to offer our support to everyone who works in homeless services both in a voluntary and professional capacity. Their job is incredibly challenging and they do …

I offer my condolences to the family of Dr. Ali who died so tragically after looking after so many others. I also commend all the healthcare workers and professionals, and everybody who supports them to do their work. I congratulate the Minister on his appointment to the health portfolio. I am sure he will do a fantastic job. It must be a great honour for him to lead such an important Department. I was brought up in a GP's practice as my dad was a GP. The practice was in our home and for more than 40 years it was a…