This has always been the Fine Gael way. It is the Leo Varadkar way. The episode that defines Leo Varadkar's previous term as Taoiseach is his leaking of a confidential Government document to a friend, something that he admitted to on the floor of this Dáil. While criminal proceedings were not pursued on this matter, serious questions remain.

What was really worrying is that it is still Deputy Varadkar’s stated belief that he is somehow above having his actions questioned by the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO. Deputy Varadkar believes that power puts him beyond accountability. This is the view held by the man who now returns to the office of An Taoiseach, the man who recently told young people who were forced away from Ireland by his policies that the grass is not always greener in other countries. This is the man who invited exploited rent…

-----they are out of touch, out of ideas and out of time. Deputy Micheál Martin has resigned as Taoiseach and the Government is dissolved. We should now have a general election because we need a change of Government. Tá a fhios againn cheana féin cad a fhaighimid leis an Teachta Varadkar mar Thaoiseach. Bhíomar anseo cheana. Diúltaíodh tithíocht agus cúram sláinte do dhaoine. Tá seirbhísí poiblí i ndroch-chaoi agus tá oibrithe agus teaghlaigh sáinnithe ag cúl na scuaine. Tá athrú Rialtais ag teastáil ó mhuintir na …

Make no mistake, they cannot prevent the new dawn breaking. The light of the better tomorrow burns brightly and they can stand in the way of change, they can refuse to budge, they can slow it down, they can make the people wait a little longer, but they cannot and they will not stop that change.

The touchpaper has been lit by the hopes of a new generation.

The old ways are on borrowed time. Our future will be defined by equality, prosperity, unity and opportunity for all, building a strong, modern, vibrant all-Ireland economy. That is the future worth fighting for. It is a future that a Sinn Féin Government would work night and day to achieve for workers, for families, for communities and for Ireland.

I begin by offering my good wishes to Deputy Leo Varadkar as he enters the Office of An Taoiseach for the second time. To lead Government is a huge honour and an even greater responsibility. We all want those who assume this responsibility to succeed on behalf of the people of Ireland. Nearly three years ago, people voted for something new. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have passed power between themselves for a century and our people have paid a heavy price for this perpetual merry-go-round. There has been a financial…

Our people, particularly our young people, deserve an ambitious Government that says it can do it, how we will do it and that we will get the work done. Sinn Féin wants to lead a Government for change, a Government that will house our people, that will build strong public services, achieve energy independence and advance Ireland’s journey to full nationhood. As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it is now time to write the next chapter. It is time to plan, to prepare for democratic, cons…

As we move forward, we will look again to a spirit of partnership. The people of the North are entitled to a Government. We need the political institutions up and running, delivering for all communities. That is the best way to build progress and a better tomorrow. It is time to cast aside the small thinking of the past. It is time to do big things for Ireland and for our people. It is time to give those of us who are committed to change the chance to show what we can do. If I were given the chance to lead a Govern…

We set out to build a fair health service for all of Ireland because we believe that every person has the right to treatment and to care and we will not stop until this is achieved. We set out to build our economy, our prosperity, because we believe all people are equal and are deserving of opportunity and we will not stop until this is achieved. We set out to end partition, to unite Ireland in our time, because we believe that we are stronger together and we will not stop until we achieve this. This is the type of…

So much has changed in the last three years. If the Taoiseach is so confident that his Government and his policies command the support of the people, then he should give them this choice in a general election. Let the people have their say and let the people choose who leads.

Early this morning, the shocking news reached Ireland that a member of our Defence Forces serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon had been killed. Private Shane Kearney and two others were also injured. We hope and pray for their speedy recovery. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Private Seán Rooney of Newtowncunningham in County Donegal, the soldier killed, as they try to cope with an immense and overwhelming loss. It is devastating news to receive at any time, but that this f…

A report published by HIQA this morning is a damning indictment of Government health policy. It states emergency departments are now under "unprecedented strain", echoing the concerns of the INMO that our hospitals face a nightmare winter. Last month was the worst November on record for hospital overcrowding. Twelve thousand six hundred and twenty-four patients were on trolleys. The HIQA report cites that one patient in University Hospital Limerick was left waiting nearly five days for a bed. That is not a unique c…

No, it is not.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, should not reach for the 136,000 good staff in the health service to try to hide behind them, nor should he reach to Tory austerity in Britain to try to spare the blushes the Government rightly experiences because of its absolute failure to resource the health service. The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has a penchant for launching and announcing plans but very often does not deliver on them. The winter plan was announced quite s…

What of the 1,200 beds?

Is that why people are on trolleys?

Well, Taoiseach, this is it: our last exchange.

Before I put my question to the Taoiseach, which I have no doubt he will answer in full with a fully amplified answer, I wish him and his the very best for the future, whatever that might bring. There has been major disruption at Dublin Airport over the past couple of days. Flights in and out of the airport have been cancelled or delayed and people's travel plans have been thrown into chaos. Some were booked onto later flights, many had to make alternative arrangements and others faced the prospect of booking expen…

Deputy Mattie McGrath has shared with us that he would want to be defrosted. When people again see scenes of delay and cancellations in Dublin Airport there is a real concern over the ongoing lack of preparedness. I accept that the Dublin Airport Authority and the airlines have a case to answer here, but ultimately public confidence will be built only if there is a sense that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, actually has a plan. I accept that others have met and made contingency arrangements during a snap of very h…