The Taoiseach has never respected that.

I exercised my privilege.

The world is looking on with increasing anxiety at the behaviour of Russia, the mounting prospect of war in Ukraine and the potential for horrific loss of life. The clear breach of international law by Russia cannot stand and sanctions are appropriate and absolutely necessary. There is a serious concern that these sanctions will impact directly on the soaring cost of living here at home. In fact, yesterday the Taoiseach said that in his view, sanctions will result in even further increases in the cost of energy at …

Sinn Féin Senators will bring forward a Bill this evening to amend the Coroners Act to facilitate a transparent jury selection process for the Stardust inquest. The legislation will allow the coroner to use the same mechanisms as those used by the courts for jury selection, including the use of the electoral register. Most people are unaware of just how opaque and ad hoc jury selection for an inquest is. Reforms of the system have long been sought. Currently, the Garda maintains its own list of jurors for inquests …

While I appreciate that, correctly, so much of the Taoiseach's attention will be on happenings in Ukraine and the escalating situation there I want to draw his attention once again to the need to end trade with illegal settlements in Palestine. He knows that Trócaire is just one of many NGOs and human rights groups supporting a European citizens' initiative that makes precisely this call. It is accepted by the Government and the European Union that Israeli settlements in Palestine are illegal under international la…

I too wish to record my sympathies to the wife and four children of Christopher Stalford, MLA, and his wider circle of friends, family and colleagues in the DUP. The Taoiseach and his office have assumed an oversight role in the delivery of the third strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. What part will the shared island unit play in that work? The Tusla review of domestic violence accommodation very starkly demonstrates the absence of refuge places for victims and their children along the Border c…

The footprints of collusion that track across Britain's dirty war in Ireland chart a shameful trail of state murder. It was directed and co-ordinated at the highest levels of the British system, in alliance with loyalist death squads, and targeted the nationalist community, Sinn Féin representatives, human rights activists and, indeed, the fledgling peace process itself. The series of reports published by the Police Ombudsman illuminate in horrific detail what has been known for decades. Collusion was no illusion. …

In February 2015, a 100-year-old woman was left lying on a trolley for 24 hours in Tallaght hospital. The case sparked outrage and anger. At the time the Taoiseach described the incident as “a truly scandalous situation”. We were told this should not have happened and the cry from the Government was one of never again. In November of that same year, a 91-year-old man spent 30 hours on a hospital trolley. The Taoiseach's response was that the then Taoiseach and the Minister for Health must take responsibility for th…

In those circumstances the Taoiseach and his Government are failing miserably in their task. I do not accept his excuse that this is a consequence of Covid. For example, he said he would eliminate waiting lists when he was Minister for Health 20 years ago. We now have 900,000 people waiting on lists. In 2015, the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach's partner in government and a former Minister for Health, said people would be waiting no longer than 18 months to see a consultant. Last month 155,000 people were waiting longer th…

Taoiseach, answer the question.

And people on trolleys.

The parents and staff of Scoil Naomh Cholmcille in County Louth are at the gates of the Dáil today. They are protesting the failure of the Government to provide the school with an adequate number of special needs assistants, SNAs, for children with autism spectrum disorder. They have just one SNA to share between 12 kids. It is by no means a unique situation. SNA provision is in crisis across the State. Indeed, the assessment process used to allocate resources is clearly not fit for purpose. Scoil Naomh Cholmcille …

I spoke to the Taoiseach after the publication of the latest report of the police ombudsman. Having due regard for the fact that this is just the latest in a series of damning reports that shine a light on collusion, the actions of the British state, the targeting and murder of citizens by agents of the state, I said that it would be important that we have a full, comprehensive response from the Irish State and from the Irish Government. We are still awaiting that. By a response, I do not mean simply a response to …

I want to raise with the Taoiseach again the closure of the Keltoi rehabilitation unit at St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park. As the Taoiseach will be aware, this has been raised consistently by Members of the Oireachtas over the past two years and, indeed, by people working in addiction services, locally and nationally. Currently, the facility is closed and is hosting a social inclusion Covid isolation facility. I want to urge that the facility in question be moved elsewhere and that the service be reopened a…

Last month, the Taoiseach announced that the Department of Justice will assume overall responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, services and policy. I understand the Minister brought a memorandum to the Cabinet this week on the very long-awaited Tusla review of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence. Will the Tusla report be published this week, as committed to by the Taoiseach at his recent meeting with the Opposition? The Taoiseach has also committed his offic…

I will finish now. Could the Taoiseach clarify the purpose of this agency and give some reassurance about addressing the chronic shortage of refuges and that the funding of services will not be delayed by its establishment?

Last week, people hoped the Government would finally respond to the unbearable cost of living with measures that would make a difference. This did not happen because the Government simply does not get it. Tá an pacáiste costais mhaireachtála a d’fhógair an Taoiseach an tseachtain seo caite i bhfad ró-bheag, i bhfad ró-dhéanach. Is ar éigean go bhféadfadh sé difríocht a dhéanamh. At the weekend, I asked people to share their cost of living stories with me. In a matter of hours, I received almost 1,000 replies. These…

I shared stories with the Taoiseach, real lived experiences in the here and now. People are making choices between heat and food. People feel lost and frightened. It is not an exaggeration to say that families are staring into the abyss. That is the truth. You cannot spin the truth of people's lives. The Government has not cushioned these people or their families. The budget did not do it and the package announced last week did not do it. They are the facts. I hope the Taoiseach will show a willingness to listen to…

The Taoiseach should do something about it.

Once again we have very disturbing, upsetting news from the north west and once again a question mark is placed over the ability of the HSE to safely provide services to citizens with disabilities. I understand the Minister is to establish an independent review not just into this latest episode but into the services more generally. When will the terms of reference for the review be published? Who will lead that review? When will the programme for Government commitments on safeguarding legislation be fulfilled? The …