When a government is elected, there is a basic expectation it will cover the basics and get them right. That includes putting roofs over people's heads, ensuring access to healthcare and, of course, keeping the lights on. It is now apparent the Government fails, even on these most basic of tasks of any government. I heard from his responses earlier today that he clearly does not appreciate how anxious people are in regard to rocketing energy costs and the threat of power cuts this winter. I find it extraordinary th…

The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan's, attempts to reassure people this morning, if that is what he was at, fell flat. On the basis of pure common sense, given that we are where we are, why will the Taoiseach not introduce a moratorium on the development of new data centres, at least until a proper impact assessment has been carried out?

I see.

Thank you.

I thank the Taoiseach for mansplaining the importance of a public policy issue to a mere woman like me. You are very good, Micheál. Go raibh maith agat.

I am really concentrating to understand the Taoiseach's answer. I hope I can do it.

Oh, is it not?

Okay. If you say so.

Political insults seem to be the Taoiseach's preferred mode.

Survivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes are considering taking legal action to enable them to gain access to their medical records. Survivors have submitted subject access requests under the general data protection regulation, GDPR, to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as the relevant data collector, and they have been told that their records have been withheld from them until they nominate a GP to receive the records first. Then it is the GP who will decide if it is appro…

A significant issue arose earlier this year regarding the provision of legal aid for the Stardust families. The families and their advocates, including myself, argued that the Minister for Justice could resolve this matter through the introduction of a regulation to waive the requirement of the financial eligibility test. Eventually, the Minister for Justice signed the civil legal aid regulations to allow all families on an exceptional basis to access legal aid for the Stardust inquest, regardless of their means. T…

Is there not somebody ahead of me?

Prior to the recess, the Taoiseach briefly reported that the unit had a good meeting with the community and social pillar. What were the outcomes of the meeting? Will the issues raised be reflected in the upcoming budget? Over recent months, I have met with community-based services across the country. The work they do is extraordinary but the overwhelming feeling of those providing and accessing the services is one of invisibility. For each of the services I have met, every month is a struggle as they deliver servi…

Hospital waiting lists have spiralled out of control. We have more than 900,000 people waiting for vital medical care as we speak. I want to focus on just one of the very alarming aspects of this crisis and that is the more than 100,000 children who today go without the treatment they need. I am talking about children in need of a disability diagnosis, an autism assessment or access to mental health services; I am talking about children who desperately need early intervention but yet face a two-year wait and cannot…

Níl rudaí ag athrú. Tá an córas sláinte faoi bhrú agus tá 100,000 páiste ar liostaí feithimh. Is é seo an fhírinne. They are the facts. There are 100,000 children on these waiting lists. The Taoiseach speaks of the additional €1.2 billion that has been committed but one third of that money has not even been spent. I asked him specifically about those consultant posts that need to be filled on a permanent basis. I also asked him specifically about increasing diagnostic capacity. Saying "mar dhea" or that there is no…

There were to be 15,000.

We are not problematic about this. This side of the House supports public medicine.

It is Leaders' Questions.

They are not agreed. This morning, we heard very harrowing news about an investigation being carried out at Cork University Maternity Hospital after it emerged that the organs of 18 babies were transported abroad and disposed of by incineration without the consent or knowledge of their parents. I am sure we can only imagine the extreme hurt and distress that those families are now experiencing. This is not the first scandal and upset around organ retention and matters arising from this, however. It is beyond belief…

Last week, the Taoiseach's colleague, the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, enraged hard-pressed renters when he said that "one person's rent is another person's income". Not to be outdone by him, this week the Taoiseach's man, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, told reporters the property market is not "out of control". On what planet are these men living? Rents are way above the Celtic tiger peak, house prices are getting there too, homelessness is endemic and families are o…