The problem is that he will not answer the question. Is €475,000 affordable for those people in need of an affordable home? The Taoiseach will also not accept that transferring public land to private developers is simply the wrong policy. It is not the way to develop and to deliver truly affordable homes and the Government should not be transferring a prime inner-city location, land so rare between the canals, for private development. That should go from the university to Dublin City Council for development. This m…

I am happy to say to the Taoiseach that we accept the finding of the Housing Commission-----

-----that the Government's policy is failing and failing miserably.

Please answer my question about affordability, Taoiseach, if you could.

-----and I would be obliged.

It is not agreed. It is welcome that the Labour Court has finally formally intervened in the ongoing pay dispute between Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots Association. I do not think it can be overstated how essential it is that a resolution is found to this dispute, for families who are worried their holidays may be cancelled, but equally for the tourism and hospitality sectors which are deeply worried by it. I called on the Taoiseach some weeks ago to intervene in this matter. I repeat that I hope the Labo…

It seems waste collection companies are threatening to hike prices for collecting recycling bins. Their claim is that this is to make up for the loss of plastic bottles and drink cans to the deposit return scheme that is now in place. If this price hike goes ahead, it will be a blow to households, many of which are struggling with the cost of living. People have engaged with the deposit return scheme in good faith to play their part in protecting the environment. It seems they now face a rip-off for doing the right…

I do not know whether the issue of support for Mrs. von der Leyen to have another term of office leading the European Commission came up at the Taoiseach's Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination. The Taoiseach might advise us whether it did. I find it absolutely extraordinary that a Government that professes to be serious about Palestinian rights would weigh in behind von der Leyen for a second term. His explanation earlier notwithstanding, it is scandalous and certainly does not represent the sentiment of I…

Did the Taoiseach raise the issue of Israel with her?

What did she say?

Her position has been made pretty clear.

It also requires a change of leadership in the European Commission.

The EU directive on adequate minimum wages is a significant opportunity to improve workers' rights and increase productivity in the Irish economy. The success of the directive relies on the domestic legislation underpinning it and the plan on collective bargaining that will be presented to European Commission as part of its transposition. The need for collective bargaining to be protected by legislation has never been greater. We have seen a race to the bottom for terms and conditions for workers and an increase in…

He has the right view.

No, but you can do both.

It is a unique site.

It is crazy. Absolutely crazy.

Did the Government not sign that order then?

Correct.

I raised with the Taoiseach previously the case of Jack McNiffe from County Kildare and the issue of July provision. Funding for students in special classes for the summer programme of the July provision had been reduced from €60 per student in 2022 to €45 in 2023 and now to €30 in 2024. The Taoiseach challenged me when I raised the issue before and he questioned the figures. My figures are accurate today; they were accurate then. In fact, the head teachers in primary schools across the State are reporting real str…