Yesterday, the Taoiseach told the national economic dialogue that he believes energy costs will remain very high throughout the coming winter. That is devastating news for many households that are already on the brink. As he knows, wholesale electricity prices have come down considerably. In April, wholesale electricity costs were just a third of what they were last August. Yet, prices remain at eye-watering levels for ordinary households. Companies clearly are not passing on these reductions to consumers. What doe…

A new report into familicide and domestic homicides in Ireland has issued its recommendations today. They include establishing a domestic and family violence death review process. This report is historic, and I commend all those who ensured that this groundbreaking work took place. It was secured following tireless campaigning from families who have been affected by this devastating violence. It is the culmination of many years of work by the late Norah Gibbons, whom we remember, and Maura Butler, as chairs of the …

I thank the Minister for that response. He has rightly described familicide and violence of that nature as tragic. It is certainly evident on witnessing the absolute bewilderment of a survivor of this violence. In this regard, I am thinking of Kathleen Chada. When I first met her, she told the story of losing her two boys. How to make sense of that is beyond any of us, I am sure. What families tell us is that they experience not just the trauma of a tragedy but also that of a crime. These are crimes as well. In man…

On the watch of this Government, workers and families have been put to the pin of their collars. Yesterday, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul warned that many are being forced to take out loans or get help from charities to cover school costs and so-called voluntary contributions. The Government has failed to do anything to tackle sky-high energy costs, unlike other European countries, refused to introduce mortgage interest relief despite thousands of families paying thousands of euro more every year just to keep …

A few weeks ago, a young family in Dublin saw their lives unravel. They were renters living with their two small children and like anyone else, they just want a secure home for their kids to grow up in and to build their lives as a family. Their nightmare began when they were evicted. Their lives were turned upside down. They now sleep in emergency accommodation. It is hard to imagine the trauma for this young family and their two small children. It is hard to imagine how to even begin to explain to a child why the…

While the Taoiseach acknowledges the scale of this crisis, and that is perhaps welcome, I hear no urgency or real sense of purpose from him in dealing with this issue. He lists off the things that he envisages as solutions to this crisis but the reality is that the number of homeless people and homeless children continues to rise. Let me ask him again. Faced with this crisis, what does he propose to do now to put pace on this, to give urgency and to ensure we avoid the calamity of more children becoming homeless in…

He sat around the Cabinet table and designed the policies that have led to this calamity. Let me ask again. What will he do now to change direction, to enhance things and to give a real emergency response to these families who find themselves in crisis?

The HSE has warned that the rising and unpredictable cost of the new national children's hospital will have a significant impact on its ability to deliver other capital projects across the health service. At least a third of the capital budget for this year alone will be spent on the new children's hospital, yet we still do not know what the full cost of that will be. This puts desperately needed health infrastructure - additional hospitals, community beds and services - in jeopardy. It seems the Minister for Healt…

They are not agreed.

Let me try this again with the Taoiseach. I have told him that the HSE is now warning about the increasing and unpredictable cost of the national children's hospital. It is of such a scale that the cost will eat up one third, or perhaps more, of the budget and put a question mark over other much-needed infrastructure. It seems that the Minister for Health has a figure. He will not share it, though. Furthermore, he will not go before the Committee of Public Accounts to discuss this matter. That is the wrong move and…

Did the Minister not claim he had an estimate?

The Committee Stage of the mother and baby redress scheme legislation continues in the Seanad this afternoon and will move to Final Stage in the coming weeks. There is no commitment from the religious orders as to their contribution to that redress scheme. Unfortunately, the Government has still not resolved shortfalls in the legislation regarding children who were boarded out and children who were in these institutions for less than six months. This is despite acknowledgment in the report of the interdepartmental …

Then publish it.

The six-month rule is pertinent here.

Despite Ireland’s progress in digital skills, the OECD skills strategy assessment found that many do not have the necessary skills to progress in a modern economy and that participation in lifelong learning falls well behind other EU countries. Digital and green transitions will transform the type of skills required in society and society. SOLAS has advised that higher levels of skills have become increasingly important for success in the labour market, the OECD analysis reflects significant concern about current a…

It is a matter of balance and investing in the skills now.

You are not. Industry does not share that view.

No, you invest in your people and you invest in skills.

By the way, you are the authors of austerity and not this side of the House, just for the record.

To meet our climate targets we need to support communities in developing and recognising their commitment to, and hope for, a sustainable future. This transition must be inclusive and democratic if it is to be successful and if policymakers and decision-makers are to bring the people with us. This approach will not only deliver the transition; it will ensure that it is just. My colleagues, Deputy O'Rourke and Senator Boylan, recently published a number of climate action proposals to support and encourage local comm…