That is what the Department is saying, whether I am saying it or not. That is what happened to tens of thousands who received letters of refusal. A lot of people were incredibly taken aback. This is designed as a hardship alleviation scheme rather than a compensation scheme. That language has been used by the Minister. Why then are so many people being forced to go through the rigmarole of providing receipts and documentary evidence to get what turns out in most cases to be a very small payment? He has got this wro…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak. She will recall that, last year, I moved the fourth motion the Dáil has passed calling for every piece of available information to be fully divulged to all inquiries in respect of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I join in today's repeat of that call. Is the Tánaiste satisfied that State agencies in this State have also endeavoured to ensure that all information within their possession is divulged to the appropriate authorities? That needs to be c…

I again put on the record of the House our commendation for the Justice for the Forgotten group, without which I do not believe we would even have seen the progress we have. I acknowledge that, for many years, the victims' families and the survivors of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings were essentially ostracised. There were 30 years in this House when there was not even a parliamentary question submitted in respect of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I appreciate that we have now moved to a point where not only is…

The rulings of the International Court of Justice are very clear. They oblige states to prohibit the trade of goods and services with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Will the Tánaiste outline the timeframe in which he will enact legislation and is such legislation intended to ban trade in both goods and services?

One of the reasons we are in the situation we are in is that, for decades, Israel flagrantly breached international law and faced no consequences. If only we could get an understanding of why the world was able to turn a blind eye for so long, but the evidence is in how the world has turned away in large part from even a genocide unfolding before our eyes. According to the United Nations, eight days ago, while on a mission to rescue their colleagues who had been shot at by Israeli forces earlier in the day, 15 Pale…

To be clear, my question relates to the illegal Israeli settlements, so there is no need to make any distinction. The ICJ ruling is very clear. It prohibits the trade of goods and services with those illegal Israeli settlements. The programme for Government commitment specifies goods. Will services also be included in the ambition of the Bill? I ask the Minister for an answer to that question. If his answer is no, perhaps he will explain to the Dáil why not.

Among the most distressing cases I have ever dealt with as an elected representative are those when one partner dies in a loving couple who have been living together for years, often with dependent children. I have dealt with cases where tragic circumstances were involved. Just because at no point in the relationship did they go to the effort of getting a piece of paper to say they were married, the surviving partner received no support whatsoever in terms of the widow’s pension. I always felt it was cruel in the e…

We accept that the world has changed dramatically and that it is changing. We accept that it is right that we have a conversation to consider and examine Ireland's place in the world and what is necessary to ensure Ireland's security. It is also necessary to ensure that at such times, we do not set aside our integrity or our precedent, or that we do not do things out of short-term interest that can have profound long-term effects. It is widely recognised that the triple lock is a neutrality protection. It was recog…

You are not concerned about them. You are concerned about getting your deal over the line.

He is the person who brought your Government together.

You are trying to run the Opposition and that is the crux of the problem here.

How many pieces of legislation did the Government bring forward?

Extra Ministers and extra pay for them. That is it.

You voted to change Standing Orders.

Answer the question. What does Lowry have on you?

The increase in carbon taxes.

That is why you do not want to be questioned by the Opposition.

The Opposition. That is what Leaders' Questions is supposed to be.

Do not forget Deputy Lowry.

Because he is the ringleader, he was the negotiator.