Of course I did.

On a point of clarification, we did not debate the regulations. We put forward a Private Members' motion to rescind them. We had no debate on the regulations at any stage and that is why there is a dearth of information. If the Taoiseach wants support, he will get it but we have to know what we are supporting.

Is he running the Government?

Hear, hear.

I agree with what has been said. I am very disappointed in the Taoiseach because he and his Minister dropped the ball spectacularly in terms of the messaging. We are trying to rebuild that. We have been supportive of everything the Taoiseach, and the interim Government, has done but it is unbelievable that the Taoiseach will not allow a debate. We cannot scrutinise. We waived pre-legislative scrutiny and then do not get a chance to debate properly in here. We now see this literally hiding from the Committee on Covi…

The Taoiseach destroyed the Business Committee.

We did not see an answer to that.

The Taoiseach mentioned we had a briefing two or three weeks ago. Yes, we did. It was the first we had for three or four months. When are we going to have a briefing again? There is a complete lack of information for all in the Opposition, and the Government is messing around with the plan, doing what it wants and not giving confidence to the public.

I, too, support this motion. I do not want to single out or demonise young people. "Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí," is the old adage. We should do this but I am aware there are major problems with antisocial behaviour. Other Deputies have referred to it. The only answer is community policing. Ní neart go cur le chéile. Community policing, Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch are the answer. People have the confidence to talk to gardaí who stand in their kitchens when they are rung. No police force in the world c…

I am glad the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Ryan, is here for this Topical Issue matter. This debate on the issue I am raising has been a long time coming. I refer to people trying to report faults having an average waiting time of 57 minutes. That is the average waiting time. I am not raising this issue to complain, but as we face into the winter and the dark nights, na hoícheanta fada geimhridh, I am worried about people's mental health and their safety and security. The situ…

I have written to Carolan Lennon, the CEO of Eir. We might as well be writing to Santa Claus. The company has no respect for its customers. I again pay tribute to its workers. A good friend and neighbour of mine, Pádraig O'Ceallaigh, who retired recently after 42 years, and his colleagues, have been travelling around the country in vans. Those workers are travelling 100 miles and more to do repairs. Eir does not have the staff on the ground and it does not have the interest. The Minister read out his reply and I kn…

It was acknowledged by the former Minister of State, Mr. Jim Daly, that we have a deficit of 20 mental health beds in south Tipperary. We do not have a single long-stay bed in the county of Tipperary. People in south Tipperary have to go to Kilkenny, where the beds are full, they are not wanted or there is no room. People from north Tipperary have to travel to Ennis. The former Minister of State, Mr. Daly, promised and committed to this, not only at meetings with other Oireachtas Members and myself but in the House…

I am sharing time with my two colleagues, who have two minutes each. The entertainment industry, which has a wide embrace, is extraordinarily important to our health and well-being. It is important not only to the entertainers and their families, who are dependent on them, but to us, the recipients, including many people who are bedbound, housebound, invalided or disabled. They love to be entertained by these people. These men and women give of their talents generously. They do all manner of fundraising gigs for ma…

That is wrong. I will rectify that.

Anois bogfaimid ar aghaidh chuig an Independent Group. Glaoim ar an Teachta Connolly. Is she sharing time?

I compliment the proposer of the motion. I met the taxi drivers yesterday, who were on the streets in their thousands. They are dignified and decent people who just want to make a living, but they have been abandoned by this Government, like many other sectors, especially the people over 66. They have been totally thrown to the wolves. They have not got a shilling from anyone. Years ago, a person could not get a taxi licence. There was huge lobbying then to loosen up the situation and the regulation was lifted. The…

Hear, hear.

What about the new communications company?

I want to raise this issue. It has been hugely traumatic. There is no mention of this in the Government's five-point plan. Pregnant mothers going to hospital is supposed to be a joyous occasions, involving the scans and everything else. All through their pregnancy, in the vast majority of cases, the partners or husbands have not been allowed in. We have heard of some harrowing cases where, unfortunately, issues and difficulties have occurred with stillbirth and the loss of a baby. It is hugely traumatic for the mot…

I thank the Minister. I understand that with the agreement of the House, Deputy Murphy will allow a Sinn Féin colleague 30 seconds to comment.