No. Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle-----

I accept that.

Yes.

That is the Topical Issue I submitted - a statutory instrument to allow for-----

There are thousands of these cases all over the country, including in the cities. That is what I am looking for. It is one pillar, and a very good one, to solve our housing crisis.

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I too would like to express our sympathies to his wife, his daughters, his family and his journalistic colleagues and that family also. He did the State some service, to quote a former Taoiseach. Indeed, his work as a journalist at the time of the peace process was pivotal. It was important that there was someone like him who could be at the receiving end of the very serious and delicate situation that was developing there. There was also his obair stairiúl, historical work…

No.

I wish the Taoiseach well and good health but I wrote to the Ceann Comhairle last week to seek a debate on the results of the referendum and the fact that the Government recklessly wasted €23 million - it was probably twice that - on a referendum campaign that was supported by all political parties here except for smaller parties. We in the Rural Independent Group opposed the referendums because the wording was nonsensical. The parties supporting them collectively hid the truth from the electorate. The people have …

It is not agreed.

As this is an important issue and the people spoke overwhelmingly the week before last against all parties, I demand that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

We have a massive and truly shocking housing crisis. Regarding the IPAS applicants on Mount Street, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, decided to be out in Japan instead of looking after them. We have a case in Tipperary concerning Mr. Sean Meehan. He is facing imprisonment for housing himself in a perfectly suitable mobile home, which is very aesthetically placed on his own land. He is facing jail in the early days of April. Hundreds of people marched in Clonmel last Friday and more people are meeting in Caiseal na Mu…

I too am pleased today to be able to contribute as part of these statements before the meetings of the European Council over the next two days. I do not intend to disparage the Taoiseach in any way, and I wish him well on his decision to resign as the leader of Fine Gael. An election will be held in the party to replace him. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will be there at the meetings but I think the Taoiseach will be seen as a lame-duck participant this time because of the situation he has an…

If it was in a dancing competition, the Government would be put off the stage because it is not dancing to the tune of the Irish people. It is dancing to tunes from all over the world, except from our own good Irish cultural heritage and indeed-----

I know. Tá a fhios agam. I ask the Government to please listen to the people and then to come back and act and serve the people of Ireland.

I too thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. It is a simple matter of fact that all services across the regions have been diminished and the lack of accountability is shocking. What happened recently in Nenagh with St. Conleth's nursing home was nothing short of blackguarding. Deputies Lowry and Cahill are both claiming that they got this centre to be a step-down facility from University Hospital Limerick but HIQA has condemned the building. That was why the HSE built a new building at the cost of €23 mi…

It is on its last legs.

There is no fund to insure-----

The farmers will be a rare species.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. There are no driving test taking place at Clonmel's driver testing centre this week. Last year, in a blaze of glory, the Government said it was going to appoint 75 new testers across the country. That never happened. The opposite happened at the Clonmel centre, where one excellent tester was let go. The only tester left in Clonmel is on annual leave this week, so not one test, not ceann amháin, will be carried at the Clonmel driver testing centre. This beggars belief.…

We have good testers there and now they are being neglected.