I am telling you this is a charade. We are not voting against it. I am just expressing my disgust at this practice of the Government agreeing to motions it does not agree with. We are not accepting it today.

No.

I do, because we are not settled-----

The people in Tipperary and the medical fraternity are very concerned about a reconfiguration that is proposed. It is proposed that South Tipperary General Hospital will be removed from the South/South West Hospital Group, which has been a very successful partnership, and be aligned with a much larger hospital such as St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, the National Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Waterford and all the others. People are very worried that we will be the poor relation in respect of th…

I am glad to be able to speak on this topic. I wonder how the Minister of State faces these pre- and post-European Council meetings. I wonder why he is not embarrassed by the way our citizens are being crucified. Take the issue of energy prices. Prices are 26% higher than in the EU. How can the Minister of State hold his head up and how can Ireland take its rightful place among the nations of the EU and allow this to continue? Other EU countries introduced windfall taxes a year ago, or more than a year ago. Legisla…

I welcome the debate on this because the debate to date has been unequal, unfair and, indeed, targeted at rural dwellers, including farmers. They want to play their part. There have been very minor incidents and it is right that these be investigated. The causes of pollution are many. A large proportion of the blame is attributable to many decades of Government policy failure. Farmers have done what the markets and policymakers have asked of them but are ever more aware of the need to do things differently. Some yo…

I was wandering around here over the last couple of weeks wondering when this was going to start. I am here almost 16 years, not half as long as the Acting Chair, Deputy Ring, obviously, and every year this happens. Legislation is just turfed in and we are expected to speak to it, deal with it and table amendments to it. It is terrible practice. I thought this year it was not going to happen because it has been so quiet. It has been a bit eerie for the last number of weeks, from my point of view anyway, but here we…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, on behalf of the Rural Independents I wish a speedy recovery to an Teachta McDonald. I challenge the Taoiseach about the possibility of abolishing the universal social charge, USC. It is worth remembering that at the height of the Celtic tiger in 2006 the Exchequer was awash with property-based tax receipts and the then Government reported a budget surplus of €5.1 billion. We have stories today of the surplus possibly reaching €22.5 billion by 2024 and 2025. Sadly, there is little trust in the…

I find the reply very lethargic and squeamish. Fine Gael has had several budgets since. It was in government after the 2016 election. The disregard it has for ordinary people is shocking but people looking in can see that Fine Gael is not interested in ordinary working people. It has no time for them. It is the landed gentry party, big business here now, in a whirlwind talking about all the taxes. It is pathetic. Fine Gael has had several budgets since 2016 and made no effort to reduce this punitive tax or get rid …

Does the Taoiseach want a medal?

I want a full debate on the RTÉ debacle. There are many thousands of decent workers in RTÉ. This scandal is going on. We saw how the board and the executive board suspended Dee Forbes. Then she was dismissed and she is blatantly refusing to come before any committee. I want, as happens to people who are unable or who do not wish to pay their licence because of the poor service of RTÉ, Ms Forbes to be arrested and charged and to get the Garda to question her if she will not come before this House. The people are agh…

Yes, it is. I want a full debate about the debacle at RTÉ and the failure of the Government and Ms Forbes riding into the sunset. I want a Garda investigation to ensure Ms Forbes and other senior people in RTÉ are held to account.

I am not making any.

She was dismissed.

They are not agreed.

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers launched this morning a report on voices from the front-line service providers. It identifies key challenges and opportunities for Ireland's early learning and care and school-age childcare sectors. Will the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth please engage with and listen to them? They are under enormous pressure. I was involved in setting up a naíonra in Caisleán Nua, and I salute the management and staff there and all the groups around th…

I give qualified support to retaining the Special Criminal Court as it has been effective against subversive elements and organised criminal gangs. However, we should aim for a time when the court is no longer necessary as relying on it permanently would undermine the effectiveness of jury courts. There was a time when we needed this; obviously we can see that. However, the time has come now to reconsider because, thankfully, we have a ceasefire and a peace process which is supported by the vast majority of people.…

I thank the Minister and I thank everyone for their contributions.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 28 June 2023.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 28 June 2023.