I support Deputy McNamara's amendment because it is of crucial importance. We have seen legislation implemented in this regard in Spain in recent years. We have seen the same with the capping of the fuel, with fuel prices, and with many other issues where other countries have done something and we are running amok. I do not know how the famous meeting went today with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and all the big retail chains. I hope it went well. Considering what is going on and what has gone on, a chang…

Maybe. I accept that. It is the Golden Vale, but young farmers spent €1 million plus on milking parlours, and on proper buildings and roadways, so they could nurture and care for their animals carefully. Many of them were offered these special contract prices with Glanbia and other co-ops. They bought into it and it stood them well, in fairness, for a number of years. Now, however, it is not standing them well and they are suffering. Blackguarding is going on in respect of butter. It is not in the interest of famil…

I lend my support to this amendment that proposes to delete "regulator" and "rialálaí" a chur isteach. Is feirmeoir an-bheag mé ar na Sléibhte Chnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh i gCaisleán Nua i dTiobraid Árainn. I am a sheep farmer. It is important that we use the Irish language as often as we can and this is a simple amendment. It is not a lengthy translation. It is only one word. I think the Irish language has been diminished and caillte. Pádraig Pearse said that tír gan teanga was not a nation at all. Mention was made by De…

Ceann amháin eile.

Daingean Uí Chúis.

An chéad uair.

Tá ruaille buaille anois.

I request on behalf of my group a proper debate on the nitrates directive. We have seen in the headlines today who are the big polluters. The farmers are being blamed here. Bringing the nitrates directive rates down from 250 kg to 220 kg will have a devastating impact on medium-sized and large farmers, and not that large either in the cases of those who have 50 to 100 cows. They will have to cull or get rid of so many of their animals to meet these unachievable and unattainable targets. It will not be viable for th…

The situation regarding home helps and the provision of home help is appalling all over the country, but especially in south Tipperary and west Waterford. I have been dealing with the case of a constituent of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, namely a 92-year-old man from Tooraneena who had home help provided by a gentleman through Home Instead. That gentleman has now decided to move to the HSE but the HSE will not allow him to keep caring for the person. I have engaged with the Dungarvan team and it has been v…

I am happy to speak on Europe Day. I wish I were jumping for joy and celebrating, but unfortunately I am not. As a campaigner when I was a buachaill óg or fear óg back in 1973, I campaigned looking for a "Yes" vote and I supported it. We joined and we had many benefits. Indeed, part of the slogan for the 1972 referendum on membership was regarding a so-called key guarantee that there would be benefits for farmers. We have had many for farmers and I would not or could not deny that. It has been the case in many othe…

I welcome the motion but unfortunately the carbon tax has been ignored. Parties such as Sinn Féin and others are voting to support it. It results in a direct cost on our goods. The Government policy of consistently attacking productive agriculture to keep the Green Party on side means a major weakness in our food policy. It is as simple as that. The Government will not tackle the conglomerates, oil companies or the ESB, with their massive profits. What is the problem? Is the Government in hock to these people? Did …

I am a bit bewildered because this is a good motion and I want to support it. However, on 22 October 2022, Sinn Féin refused to support our motion to cut out carbon tax and we cannot have it every way here. The people at home are bewildered, as Deputy Tóibín said, and they are blackguarded, perished, angry, demoralised and many other words I cannot use. We have the highest prices in Europe and we get promise after promise that the Government is going to introduce a windfall tax. The ESB is making record profits. Th…

I thank Deputy Martin Browne for letting me share time. We want answers about St. Patrick's Hospital in Cashel. We want reassurance and something definite in respect of this matter. St. Patrick's Hospital is a wonderful institution. My late mum did some time there. I cannot say enough about the staff and all the people there, including in the chapels and the church. I often attended mass there, when we had a church. We were expecting a 60-bed community unit to be delivered. That is what we were told all the way alo…

The Tánaiste comes from a teaching background. I stood last week with the adult education teachers and tutors in south Tipperary who are campaigning for parity of esteem with their teaching colleagues. Many of them have teaching qualifications. They do tremendous work with adult literacy and with adult education in bringing people back into education schemes. They go down as tutors sometimes in order to make it easy for the students, the daltaí, to come back in to learn and re-engage with the education system. Howe…

I thank the Regional Group for putting forward this important motion. Disabled citizens are being let down by the Government, which has shown a shocking lack of political will to prioritise their needs. It has been ten years since the discontinuation of the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant for new applicants in 2013 and the Government has yet to provide a fair and equitable replacement. Moreover, it has been six years since the previous Government committed to reviewing all transport and mobilit…

May I raise a point of clarification?

Please. A point of clarification.

It is a simple question. Who is running this country?

Is it the Minister or Revenue?

This is scandalous. We roll out a big announcement-----