Hauliers face repeated toll hikes, with the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel driving up costs. Some operators pay up to €20,000 per month in tolls, forcing many out of business. The Irish Road Haulage Association has warned this threatens Ireland's supply chain, which relies on road haulage for 98% of goods. The current toll system wastes €27 million in fuel and emits 45,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. The haulage industry is calling for toll exemptions and barrier-free tolling to cut costs and protect the economy. I would l…

Our health system has failed some of the most vulnerable children in the State. In 2017, a clear promise was made that no child would wait more than four months for spinal surgery. That promise was broken, with devastating consequences. Right now, 139 children are actively waiting for spinal surgery this year. Four hundred and forty-six surgeries were completed, yet 462 new patients joined the list. We now know that the pledge of four months was based on assurances given to the then Minister by HSE leadership and s…

I do not agree with the change to the Order of Business today. An agreement was made last Thursday, as always. Leaders' Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation deal with important issues, such as housing and so many matters of deep concern, and they need to be discussed today. Of course, there is also moving the writ for Galway West and now for Dublin Central. We cannot continue here week in, week out without this being discussed. I would appreciate that we have statements on it today.

On behalf of Independent Ireland I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Paschal Donohoe on his appointment to the World Bank. This is an extraordinary achievement. I wish him and his family the very best, and the same to the Minister, Deputy McEntee; the Ministers of State, Deputies Naughton and Higgins; and the incoming Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I congratulate them on their elevation to new offices. While we acknowledge the service of Deputy Donohoe, we cannot ignore the legacy of the most recent budget…

I want to address Ireland's position under the EU migration and asylum pact. I have a clear question: can Ireland apply for an exemption? Under the pact, every EU member state must contribute to a solidarity mechanism to assist countries under migratory pressure. This means relocating asylum seekers, paying €20,000 per person not relocated, or providing operational support. There is no blanket opt-out but countries facing significant immigration challenges can apply for partial or full deductions. Austria, Bulgaria…

I welcome the farming organisations who are represented in the Gallery today. It is the third time they have been here in the Dáil during the past week fighting for the survival of their members. I thank Sinn Féin for this motion on the Mercosur trade agreement, an issue that goes to the heart of Ireland's rural economy, our food standards and our environmental commitments. This deal as it stands poses a serious threat to Irish farming. It would open the door to 99,000 tonnes of South American beef entering the EU …

We would like statements in the House regarding the moving of the writ for the Galway West by-election. It is a hugely important issue for the constituency. I also ask for statements in relation to Uisce Éireann. There are serious problems in respect of public representatives getting straight answers from Uisce Éireann about serious issues, whether in their constituencies or nationally.

I raised this issue on behalf of the people of Clonakilty and Dunmanway almost four months ago in the Dáil with the Minister for justice and I have had no proper answer back. Basically, the issue is that CCTV in both these towns was switched off in early July. As the Taoiseach knows, CCTV is vital in tackling crime. The Department of justice says it is not an issue for it and Cork County Council is saying it is not an issue for it, leaving it nobody's child. We are here again four months later. Councillor Daniel Se…

I am not magic.

I am not magic. The Taoiseach might be.

I spoke to the Minister. He did not come back with an answer.

I do not.

I do not.

That is the question I was asking.

I do not know the answer. I asked the Minister. He said he would come back to me and nothing has happened.

This Bill brings some long overdue relief to families, carers and pensioners but not much. Independent Ireland welcomes any move that puts an extra few euro in the pockets of those who are struggling to make ends meet. The €10 increase in weekly welfare payments, the higher working family payment threshold and the €20 rise in the domiciliary care allowance are steps in the right direction. Measures like the extension of the newborn baby grant show a bit of common sense in the Government, which is something Independ…

Every family, small business and commuter in rural Ireland is being squeezed not by choice, but by the weight of taxes and charges this Government keeps piling on. Independent Ireland has said from the start that the cost-of-living crisis did not fall from the sky but is being driven by Government decisions on taxation, overspending and waste. We support this motion because it recognises what people feel every day, which is that motoring has become unaffordable and unfair. These so-called green taxes have become an…

The motion invites us to consider a shift in how society addresses drug use, not through the lens of criminal justice but through public health. Decriminalisation does not mean legalisation; rather, it reframes drug use as a health issue, potentially reducing stigma and encouraging access to support services. While there are diverse views on its effectiveness, this debate offers an opportunity to explore evidence-based approaches that prioritise harm reduction and rehabilitation and community well-being. Deputy O'D…

Since last July, the Adrigole-Beara community has had up to 14 water outages, never mind what was happening before this, leaving residents young and old in farms, schools and créches without water for a day or two in some cases. This has led to the closure of the local school and crèche. Families with small babies have moved out of the community when the water supply has broken, leaving people very stressed. One section of pipe needs immediate replacement from the source along the Healy Pass. The local community ha…

I state unequivocally that we do not ever condone violence. The events in Drogheda over the weekend were deeply disturbing and there is absolutely no place in this country for such behaviour, no matter who owns the building. Let us be honest, however, that condemning violence is only part of the conversation. We must also confront the systematic failure in our immigration system. These failures are causing real harm to decent and law-abiding people. Let us consider the South African man I am helping. He travelled f…