I did not raise this issue.

The Irish plan is structured around three priority areas: advancing the green transition, accelerating and expanding digital reforms and transformation, and social and economic recovery and job creation. The Irish application did not prioritise broadband infrastructure or housing, even though both areas are currently in a state of crisis. The big questions still relate to the delay in Government making its application to the European Commission under this funding programme and to why Ireland is being given a much l…

I will be brief. I will not be supporting the extension of these powers. The Minister will say he expected that anyway. The biggest reason is because hundreds of my constituents have contacted me by email and in writing. I said last week I pity my postman because my post box is full every week back in Lowertown, Schull. They have also been ringing the office. I have not met anyone yet who has asked me to support this legislation. That is an incredible situation. They have outlined many reasons as to why they do not…

On Friday last, there was an international incident off the Castletownbere coast. A Spanish-registered fishing trawler, illegally fishing in Irish waters, attempted to ram a Castletownbere fishing vessel. The Valentia Coast Guard was called at 8 o'clock to send out an emergency service, and 12 hours later, assistance came to the aid of these fishermen-----

In that time, there was attempted ramming several times. All I want today is a debate on why the Taoiseach's officials, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, and the Valentia Coast Guard were contacted and nothing happened-----

The fishermen's livelihoods are at stake. I want a debate on that issue today, if at all possible.

I rang the Taoiseach's office in Dublin that morning, and they put me through to the Cork section and I have got no reply since.

I left a message. The Taoiseach has to correct the record of the Dáil.

I have never in my life rang you, because I have never got any satisfaction from you.

You rang me looking for a vote but I knew you would turn your back on the people of west Cork, and I would not vote for you. Never once did I ring you.

Not once. Shame on you to lie.

Tensions between the European Union and Belarus have increased since a Ryanair flight was forced to land in Minsk and a Belarusian journalist was taken off it. Since 23 May the journalist and his girlfriend have been detained in Belarus. This journalist ran a blog that was in opposition to the current Belarusian leader, Mr. Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994. The main opposition leader against Mr. Lukashenko in the country's elections last year said that a lawyer who visited the couple said they were …

We should not let the insurance industry off the hook. It should be held to account. We need to verify that reductions and awards facilitated in personal injury cases by the House of the Oireachtas are passed on euro for euro to consumers in order that policyholders see a reduction in their premiums as they take out insurance. Those savings must be passed on to customers in the form of lower prices. There must be no excuses. We have spent years and years discussing this matter here and it is falling on deaf ears. I…

I intend to use my time for questions and answers. Elderly people in my constituency of Cork South-West, especially the housebound, are concerned. I have always known that the ambulance service is flat out to the mat in the normal daily work it has to do, and it is the ambulance service that must administer vaccinations to the housebound. Has the Government looked at another mechanism for doing this? Many housebound people in my constituency are still unable to get it because the ambulance service is under too much…

I thank the fishing organisations for the peaceful protest in Cork yesterday. I was disappointed to think we have two senior Ministers, Deputies Coveney and McGrath, and our Taoiseach, who I found out afterwards was canvassing around Dublin Bay North, did not bother to meet with the peaceful protesters in Dublin. No Fine Gael politician turned up, which is a disappointment, but remember, when the election comes, they will be knocking on their doors. Today, I must speak about last Monday. Councillors in Cork county …

Let us take a closer look at the grants that have been given out over recent years. West Cork and Cork county were continually overlooked in recent years. Look at the rural regeneration funds. West Cork had a shovel-ready project which ticked all the boxes for two years, namely, the Schull Harbour development project, which could have created 100 jobs in a rural peninsula. I pleaded with the Tánaiste, when he was Taoiseach, with the then Minister, Deputy Ring, and the current Taoiseach, to get this project the fund…

In theory, mandatory hotel quarantine was a smart measure to slow and stop the introduction of new variants. In practice, our system quickly accelerated from being problematic to being dangerous. Ireland’s version of quarantine exacerbates the difficulties involved, distinguishes between the between the rich and poor, ignores science and puts front-line workers and their communities at risk while failing to protect Irish people. The Government has had ample opportunity to address these issues but has shown no serio…

At the outset, I wish to thank the Minister. I have often spoken in the House about Vera Twomey's situation during the Covid-19 crisis. I often asked the Minister to liaise with her. His staff have done so and they had a successful discussion. I wish to put that on the record and to thank the Minister for it. It is very important for Ms Twomey and for other people who are in that situation in respect of medicinal cannabis. That is very much appreciated. I will oppose the extension of these severe restrictions. I ha…

The Minister is well aware that tomorrow, the biggest crisis in the fishing industry will lead to protests throughout the country. It will probably be the biggest fishing industry protest for decades. We have had a disastrous term with regard to fishing and Brexit, in which the Minister and the Government have been caught asleep at the wheel.

Now we have been led into a catch weighing crisis that is out of all proportion, as the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, and the Minister now accept. They knew about it in December and did not acknowledge it to the industry until April. I am asking for a debate on this issue today. It is a serious issue. The fishermen of Ireland will protest tomorrow in massive numbers. This can be averted. There should at least be a discussion in the House, or show them there is a future in the fishing industry of this co…