-----in that what comes out has to be truthful. It cannot be lies. There are legal implications. Why are we allowing a situation where the social media companies can broadcast whatever and there are no repercussions? That is wrong. That is what we have to get back to. We have to get back to telling the truth and being fair in our comments. We as a society have to say that we are not going to tolerate it. We are not going to put up any longer with faceless cowards. If these people want to take us on politically or i…

Whether it is the electorate or the proper media outlets, it cannot be tolerated.

I thank the Minister of State. I first must declare an interest in terms of the provision of student accommodation. We have to make sure that we are talking in a like-minded manner about this issue. With regard to purpose-built student accommodation, there should be no problem in the world with the people who own those properties and especially if they are managed and if they are very near the colleges. In many instances, we are talking about purpose-built student accommodation. Those students should only be asked …

I warmly welcome the family of the late Shane O'Farrell. I am glad they are here but I am very sorry that they are here. They should not have to be here tonight. They should not have had to be here today in the AV room, where they gave an excellent presentation. I was sorry I had to leave but I read the documents I received. It reminded me of years ago when we were here; it is like we are back where we started in that we have not progressed. All they have is unfulfilled promises. I warmly thank Sinn Féin for tablin…

I, too, thank the Labour Party for allowing Deputies to have a debate on this very important issue. I thank and compliment the people in Kerry who provide refuge, safety, advice and comfort, in particular, to women and children who are the victims of crime of all different types. These people are being dealt with at the most vulnerable time in their lives. Perhaps there have been domestic disputes at home that have finished up with them having to leave the family home. We will forever, in Kerry, be indebted to peop…

I, too, raise a health issue. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, more than 50 nursing positions are vacant in University Hospital Kerry. The union is calling on the HSE to immediately end its recruitment moratorium for front-line healthcare workers. In that vein, Deputy Michael Collins, my brother Danny and I have been operating a bus carrying people to the North for cataract procedures, which, as the Taoiseach knows, are very important. We have only two eyes in our head and our eyesight…

I thank the Minister for arranging these statements. I acknowledge the ADAPT Kerry Women’s Refuge and Support Services, which offer crisis accommodation for women and their children who experience domestic violence and offer outreach supports to women seeking help. I also acknowledge the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and its excellent workers, who have unfortunately had to deal with this problem for years. I am acutely aware that the problem seems to have worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the level of…

First, I raise the issue of the fair deal scheme, which I was a great believer in because it was helping and assisting in many cases. As late as last night - I will give the House the sums - an elderly couple's fair deal was assessed. They are not wealthy people and do not have much savings. This married couple both had previous spouses who are now deceased. For the gentleman, the fair deal was assessed at €760 per week. They cannot afford that. One might think there was a large amount of property involved or somet…

We have to be able to say to these people that they will be able to afford it and will be able to go up. They were looking forward to it. Many of them have gone previously to have one cataract removed-----

-----and now they have to go for a second time and they were looking forward to that. I am asking the Minister of State, as I asked the Taoiseach earlier today, to please take this on board and try to ensure these elderly people will have their sight saved and will be able to afford to do so. I thank the credit unions in Kerry, with which I work very closely-----

I am just finishing this point-----

The credit unions have helped those people-----

Can the Deputies just let me finish?

The credit unions have helped to finance these trips to the North. Now they will not be in a position to do so. My goodness, I would not dare interrupt Deputy Shortall.

Tell that to the people who are in danger of losing their eyesight.

I would not dare sit here and interrupt Deputy Shortall while she is talking. I would not dare do it.

Can Deputy Shortall let me finish with the bit of time I have remaining? I wish to speak up for the elderly people in Kerry-----

------who wish to have their eyesight restored.

An elderly person who needs an operation in the North but cannot afford it-----

-----might very well be glad of the opportunity to go there. That person would not like someone sitting inside here heckling someone who is trying to stand up for elderly people. How dare Deputy Shortall go against old people like that? That is wrong.