Could we please get it right? It is costing families thousands of euro-----

-----and their holidays

The Housing for All initiative is evidently not meeting its goals. Homelessness has reached unprecedented levels. I am very worried because the presence of even a single homeless individual is a national embarrassment, yet the Government seems complacent about the nearly 14,000 people, including 4,000 children, who are currently without homes. Since the launch of Housing for All, homelessness has surged by 60%. In case the Sinn Féin hurlers on the ditch who previously accused me of not declaring an interest in hous…

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this important motion before the Dáil. I remind the Labour Party, the hurlers on the ditch who criticise me for not declaring an interest, that I declare an interest in the whole housing situation because it is a business that I have been involved in for many decades. I will not be accused of being a critic of Sinn Féin because I am not. I have been great friends with present and past Sinn Féin members. I always like telling it as it is. Standing here tonight, supporting a motion by S…

I thank the Chair and the Minister of State. I also thank the staff in Deputy Mattie McGrath's office who did a lot of work and research in putting forward this very important motion. I also want to address people who are critical of the Rural Independent Group and say we are trying to be inflammatory with this motion. They are wrong. What we are trying to do is hold the Government to account. Any time money is being spent, be it millions or, as in this case, billions of euro, our job as legislators is to question …

I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State and thank him. I will say about this very important issue that every person goes through life and some people have good luck and good fortune and more people do not. Unfortunately, the people who found themselves in these institutions were very important human beings but were subjected to degrading practices. They were degraded and upset. They were treated as if they were not human beings. I acknowledge this Government and other Governments for trying to put right…

The Minister of State knows what I am going to say because Deputy Daly and I discussed it with him last night. I sincerely support Deputy Gould in his concerns. I think of a person, perhaps late at night, maybe under the influence of something, sitting down with this useless article of a thing, their phone, in one hand and a credit card in the other.

They may be watching on Netflix a horse race in Kentucky, a place they have never been and never will be, and betting the kitchen sink on one of two old, worn-out horses. That is the concern we should have, not with the respectable bookmaker shops and the people we have all supported. When you go to the Killarney or Tralee races - I never had the honour of going to the Galway races - or Listowel racetrack, which is great, you see respectable and normal betting. We see the way bookies treat their customers. They wan…

Last night I was not convinced by the Minister of State's argument and I am still not convinced today, and I am sorry to say that. The Bill contains a number of provisions that will affect highly effective charity fundraising for deserving causes around Ireland, via radio bingo games on local radio. These games, which raise significant and much needed funds for charities, involve the distribution of bingo books in local areas and are advertised on local radio during the day, along with the winning bingo numbers bei…

On 19 December last, Liam Dennehy Quinn was deemed to be in urgent need of an operation for scoliosis. He has been living in University Hospital Kerry for the past 23 days. He is becoming more rigid and is potentially inoperable. He is at risk of needing two operations, rather than one, as well as longer stays in the hospital. His curve was 92° in February. His mother, Pamela, is worn out. His grandmother, Mary, is worn out. His life is in danger and his well-being is being jeopardised. An unconfirmed date is being…

His family has gone through enough. I am not fighting with the Taoiseach or arguing with him. He knows I am not criticising him. I am just asking him to please act for this young little boy.

He is 13 years of age and he needs a chance at life.

Thank you.

I support the motion, but I am a little confused. While we in the Rural Independent Group support the motion, it seems a little late for Sinn Féin to now be concerned about higher fuel taxes when it has consistently supported them in the past. It failed to support the Rural Independent Group when we moved motions in the House to roll back fuel taxes and scrap the carbon tax. Sinn Féin's position on fuel taxes, especially the carbon tax, is extremely misleading to the Irish people. Thanks be to God I have a memory, …

I continually remind them of what its leader said in a speech, where it was clearly stated that the Government was not going far enough quick enough. I represent people from Kerry who are hard-pressed to heat their homes and to go to work. That is why we brought forward motions asking the Government to go back on what it was doing. I have been the holder of carbon and marked gas oil licences for the past 34 years. I sell fuel and see every day of the week what difference prices make to people going to work and what…

It is 100% true. I have a memory. I remember that Sinn Féin did not support us when we wanted support in asking the Government to go back on what it had done. The Government has let down the people, and I am sorry to say that.

I congratulate the Minister of State on her elevation. I wish her good luck. I welcome this motion and I fully support its objectives. Today in Ireland more than half a million people, one in eight, are family carers providing regular unpaid care. These carers form the backbone of Ireland's care provision, yet they often lack the support and recognition they deserve. The long-term intensive nature of their caring role, often without adequate support or recognition, can negatively impact a carer's physical and menta…

I thank the Taoiseach in advance because I am raising the case of Liam Dennehy Quinn, who is 13 years of age from Fossa, Killarney, County Kerry. His mother is Pamela Dennehy. I have written to the Taoiseach about this. Liam is waiting to be seen in Crumlin children's hospital. He has severe scoliosis, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, dystonia and a rare metabolic disorder. He urgently needs surgery in Crumlin under Dr. Pat Kiely. Pre-op was done in the first week of February 2024 in Temple Street hospital. He has been in…

It has been an horrendous time since the end of September up until last week, where cattle were housed and the tillage men were completely delayed and held up. I am certainly not coming into this House to attack the Minister, but there is one thing I would reinforce and ask him to do. We want to work with him. We should all be trying our best for the farmers of Ireland. I have one genuine suggestion for the Minister which I implore him to take on board. It is not his fault but it is a thing for him to do as Ministe…

I want to say to the family representatives here today that while I am very glad they are here, I am so sad they have to be here. Today finds us at the culmination of a lifetime of a battle. In time, it is really more than a lifetime of battle. The Stardust fire disaster has been a long-standing symbol of injustice in our country. The families of the victims have been let down by successive governments, the State and the legal system. I am glad they have received a State apology here today. Now is the time to estab…