If we are restructuring our business a bit better so as not to have an unnecessary adjournment, could the voting block also be brought forward tonight or is that locked into the scheduled time? If we move more quickly through our business, can we bring that forward as well this evening?

Sometimes common sense does not work here.

All the debates in this House and all the Bills that come before us are important but I believe this Bill is very important because it has the potential to save lives and create awareness of the fact that over 600 people are waiting on a transplant list for an organ donation. The subject of death and dying, and all they entail, relates to a sad event from which, unfortunately, no family or person escapes. In debating this, we must do so in a respectful way and ensure we do everything we can to preserve the great tr…

I thank Deputy Carthy and Sinn Féin for tabling this important motion. I was up in my office listening to the debate. It was ironic to hear the Minister of State criticising the motion her Government is going to support. If Deputy Carthy is going to accept that and not call a vote, the Rural Independent Group will call a vote on the motion on behalf of the people of Ireland, who are totally outraged. This potential deal with Gresham House, a private British investment firm listed on the London Stock Exchange, to pr…

Wherever she went, she certainly did not answer the questions that day; just like she will not answer them here tonight. The Minister of State should not think she will shout me down. I have a couple of minutes to ask her a few questions. I remind her that in 1946 we had a person who was worse than her. It was that long ago. She is a failed Minister. God help the Green Party, God help her and God help forestry. It is a disgrace.

No.

That is correct. That is a fact. Ask the people who are involved in forestry.

They are the ones who are involved. If the Minister is not-----

We told the Minister about this-----

I planted forestry 25 years ago. I did not need the Government to tell me.

Scrap the deal. No-one wants it.

It is a sell-out.

It is a sell-out.

Not agreed.

The main problem we have in County Kerry starts out in the community, that is, people being able to access a local GP. Whether it is in Waterford or south, east, mid-, north or west Kerry, getting access to the local GP is the problem. Trying to make it attractive for GPs to live in our communities as they did before and provide a local service is the biggest problem we have. We should give that service in the communities on a 24-hour basis. I appreciate very much the work that SouthDoc does. I appreciate the drive…

How have we gone so wrong that healthcare is available to animals quicker than it is to people? The Ministers are the Ministers for Health. I am not coming down on them but I am at the same time. An animal can be treated more quickly in Ireland today than a person. That is wrong and, to be honest, it is a reflection on the Ministers.

At the outset, I would like to offer my heartfelt sympathies to the family of the late Private Seán Rooney and to send our concern and our wishes to Trooper Shane Kearney. I thank them, and we are standing in solidarity with the Defence Forces. Today it is only right and proper that we also think of other people, like our own members of An Garda Síochána, who put themselves in harm's way on a daily basis to protect and uphold the law and the rule of our land, whether that is at home or abroad. I send a very special…

He is asleep a lot of the time.

Nobody in this House can genuinely question the Minister's work ethic or his commitment, but I have problems with the policies, such as the attack on short-term lets and properties rented on Airbnb. It is argued that the Government's policies will bring 12,000 homes back into the long-term rental sector. That will not happen. The Government is not providing enough money on the ground to do up vacant properties. We need €2.7 million in Kerry. The Taoiseach told me last week that money was not a problem. If it is not…

I thank the Social Democrats for this important Private Members' business. It is a serious issue in County Kerry, where many schools are coming to me about seeking help from the Department of Education with the staffing crisis, which has left many vulnerable pupils without specialised support. There is a critical time in a young person's life when he or she needs direct intervention and assistance. If the school the young person is attending is suffering staffing shortages at that time, then the child and his or he…