I do not have a question but I have some comments. One year ago, we had no idea that our world was about to be turned upside down. If we had seen Covid-19 coming, I like to think we would have been prepared. Sadly, a crisis seldom gives fair warning. Another crisis is looming and making its presence felt more and more each day, however. The people of this country, young and old, have moved towards a mental health crisis. That crisis has arrived and it is obvious that we are not prepared for it. This lockdown has hi…

I raise with the Tánaiste the future of the Dean Maxwell nursing home in Roscrea. I do so in the context of the current review of the national development plan. Community groups in Roscrea have combined to make an application for funding to build a new Dean Maxwell care home and community hub. This is an essential infrastructural development, which would deliver a comprehensive range of services for those in need of elderly care in Roscrea and district. For more than 50 years, north Tipperary had three centres of e…

I wish to support the amendment put forward by my colleague, Deputy Denis Naughten, on behalf of the Regional Group and say that people have come a long way in their understanding and appreciation of animals. The role that animals can play in our lives is vastly different to what it was decades ago. This is particularly true in the case of companion animals. The business of veterinary care, pet supplies and animal nutrition is a multibillion euro industry. The vast majority of Irish people take care of their pets a…

This week I spoke with a community nurse manager who works for a private company contracted to care for HSE patients. She co-ordinates a large team of nurses and carers. The professional services they provide make it possible for elderly and often terminally ill patients to remain in their homes rather than being admitted to hospital or to a nursing home. These community-based workers carry out their work alone, without the assistance of other professionals. Not only do they care for patients, but they also provide…

My concern is the number of vaccinators we have. HSE services are already overwhelmed. Some 6,500 healthcare staff are out of work due to Covid. We simply cannot divert further front-line staff for the purpose of acting as vaccinators. We need to assemble a task force of vaccinators. We need to recruit outside the obvious circle and build a national team to dispense the vaccine. We need a battalion of vaccinators working around the clock. We need to utilise community centres in every town and parish as vaccination …

I am sharing time with Deputy Canney. Today is a day that will be recorded in the history of our country. Today we lay bare a chapter that is already soaked in the tears of many of our citizens. Today is the day that we publicly acknowledge the shame and suffering inflicted on countless women and their children. Today should have come a long time ago. Last October, I voted for legislation that preserved and protected the database of information and allowed it to be transferred to the control of the Minister. It als…

As the Taoiseach is aware, garden centres, nurseries, soft fruit growers and the horticultural industry in general rely to a great extent on the availability of milled peat. Bord na Móna currently has stocks of milled peat and a proportion of it was earmarked for the horticultural sector. Recently, it has become apparent that Bord na Móna has diverted a lot of peat to export markets. As a result of the curtailment in supplies, the horticultural industry is losing its crucial raw material of milled peat. This is end…

This pandemic has touched the lives of everyone. Life as we knew it was snatched away and replaced by a new normal, one that nobody wanted. Even the strongest among us struggled to cope. Even the hardiest did not escape unscathed. The advice of health experts focused primarily on protecting ourselves and others from becoming infected. This emphasis is to be expected during a pandemic. Guidance on staying physically well is vital at this time. While there is an ever-increasing awareness of the mental health damage b…

I ask the Minister, in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the plans, if any, she has to increase financial supports for people in receipt of the carer's support grant. Despite her genuine efforts in budget 2021, it is not the case that all additional costs associated with the pandemic are covered by current rates of pay.

Family Carers Ireland is asking for the payment of the carer's support grant to be made in two instalments - €925 in the first instalment paid this month and the second one as normal in June 2021. As part of just transition measures, carer's allowance should be included as a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance. Family carers incur significantly higher and unavoidable energy bills due to their caring responsibilities and are among those most at risk of fuel poverty. Carers are also asking for clarification reg…

I agree the provision of family care at home is desirable for many reasons. It is also the preference of most people in need of care. This level of care comes at a cost. Many carers dedicate their lives to providing love, care and attention to those in need. This quality care enables people to remain in their own homes. Carers often provide this service at great personal sacrifice. They should not have to carry the burden of additional financial costs during this time. Family carers appreciate the €19 million secur…

The position with forestry licence appeals has progressed from being a crisis to complete chaos. Forestry owners in this country are beside themselves with worry and anger. At the year's end, we are without a satisfactory resolution to this ongoing problem, and despite legislation and relaxation of regulations, we are still looking at a period of up to two years for the backlog of appeals to be cleared. I was happy to support the legislation brought forward by the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, which would exp…

One other aspect of this is forestry owners, who are required to have forests certified to access the market. They have been refused access to panel builds in Tipperary and elsewhere around the country with uncertified timber. This is a market requirement that will have real implications for small forest owners throughout the country. Forest management certification can lead to restructuring of existing forests over time through implementation of the required management plan. This would take community concerns into…

A number of credit unions across Tipperary and indeed the country have been in contact with Deputies to say that because of Covid they are unable to hold AGMs. Under regulation, the payment of a dividend to members needs to be passed in advance at an AGM and this is not allowed by virtual means, so the dividend cannot be paid to the members. We are talking about sometimes €200 or €300 at Christmastime, when people have additional costs and expenses and the purchase of gifts, toys and extra food is required. Will th…

I wish to address the issue of social media. No one can dispute the fact that social media has changed our lives beyond recognition. It has now become the centre of many people's lives, so much so that it is now a medically recognised addiction. In fewer than 14 years it has morphed from being a way of expanding our social network to being a means to destroy people's credibility, reputations and lives at the simple touch of a button. Social media has changed life as we knew it. It has impacted on politics across th…

When the term cyberbullying is used, most people think it refers solely to children and teenagers. This is a misconception. The harassment and abuse of adults, particularly public figures, can be equally cruel and damaging. Those involved in high profile roles in media, entertainment, sports, medicine, teaching, politics and even the church are considered to be immune to the vitriol thrown at them on a regular basis. There is an illusion among some people that well-known individuals are unaffected by name-calling a…

Since last Monday's comments by the Taoiseach, Tipperary publicans have been distraught and demoralised. We all want to have a Christmas and enjoy it, but the policy of the continued closure of pubs over Christmas has destroyed Christmas for publicans and their dependent families. It spells financial disaster for them. Unlike other countries across Europe, Ireland has victimised publicans. We are fooling ourselves if we believe house parties and social gatherings will not happen over Christmas. People have been thr…

I ask the Tánaiste to see what can be done to assist publicans in the next 24 hours.

Had the Covid-19 pandemic not happened, the primary focus of people at this time would be Brexit. The media would be running endless articles and debates and the talk on the street would be of Brexit. As it currently stands, many people can speak with authority on the US electoral system, quote Covid trends from around the world and debate the business of this House at length. Their knowledge of current affairs is vast. There is, however, a disproportionately low level of interest in Brexit among members of the gen…

I receive daily queries from worried, uncertain, stressed and anxious people, each of whom wants reassurance and a flicker of light for the future. I want to raise a few particular issues with the Minister of State and I would appreciate if I could get a response in due course. Covid-19 has hit the bus and coach transport sector particularly hard. Since the crisis began, tourist numbers have collapsed, factories and offices have closed and the hospitality sector and all major events have ceased. The result has been…