I want to bring to the Tánaiste's attention the spate of outpatient appointment cancellations in a hospital in County Kildare. In Naas General Hospital, for the months of January, February, March and April, there have been a total of 2,678 appointment cancellations. I do not lay the blame on the brilliant staff but on the Government because it rejected our motion to tackle hospital waiting lists and I implore the Government to act on it now. At the heart of this issue are people we represent; our families, neighbou…

Sinn Féin's motion seeks to address the escalating crisis that has crippled the HSE, that is, the tragic scandal of hospital overcrowding and growing waiting times. Our people are suffering, in particular our elderly. I am my party's spokesperson for older people. Older people are being forced to endure waiting times that, in Naas General Hospital, can exceed 20 hours. The Government's answer to this disarray is record cancellations. It mistakes activity for action and cancellations for solutions. Hospital waiting …

As Sinn Féin's spokesperson for older people, I raise the cost-of-living crisis. The Government's inaction is unacceptable amid spiralling rent, food and energy costs. It is disheartening that those in their senior years face uncertainty and hardship. Myself and my colleagues are regularly contacted by older folks who just do not know how they will make ends meet. I will mention the case of an 80-year-old pensioner living on his own who received a gas bill for an eye-watering €1,200. When his family engaged with th…

Maybe I will tell him the Government needs helping.

I too welcome the ambassador and I commend her on her work. I thank my colleague, Deputy Brady, for bringing this Bill before the Dáil. The UN Human Rights Council published a revealing database that names 112 businesses that are directly or indirectly embroiled in operations that infringe upon international law in these disputed Palestinian territories. The database reported in 2013 that various business activities, encompassing both Israeli and international companies, were sustaining illegal Israeli settlements.…

As my party's spokesperson on older people, I am deeply concerned by the recent news concerning home care providers leaving the market. According to a report on the website of The Irish Times on Sunday, up to 40,000 people who depend on home care may be affected by this decision and their well-being could be in jeopardy. As a society, we have a responsibility to provide adequate care and support to our elderly and vulnerable population. This Government must take immediate action to address this issue and ensure tho…

I thank my colleague Deputy O’Reilly for bringing this timely motion before the Dáil. I want to address the issue of unsustainably high grocery and food bills that have been troubling people for far too long. Families and workers across the State are struggling to make ends meet as they grapple with the ever-increasing cost of living. The Government's failure to address this issue has left many feeling abandoned and forgotten. The rising cost of food and groceries is not simply a result of inflation or the war in U…

I will raise an important issue that affects many individuals I represent as Sinn Féin spokesperson for older people, namely, the lack of adequate support for those suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. These debilitating conditions not only affect memory but also basic daily activities, communication and the ability to live independently. Despite the high number of people who are affected by these conditions, the support and resources available are often inadequate. Adding to this issue is the di…

I have been contacted about a man with no medical card.

I will bring it directly to the Minister of State as the man has no medical card.

He is 74.

I know. I am informing the Tánaiste.

I thank my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, for bringing this motion before the Dáil. We are facing a cost-of-living crisis in this State and one of the biggest contributors driving folks into energy poverty is the burden of rip-off energy bills. Energy poverty is a major problem in every constituency and it is only getting worse. Many families are forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table, which is not acceptable. We need to ensure that everyone has access to affordable energy regardles…

I too thank People Before Profit-Solidarity for bringing forward this Bill, the principles of which Sinn Féin supports and which it will not oppose. As the Government will be all too aware, soaring rents have caused great hardship to families, young people and those on low incomes. They are causing people immense stress and having an impact on their mental health. The housing crisis is not only a problem for Dublin or Cork; it is also affecting my county of Kildare. My office is hearing from families who are strugg…

It pains me to have address the Chamber about such a personal issue, but I wish to bring up a recent attack that was carried out against a member of staff in my constituency office. During this incident, a 999 call went out to An Garda Síochána, while continued attempts were made to de-escalate the situation. The difficulties that have been experienced by the 999 dispatchers to obtain local assistance is very concerning. Equally concerning is the Government's continued failure to provide adequate mental healthcare …

Today, we mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. This historic agreement, which was signed on 10 April 1998, has been a cornerstone of the peace process on this island. It is a testament to the commitment of all parties involved to end the conflict that had plagued our island for far too long and to heal the wounds of the sectarianism that resulted from the partition of the island by a foreign power. The agreement offered hope and a pathway towards a better future for all communities, however they …

I wish to raise the alarming spate of illegal evictions happening in Athy, County Kildare. These evictions relate to 22 apartments in the same block and owned by a certain landlord. So far, he has illegally evicted 16 families, with more to follow. Families told me of the gut-wrenching feeling of coming home to find all their belongings packed into black bin bags and left on the street. There was a baby’s cot there as well. Most of the families involved are vulnerable and in receipt of HAP. The landlord did not reg…

I welcome the Women of Honour as well. I echo the sentiments of my colleagues and commend those who are engaged in this process. Their persistence and determination is an inspiration to us all. The publication of this report is a step in the right direction but it makes for harrowing and distressing reading. As Sinn Féin spokesperson for older people I am privileged to speak up for those who have no voice and who are locked out and downtrodden. It should go without saying that abuse and harassment of any kind are t…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, for bringing this Bill to the Dáil. The Minister must now realise that this is at least the fourth motion or Bill in the last month related to the eviction ban and extending it. Is he not listening? Four times in the space of one month the Opposition has pleaded with the Government to extend the eviction ban and four times the Minister failed to do it. It is ridiculous. If not to us, I ask the Minister to please listen to his conscience and extend the eviction ban until January…

There is nothing there.