I welcome the publication of the youth justice strategy. I commend everyone who works with young people to try to guide them from the path of criminality to living and contributing to our communities. The strategy will guide a multitude of projects, agencies and support services for young people in our communities. There is no doubt whatsoever that early intervention and prevention of youth coming into the criminal justice system is key. I note the reference to multiple disadvantages, which includes poverty, childr…

I wish everyone all the very best for Saturday and the Pride march in Dublin. It is something that many of us look forward to for the energy and fun, while we also recognise the serious message of the day concerning LGBTQI+ rights. I can remember my first Pride march in the early 1990s, leaving the Garden of Remembrance with my two children, Seán and Kerrie, who were in a double pram. We headed down O'Connell Street, determined to make the point that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights and that we all needed to show ou…

We all know that the term "free education" is a myth at this stage. As we have heard, a staggering 66% of parents find back-to-school costs an additional financial burden. The cost of schoolbooks remain high. There are elevated student fees and costs for travel, accommodation, uniforms, stationery and extracurricular activities. Every year, the issue of iPads is raised. People have to pay €700 for an iPad and have to buy the books at the same time. The Government is not listening to parents and guardians. It is loo…

It is wrong context. You talk about context, but it is wrong context.

The old saying a fair day's pay for a fair day's work comes through in this Bill. It was the motto of the labour movement back in the 19th century. Here we are today still demanding it. I thank the Deputies who brought the Bill forward. I also acknowledge Senator Gavan for his work on this issue. We fully support a minimum wage, but we are also calling for an hourly living wage. As we can see with the current cost-of-living crisis, this is more important than ever. Unfortunately, the minimum wage has become the sta…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue, which is one I have become increasingly concerned about. The Bill seeks to introduce a licensing system for retail sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes. It also seeks to introduce a range of restrictions on the sale of the products, including their sale from mobile premises and vending machines. I strongly welcome that the Bill proposes banning the sale of e-cigarettes to under 18-year-olds and the sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes by those under 18. It further proposes…

I ask the Minister of State’s views on the submissions to the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use by the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, in particular on the role of community projects being funded to help deal with people with addiction, and the recognition of the need to address the link between drugs and poverty through a community development approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

There is a broad welcome for funding to Citywide and it being brought into the Department of Rural and Community Development and away from the HSE and the national drugs strategy. I have been involved in community development-based drug projects for over 25 years in Dublin 15. I am very proud of the work we have done in supporting individuals, families and communities in tackling the scourge of problematic drug misuse. The unique strength of our community drug projects is that they deliver an integrated approach to…

I agree that it is important that every Deputy would visit his or her community drug team, particularly those which have a local management team or board. That is the essence of community development. It is the local community giving a local response and being able to effectively deal with the problem as it arises in its community. The lesson we have learned over the past 30 years since the local drugs forces were established is that each area is unique and that is why it is so important that communities are suppor…

I thank the Minister for her answer to the question. It is obviously early days and we do not know the extent of the applications for that fund. It will be important to know the extent of them because then we will be looking to the need and the demand within the communities. I return to the community centre investment fund. There are strong stipulations on how we also need guidelines and boundaries around it. However, if a community centre on band 2 or 3 with an application for funding, discovers that there is an i…

I welcome the response about projects where the issue may not even be extra money, but a difficulty with a planning application or something that has been discovered that has thrown plans a little awry. As I said, it is not always about extra money, though that is welcome, but the flexibility to maybe kick it out for a further six months if the timeframe is already 12 months. I agree it cannot be unlimited and there has to be a definite line put on it. The community centre fund has been welcome and as I said, we ha…

I welcome the Bill. It will create a new criminal offence to tackle the issue of adults encouraging young people and children to get involved in criminal behaviour. As someone who has worked with young people from disadvantaged communities and worked with communities tackling drug problems for more than 30 years, I have witnessed this happening over and over again. Younger people are groomed by older criminals and drug dealers, many of whom were groomed themselves. They are lured by flash lifestyles, expensive watc…

I welcome the motion tabled by the Independent Group. It serves to highlight again and shine a spotlight on our health service. I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the doctors, nurses and all of those on the front lines and everyone who works in the services. Recently my mother was released from the Mater hospital after being there for five weeks. I can attest to the absolutely outstanding care she received there. The problem is trying to get into a hospital. Our fears start when going into an emergency d…

I want to put this debate into context and I want the Minister of State to write down one figure. The Government could have a budgetary surplus of up to €16 billion. I am going to read the Minister of State an email I got recently from a constituent. My constituent stated: I have never had any reason or inclination to contact any TD's or public representatives however the cost of living crisis has left me at my lowest ebb ever. l am on disability and have had to choose between proper meals and turning my heat on, I…

My understanding is that the meeting was supposed to happen next month and that the Minister of State brought it forward.

I have my doubts.

I welcome that the Government is not opposing this motion. However, I am asking the Government to go further than just appealing to those who have the power over what we pay at the checkouts. It is time for real action and I hope the Government has real action in mind and that there will not be just words from tomorrow's meeting.

I was canvassing last week in the Navan Road area, which is in my constituency, and I met Mary, who is a pensioner. She and her husband have a very modest income after a lifetime of work. She said that she keeps the heating off and uses a blanket to keep warm when watching television. Mary showed me a bill of €800 for gas and one of €500 for the ESB. She said she managed to pay one off just as the other dropped in the letterbox. She is desperately worried about paying the ESB and the cycle will start all over again…

I welcome the Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023. It is imperative for the future of the construction industry in Ireland and for the safety of all workers in that sector. I previously worked on several construction sites when I was younger. I will never forget one incident. A foreman asked me to walk out on a scaffolding plank seven storeys up, while he got other workers to stand on the plank just behind me, to knock off a piece of shuttering. That is how dangerous some of these sites can be, with people who …

I was canvassing last week in the Navan Road area, which is in my constituency, and I met Mary, who is a pensioner. She and her husband have a very modest income after a lifetime of work. She said that she keeps the heating off and uses a blanket to keep warm when watching television. Mary showed me a bill of €800 for gas and one of €500 for the ESB. She said she managed to pay one off just as the other dropped in the letterbox. She is desperately worried about paying the ESB and the cycle will start all over again…