Well said.

Hear, hear. Well said.

As we are coming to the end of our summer term, I will look back on the first item I raised on the Order of Business last September, namely, that of housing. At the time, I referred to the awful homelessness figures that month, when 10,568 people, including 3,137 children, were homeless. Nine months later, there are now 12,441 people, including 3,699 children, homeless. That is an increase of 2,000 people. More than 500 more children are now homeless. These facts do not lie. The Government is failing miserably on h…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 15, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Maintenance and champerty shall not apply to a representative action brought by a qualified entity 20 . (1) The Minister may, for the purposes of this Act, by regulation prescribe criteria, including criteria relating to transparency in relation to funders and recipients, for third-party funding contracts. (2) In this section, “third-party funding contract” means a contract or agreement between a party or potential party to dispu…

I acknowledge the Minister of State’s commitment to see this issue through. However, I wish to press the amendment.

I join others in expressing our sympathy on the sad passing of Senator Dolan's father. On Tuesday of last week a member of NATO and of the Council of Europe carried out a targeted assassination of local political leaders in a neighbouring state as they were carrying out their public duties. The murderer was Türkiye, the people killed were in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and the world took no notice. You would not have read about it anywhere. The United States issued one of their usual stat…

I thank the Deputy Leader.

As always, it is good to see the Minister of State. Sinn Féin supports the Bill, albeit with reservations as we believe it only does the bare minimum required. It is another Bill deriving from an EU directive aimed at protecting the collective interests of consumers. Prior to that EU legislation, there was no tool across the EU to allow consumers in mass harm situations to litigate and be represented in large groups by another entity. The tracker mortgage scandal here in Ireland is an example of a group of people w…

I again raise the issue of University Hospital Limerick, UHL, in respect of the HIQA report published just last week. I agree with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, that it makes for bleak reading. I will summarise it as quickly as I can. In the 15 subcategories of the report listed, UHL was found to be fully compliant in just one area, substantially compliant in seven areas, partially compliant in five areas and, very worryingly, non-compliant in two areas. The report found that on the first day of…

It is a record.

That is disgraceful.

I thank the Acting Leader.

It is good to see the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell. I am going to continue the theme of housing and I am sure the Minister of State will not be surprised by that. I have to be frank with him. The situation in Limerick city is dire, and I think the Minister of State knows that. The fact that no affordable homes were delivered in Limerick by the Government last year is an abysmal failure. Just 17 were approved. The targets were incredibly poor in the first place at 264 affordable homes for first-time buyers ov…

Does the Minister of State have a date?

Fair enough.

I second the amendment.

It is good to see the Minister back for what I expect is once last time considering where we are. I support this amendment because, not for the first time, it goes to the heart of one of the critical issues that, regrettably, he has never given an adequate answer to. He has never been able to justify this figure of 180 days nor has been able to justify why, if people have done that time, they can get some recognition but, if they have not, even if they have done one day fewer, they cannot. He will be aware that I h…

I am aware of the amendment on which I am speaking. I am also aware that this is one of the last occasions on which I can speak about this issue. The Acting Chairperson knows the rules for Report Stage. I am conscious in particular of all the people who have taken the time to be here or to watch the proceedings at home. They are very hurt by what is happening here. Many of them have been in contact with me and I will welcome their contacting me again later this evening when the debate is over. I am conscious of the…

I accept the Acting Chairperson's apology.

I am aware of that.