I wish to raise a very difficult issue that has affected many families over the last number of months in the north Dublin region. I refer to the remains of loved ones being released from the coroner service following a post mortem. Post mortems are required following the death of some people but arising from what appears to be the temporary closure of the mortuary in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, there is a backlog and hence a significant delay in the releasing of bodies by the coroner service, which is based i…

I appreciate that the response outlined by the Minister of State on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, outlines that three additional staff will be provided to the Coroner Service. That is welcome. It will help to deal with the delay. The response references the pandemic and the impact of it. While we lost many people during that time, this issue only arose this February, March and now into April. We came through the pandemic without those delays, but they are arising now. I believe this is connected to the cl…

Men have a role as well as Deputy Smith.

It is disgraceful for the Deputy to suggest that men do not have a role-----

It is disgraceful. It is a disgraceful thing to suggest.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this issue. There have been three Private Members' items of business on this issue and, unfortunately, Private Members' business does not allow time for Government backbenchers to speak, so I welcome this opportunity for statements, which do. I was in the Chamber twice in successive weeks when various Opposition Members called for time for these statements to be scheduled. During the course of this debate, I have wondered whether these statements have come too early in adv…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I welcome the publication and the progress of the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022. It is another step forward in this Government’s taking actions, which I regard as climate brave. I will come back to that point of politicians and voters being brave on climate action because without us taking those difficult decisions, incentivising and, in some cases, de-incentivising different measures, we will not solve the cl…

RTÉ is the national broadcaster and provides excellent content, particularly in the area of sport. Many people in the North, however, are precluded from accessing that content because of issues around intellectual property rights. It is particularly the case on the RTÉ Player. Examples include the Olympics, which are important. It is the matter of the All-Ireland championships, though, that I want to raise. We are now only weeks away from them commencing and many people in the North will be unable to access those p…

I would also like to welcome that announcement. While not in my constituency, it is a matter we dealt with many times on Dublin City Council. It is a site with a significant legacy. It is also a site where we can demonstrate how we can tackle disadvantage and how early intervention can make a real difference. The Taoiseach's Department has been doing work in the north inner city for some time and €30 million is a substantial intervention. It is also the access to senior officials that allows issues to be identified…

I preface my remarks by thanking the Minister for his kind words regarding an t-iar-Theachta Dála agus an t-iar-Sheanadóir Dermot Fitzpatrick. The thoughts of those of us in Fianna Fáil and throughout the House will be with his family, in particular his daughter Senator Mary Fitzpatrick. I imagine in the Upper House there will be plenty of time to talk about the doc and pay tribute to him. I spent this morning in Trinity Comprehensive School meeting children from Ukraine who travelled here and the children of Bally…

Like many Irish people, I have looked at the devastation in Mariupol and - let us call it for what it is - the war crimes that are being committed there. I have seen the real fear and anxiety in Kyiv and in each European Union country that borders Russia. It is very hard to be neutral when we look at the pictures each night or talk to people in any of those places. It is very hard to have no feelings on what Putin is doing or a neutral view of what he is doing to the people of Ukraine. I mention that because in the…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. Having had the pleasure of sitting through the earlier Topical Issue debates, I often think this portion of the week better reflects the work I do in my clinic every week and probably the work every other Deputy in this House does. We are all committed to active travel. The Government has invested more in this area than any other Government. We are doing so to deal with climate change. Across Dublin, I see examples of how that investment is being turn…

It is very welcome to hear the news that the National Transport Authority, NTA, is prepared to fund either Fingal County Council or Dublin City Council, subject to the details of an application. Oscar Traynor Road has been in the news for many other reasons, not least because of the new housing project that Dublin City Council will construct on the site for affordable, social and cost-rental housing involving up to 800 homes. Those homes, and additional new homes built in Santry village, put extra demand on the are…

I just came from a fantastic International Women's Day event in Finglas this morning. As a member of the gender equality committee to deal with the recommendations of the citizens' assembly, I want to ask the Government whether it intends to hold a referendum on the issue of a woman's place in society and how we might reflect caring in our Constitution, in addition to addressing many of the other recommendations of the assembly?

Perhaps I was too timid. I had four minutes at the end of Deputy Carroll MacNeill's contribution and I should have spoken up then. I promise that only two and half minutes were unused, so I do not think I will be wasting the House's time. As a member of this committee, I welcome the publication of this report. I commend Senator Flynn on the work she has done. Her election as our Chair sent an important message. It was also an important decision for the committee because of the way that she chaired our meetings. I t…

I strongly support today's motion. I want to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people following an outrageous breach of international law by the Russian Federation. The images of refugees pouring into neighbouring EU countries, families separating at borders and civilians being targeted by cluster bombs are all stark, and reminiscent of images we hoped Europe would not see again. This is an aggressive and hostile infringement of the sovereign integrity of Ukraine. Ireland is militarily neutral but we are not ne…

There is no doubt the better energy warmer homes scheme is an important support for many eligible homeowners. It is one of the key tools that will help to reduce the use of carbon in our economy and help us reach our climate action goals. Since 2000, more than 143,000 homes have availed of the scheme and, in some ways, it has been a victim of its own success. When it was first promoted over a decade ago, many people who were eligible availed of the scheme but benefited from very basic upgrades, such as attic insula…

I particularly welcome the Minister of State's confirmation regarding the particular criteria I outlined, when he stated: For the first time, applications will be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the scheme but who could still benefit from even deeper measures. This means that applicants will now be able to have a second visit under the scheme. It has now been confirmed in response to a parliamentary question and the Minister of State has come before the House and confirmed…

Will the Tánaiste outline to the House the legislation we as a Government have passed that empowers local authorities to build public housing on public land? Does he reject what happened yesterday in the Chamber when several terms like "sweetheart deal" and "blackmail attempts" were used deliberately to misrepresent what is happening with O'Devaney Gardens? This was a democratic decision of Dublin City Council in 2019. It was negotiated on its behalf by officials with the successful bidder for the first refusal pur…

Can the Tánaiste outline to the House the legislation we have passed that empowers local authorities to build public housing on public land?