You have not challenged it.

Two weeks ago, in response to me, the Taoiseach denied there is a hard border on this island for many non-EU migrants. I would like him to explain this. I do not understand how he does not accept that for many people from non-EU countries, such as those who are married to UK or Irish nationals, refugees with leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain, asylum seekers and migrant workers, there is a hard border. They are not able to cross the North-South Border to access education or services, to meet loved ones o…

A lower top tax rate.

You wanted to.

I asked about migrants.

The Taoiseach will meet them.

Legally, people cannot cross it.

For four weeks we have been raising the issue of disconnections for pay-as-you-go customers in the Dáil. What have we got so far from the Government? We have got a lot of spin, yielding some false headlines and false hope for people on prepay meters. These include headlines stating that the Taoiseach had reassured prepay customers they would not be disconnected this winter. When it comes to action to protect the 340,000 households on electricity prepay meters and the tens of thousands of others on gas prepay meters…

I welcome the fact the Government is belatedly moving to bring in some improvements in respect of work-life balance for some workers. However, people should be aware that the Government - and this is a consistent feature of this Government's approach - is doing the bare minimum of what it is legally required to do under an EU directive on work-life balance. That is what the Government is doing. It is looking for a clap on the back for doing what it is legally required to do under the EU directive and for which it h…

The Deputy should be ashamed of himself.

The Deputy really should be.

Last week, EirGrid forecast yet again that data centres are on track to use almost 30% of our electricity by 2031. It is a completely unsustainable approach which makes reaching our climate targets even harder. Now, to add insult to injury, the Minister for Finance has confirmed to me that data centres will be eligible to receive €10,000 a month each from the public purse because of the temporary business energy support, TBES, scheme. Does the Minister not agree it is utterly obscene that those who are suffering fr…

This Bill is for the exploitation of migrant workers. That is what it is. It is a Bill, therefore, to undermine the rights of all workers. It is a Bill written in the interests of the employers in particular sectors. Evidence of that is contained in the fact that the minimal recommendations made by the Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, of which I am a part, which were signed up to by even the Fine Gael members of the committee, have been ignored. Minimal attempts to strengthen basic workers' rights hav…

Okay. That is much less than the one year cooling-off period for relevant designated public officials under the lobbying Act. Of course, Mr. Neville is not covered by that because Deputies are not covered, which again reflects how weak our legislation is regarding the rotating door of people moving from politics to lobbying. To return to the committee’s recommendations, the fact that even the Minister of State's own party and Government colleagues on the committee endorsed them means these were very minimal asks by…

I will read some headlines for the Taoiseach. One from RTÉ states, "Prepay energy customers will not be cut off, says Taoiseach", while another from the Irish Independent states, "Pay-as-you-go energy customers will not be disconnected over winter – Taoiseach", and thejournal.ie states, "Taoiseach confirms pay-as-you-go utility customers will not be disconnected if unable to top up". This is very clear and reassuring for the 340,000 electricity customers and the 120,000 or so gas customers on meter. The headlines a…

It has not.

On Sunday the Taoiseach said prepay energy customers will not be cut off. Today he says prepay customers should not be cut off. Which one is it? You are the Taoiseach and you have the power to prevent the disconnections. What you are actually saying today is that these people have got enough money and sure it will be their own fault if they run out and are not able to put money in their meters. However, the Government has not given them enough money. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our country and i…

The way to do it is very simple.

The Government did it during Covid. It should extend the emergency credit to protect people.

There is no guarantee.