I thank the Social Democrats for introducing this motion. I have lost count of the number of times we have debated this matter in the Dáil. I welcome that there is a commitment in the programme for Government to get rid of the means test, but I will not be surprised if we end up going into the next general election with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promising to get rid of it. The failure to provide a timeline is extremely concerning and suggests this is one of these promises that will not be met and many more debates …

I want to speak about the so-called peace plan. It is not a peace plan. It is a plan for the continued colonisation of Palestine. That is what it is. I think it is shameful that the Irish Government is officially welcoming this plan, and even officially thanking Donald Trump for his efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. It is a plan for the continued colonial carve-up of Palestine - that is what it is - while they hope the global resistance movement will be halted by such a plan. We look at where this plan came from…

What we need to debate is the changing allocation of SNAs. I have been inundated by SNAs, parents and teachers who say the model of allocation is being introduced without any process of consultation, and it will have a damaging impact on children with special needs, meaning they do not get the support they need. We need to debate it this week.

Is the Taoiseach saying that sending a boat to the Mediterranean would breach the triple lock?

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in accordance with Standing Order 187.

May I come in on this group of questions, a Cheann Comhairle?

I welcome to the Gallery the relatives of the participants in the Global Sumud Flotilla. The EU confirmed this week that nature in this country is in a very poor state and that economic growth has been achieved at the expense of the environment. Even in that context, the Blackwater fish kill stands out as an unprecedented ecocide - over 46,000 dead fish floating to the surface, bringing home the mass extinction event happening silently every day due to intensive, industrialised agriculture. It is incredible that no…

It is agreed, but it is not satisfactory that we only ever get through two groups of questions. We are even losing five minutes today. We used to get six Question Time sessions per week. The Government got rid of Wednesday's Question Time against our objections. We are down to just Tuesday for Taoiseach's Questions and now, more weeks than not, we get through two groupings rather than three. It is on us as well, but we need to have a discussion about it. We should try to get through three groupings.

I have.

He tweeted about it anyway, although it looked like he did not watch it.

I thank the relatives for being here and for the sacrifices they themselves are making, including extra familial responsibilities and the worry they are going through. I thank them for the sacrifice their relatives are making in putting themselves in danger. The flotilla they are participating in is at the vanguard of a global uprising of millions of people against genocide, Zionism and imperialism. It helped to inspire a 24-hour general strike of Italian workers that, in turn, put pressure on the Italian Governmen…

In the run-up to last year's general election, the Government promised to abolish subminimum wage rates for young workers. When will it do it? Will this turn into another broken promise to workers and young people, alongside a week's sick pay and the promise of a living wage?

Did I hear the Minister correctly? Did he say he will not do it until 2029? Is that what he said?

It is an over and back exchange. That is the nature of the format. The Minister said the rate would not be changed until 2029 or he would consider it at that stage. I ask him to clarify that. It is incredible. We introduced a Bill to get rid of this legalised superexploitation of young people in 2022, which was passed on Second Stage. It would have gotten rid of the rate in 2023, with a timed amendment. The Government said at the time that it had to wait for a report from the Low Pay Commission. The report came out…

The Minister's bluster will not disguise what is a viciously anti-worker and anti-young person policy. The Minister is saying that 19-year-olds, 18-year-olds and 17-year-olds do not deserve to get the minimum wage - the inadequate minimum wage - in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. The Minister is saying that people who go to work and do the same work as the workers next door to them, who happen to be a little bit older, are not entitled to the minimum wage. Some 15,000 young people are affected by this. The M…

This question is about subminimum rates.

If they cannot afford to pay the minimum wage, they should not be in business.

The nightmare for the people in Gaza continues to worsen. For two years, they have been facing an Israeli genocide. More than 65,000 people have been killed, more than 20,000 children among them. Some 92% of homes have been destroyed or damaged. All the hospitals have been destroyed or damaged. Two hundred and fifty journalists have been murdered. Since March, famine has been deliberately created by Israel. Every single day, tens of people are gunned down while queuing for food. Gaza city is being invaded and peopl…

The Spanish state has also sent a vessel to help protect it. There are 22 Irish citizens on board, including Senator Chris Andrews, with Deputy Barry Heneghan due to join him. Their lives are in danger. What is the Government going to do to protect them? What accountability will there be?

Will the Government at the very least send a representative to join the legal observer boat to be a witness?