The evidence is mounting of a concerted campaign of intimidation and repression by the State against pro-Palestinian activists in this country. I raised with the Taoiseach before the case of Léna Seale, a PBP local election candidate who was arrested, held for more than ten hours and charged with criminal damage for allegedly putting washable red paint on the Department of Foreign Affairs. More evidence emerged at the weekend when, in the aftermath of a massive pro-Palestinian protest at which Palestinian activists…

It has been reported that Ursula von der Leyen is to seek a second term as European Commission President, the most powerful political position in the European Union. Politico sums up her pitch as, "More military might, less climate talk". This is the Commission President who went to Israel to give a green light to the genocide that is now under way and continues to support that genocide. This is the Commission President who called for an accelerated process of militarisation, calling for an EU defence Commissioner.…

I wonder whether, in the Taoiseach's discussions with Rishi Sunak, the question of financial support for Israel's genocide in Gaza came up. Britain continues to be probably the second most enthusiastic supporter of Israel globally after the US. War bonds are a type of government debt to raise capital to fund war efforts. Does the Taoiseach agree that US Treasury bonds have effectively become war bonds, given the US's crucial role in funding the genocide in Gaza? As of last November, funds domiciled in Ireland have …

The Ukrainian people have faced two years of invasion, occupation and war crimes as a result of Putin's horrendous, criminal, imperialist invasion. It has been described as a meat grinder and compared with the First World War due to the level of casualties and the type of war that is being fought. More than 10,000 civilians have been killed and that is potentially a significant underestimate as a result of some of the atrocities it has not been possible to properly investigate. There has been absolute horror for th…

First, I thank the families, the advocates and the children in the Gallery for taking time out to fight for healthcare services. People should get the healthcare that they need. They should not be on long waiting lists. They should not be waiting over a year to get healthcare. It is a national scandal that we are here tonight. We have been here before. Children with scoliosis are being failed in such a brutal and inhumane way by the State. Every day, week and month that goes by with children on waiting lists for ne…

I want to raise the case of adult education tutors who will gather in large numbers outside the Dáil today at 1 p.m. For years they have been fighting for pay parity, for an end to discrimination and for proper contracts and pensions but they continue to be denied these by the Government. Effectively, the Government is trying to get away with not providing proper incremental payscales, is offering piecemeal pensions and is demanding that they do the work of administrative staff. These are teachers. They do the work…

The World Economic Forum is at the centre of all sorts of far-right conspiracy theories these days. These theories suggest that the forum rules the world. I do not believe the World Economic Forum rules the world or that there is a conspiracy here. In fact, it is simply capitalism. Capitalism operates by the governments of the world responding to the needs, interests, concerns and wishes of the ruling classes in the world, that is, the multimillionaires and billionaires. Events like the World Economic Forum at Davo…

The Chinese regime is a repressive and authoritarian regime. It is a country with very few democratic rights. I was struck by the decision to close all access for the public to the Phoenix Park to facilitate this meeting. It was not just to facilitate the meeting, because one could have had lots of people in the Phoenix Park and the meeting could have gone ahead, but to facilitate the meeting happening without expressions of protest about what is happening in China. Was that a request of the Chinese administration …

It has been reported that on the Taoiseach's visit to the western Balkans, the issue of regional security was discussed. I wonder whether the issue with NATO came up, and whether the issue of Ireland's new individual tailored partnership programme, a new agreement with NATO, came up. Does the Taoiseach think it is appropriate that the Irish Government is able to sign Ireland up when it is a country that remains, formally speaking, neutral? The Taoiseach is forced to say Ireland is neutral and there is no intention …

The writing is on the wall for the TV licence. That is the reality of what is happening outside this House. Hundreds of thousands of people are voting with their wallets and are boycotting the TV licence fee. As a consequence of that act, there seems to be a very significant debate in government about what is to come next. That is really what we should be focused on today. We should have an acceptance that the TV licence has to go. There should be an amnesty for non-payers. We have set out our point of view in some…

Vótáil.

Vótáil.

I just said vótail.

The Ceann Comhairle said it was agreed, then I said "Vótáil". That is how it happens. When was I meant to say it?

Will the Ceann Comhairle tell me when I was meant to say it?

I did say it immediately.

We have an amendment that I would like to move. I move amendment No. 2 to amendment No. 2: A. To delete the following: "— that there is a legal obligation on those who own a television set to have a television licence, and that any amnesty would be inherently unfair on those who are compliant with this obligation; — that the licence fee currently brings significant benefits to Irish society, not only through the funding of RTÉ, but through its funding of the Sound and Vision Scheme which is available to all broadca…

I called it at the same time I called the last one.

Every child in this country deserves and should be provided with an appropriate school place in their community. However, that is not what is happening. There are children in different parts of this country who are faced with having to travel far outside of their communities for a school place, whether for primary or secondary school. In some extreme circumstances, they are only left with the choice of being tutored at home. I have specific examples to give. We need action on this.

The Minister said that every child will get an appropriate school place. Is she saying to the parents in Citywest, many of whom have contacted me to say that they do not have primary school places for their children, that they will get places for their children in Citywest? At the moment, they are being told something else. For example, one was told by a principal that her daughter could do another year in preschool and reapply next year because the schools were all oversubscribed and she is far down on the waiting…