-----while on another level the Government is using a stick to try to get people out of cars and that stick is impoverishing many people.

The two biggest problems this Government has are the delivery of infrastructure and rip-off Ireland. The two elements are inextricably linked. The inability to deliver on infrastructure is hammering families throughout the country. It is adding to massive misery and difficulties for so many families in so many areas in terms of housing, electricity, water and transport. One of the reasons that is happening is that in this State at the moment, Government inaction around planning, permits, tendering, etc., has allowe…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — there is a need to reform the presidential election nomination and voting process, to ensure all Irish citizens living north and south are entitled to vote for the President of Ireland; and — future healthy robust campaigns should facilitate a competition of values and ideas, and a diverse range of candidates who will provide democratic choice for citizens; notes that: — currently Irish citizens who live in the North of Ireland can stand in a presidential election, camp…

It is amazing he is attacking Aontú rather than the Government.

There was nobody from Sinn Féin here at the start of this motion.

The Fr. Stone of politics.

I thank everybody who made a contribution to this important debate. There were some very interesting contributions and a fairly philosophical understanding of what is involved. This is one of the most important electoral reform motions that has come before this Chamber in a long time. I want to address the contributions of a couple of speakers. I was disappointed by Deputy Guirke who spent his time attacking his constituency competitor for petty reasons. This issue is bigger than Peadar Tóibín or Johnny Guirke. The…

People Before Profit says that Aontú's motion is too restrictive. The Labour Party says it was not restrictive enough. In reality, I have no problem with Deputy Paul Murphy's amendment. We are happy to support it. My concern is just to make sure the signatures could be verified. Deputy Hearne said people died for the right to vote. They did not die for the right to vote; they died for the right to vote in a representative democracy. People in China have the right to vote. A democracy without half the people is no d…

I feel sometimes that the Government's attitude is, Lord make me good, but just not yet. Let us implement these reforms and let us make it happen so we do not have another presidential election like this one.

Every day, on my way home from work, I pass by the Four Courts on the south side of the River Liffey. Every day, dozens of people are openly dealing in drugs and taking drugs. People are slumped on the pathway just feet from passing traffic. It is a human disaster. If I see this every day, the gardaí see it every day. Why do they tolerate it? In Meath, I talk to people who are being crucified by crime and antisocial behaviour that is happening every single night. If it is happening every night, the gardaí know abou…

They do. They see it every day.

Drive down to the Four Courts any day.

Go down to the Four Courts any day, Taoiseach.

I also pay tribute to the men's health campaigners who have worked so hard to get this issue debated in the House today. Again, I am shocked by the fact that this is the first time that we in Leinster House have had a debate solely on men's health. In many ways, the fact that we have not had the necessary focus on this issue is really telling. A month ago, Movember launched "The Real Face of Men's Health" report. This is a significant milestone in the battle to save lives. The results are startling. It has been men…

I seek to table an amendment to the Order of Business under Standing Order 35(3) to allow for questions to the Ministers for children and justice on the crisis in Tusla and IPAS and on the circumstances that led to Tusla losing a ten-year-old child yesterday and the alleged shocking crime, the murder of a child in Tusla care last week and the ongoing scandal of asylum seekers who have received deportation orders but have not been deported.

It is for the Minister for children also.

Storm Babet hit Cork two years ago. It caused damage estimated at about €200 million. It hammered the area, and it is very lucky that nobody was killed. Since then, practically nothing has been done. The area has been promised flood defences for decades but, in the best-case scenario, it is going to take eight years for those flood defences to come into play. Navan is the largest town in the country without a rail line. More Meath people commute than in any other county and we commute further. Return journey times …

Our averages are higher.

I welcome this motion and I welcome the opportunity to sign it. Ireland is on the verge of Irish unity. Full independence is within touching distance for this generation. Full self-determination is in the reach of this Dáil. There is a once-in-a-century alignment of factors that has opened the door to the possibility of unity. We have demographics, Brexit and the increasing change between North and South in terms of living standards. Irish unity is a matter of justice, economic necessity and national interest. The …

-----because they know that is unpopular but the leadership of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-----