Not even a planning application has gone in in Midleton.

There are 4,000 local authority homes in the State that are empty. That is an incredible figure. It takes eight months on average to get these local authority homes back into use. Many of them are empty for well over a year. It takes three weeks for private rental accommodation to come back into use. The difference is that private landlords cannot leave their accommodation empty for eight months. I have no doubt some of the local authority homes may be used for a longer period and therefore may need more renovation…

I raise the horrific case of Harvey Sherratt. Harvey is an eight-year-old boy. For some reason, he has been removed from the waiting list for scoliosis surgery without his parents being informed of this. Many people will have seen images of Harvey circulating in the media. It is shockingly clear that this child is suffering significantly. The curvature of his spine seems to be in excess of 90°. The curve of his spine has gone beyond what a right angle is. The child is struggling to breathe and is screaming in pain …

Aontú has long been calling on the Government to introduce a common-sense migration policy. We want one that determines who needs help and who does not, and to do so in a speedy fashion in order that decisions can be made about whether people can stay in this country or are returned. We have been raising that information for the past two or three years yet the EU migration pact was passed by the Government. Things are moving very fast, however, on this issue. Germany has decided to close its borders, which obviousl…

I welcome Deputy Leddin's speech. He lacerated the Government's lack of investment in public infrastructure in recent years.

It is only a pity that Deputy Leddin was not in government for the past five years. He conveniently forgot that the Government has plenty of money, which it is squirrelling away in a rainy day fund for the future, but that is another point. I also welcome the decision today by the finance committee to request that the Minister for Finance and the Minister for public expenditure present themselves before that committee to answer questions regarding the Government's policy on refusing the Apple tax money in recent ye…

I will take the first five minutes if that is all right.

I appreciate that. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, mentioned his vision for public delivery for childcare. It is a pity that he has not been in government for the past year to have an opportunity to put that vision in place. It is an incredible situation that we are having speeches at the end of this Government's term that should have been made at the start and the subject matter of which should have been implemented. The Minister and this Government have had a significant destabilising effect on the provision of ch…

The new Labour Party Government in Britain allows for a significant change in the relationship between Ireland and Britain on a number of fronts. The first is the issue of immigration. Figures yesterday showed an 87% increase in the number of asylum applicants in a six-month period of this year, a significant increase. If it continues for the rest of the year, it will probably be the highest figure so far in that regard. I understand we already have 2,300 asylum seekers currently without accommodation. The end of t…

I add my voice in condemnation of the Israeli military killings in the Gaza Strip in recent days, most especially the bombing of people sheltering in a school in the Gaza Strip. I wish to highlight the incredible hypocrisy of the western world. NATO can point the finger at one country for an atrocity but finds it unable to point the finger at another country for equal if not worse atrocities at the same time. That hypocrisy does not just exist on the world stage. There is hypocrisy here in this Chamber too because …

Occupying two places at the one time on a particular issue is not unknown for Fianna Fáil as well. The Taoiseach might answer the question about the hypocrisy of the Government in terms of Ursula von der Leyen's support for the IDF's war on Gaza.

In a few decades' time, a successor of the Taoiseach's will be standing where he is today, issuing an apology to all the victims who are suffering from the current child protection situation in this State. This morning, I received a letter from Tusla confirming that in the past decade, 201 children have died while known to child protection services. Nine of these children were murdered, 32 children died of suicide, six overdosed on drugs, 16 were killed in road accidents and a further 16 were killed in other accide…

The election of the President of the European Commission will take place shortly. Ursula von der Leyen is seeking a second term. Here in Ireland, she has received the backing of the Government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. What is happening in Fianna Fáil in this regard is incredible. To reference a game often played on social media, tell me you are a member of Fianna Fáil without telling me you are a member of Fianna Fáil. One of the ways this can be done in the political sense relates to support …

I welcome the family of Shane O'Farrell to the Dáil Gallery today. I commend them on the massive campaign they have run over the last number of years in the face of such resistance by the political establishment in this country. To lose a son is a disaster for any parent. It is an excruciating pain for a parent to have to bury a child. It is unimaginable, and indeed most of us here will not even try to imagine what it would be like for us to do exactly the same thing. Even that act of trying to imagine it is such a…

Neno Dolmajian, a 41-year-old Canadian tourist died yesterday from his injuries sustained during an attack on O'Connell Street last week. God rest him and deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Last year, in this country, murders nearly doubled. Robberies, extortion and hijacking offences increased by 18%. Juvenile crime levels increased massively last year as well, with increases in theft, robbery, fraud and sexual offences by teenagers. Domestic abuse cases are at a 50-year high in this country, with 40,00…

I think there is a disconnect between the Taoiseach's rhetoric and the reality on the ground. For people listening to this debate, it is like he is talking about an alternative universe in many ways. I heard him talk about another task force. There is nearly a Father Ted element to that: is there anything to be said for another task force on this? There is something to be said about actually employing more gardaí. This is the major problem and unless it is fixed, the problem will increase. Garda numbers have been a…

That is the purpose of gardaí - to enforce the law - but they are not there.

Vincent Kearney, RTÉ's current northern correspondent, believes the PSNI attempted to identify sources he worked with while with the BBC. His case came to light when two other journalists made similar allegations, namely that the PSNI had recorded their phone calls. On two occasions when I was talking to the journalists in the north of Ireland, the phone calls dropped, and immediately after this a recording of my phone calls with those journalists played back to me, which made me believe there was a malfunction of …

Today, a Canadian tourist who was attacked on O'Connell Street last week has died in hospital. Neno Dolmajian from Montreal was 41 years old. It is a very sad, tragic and heartbreaking occasion for his family and friends and our deepest sympathies go out to his family. It points to a very serious issue that the main street of our capital city is a dangerous and violent place on a regular basis for many people. It is not just the main street of our capital city but people do not feel safe in towns and villages acros…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Ar dtús, guím gach rath ar an Aire Stáit mar gheall ar an bpost nua atá aige. Is post an-deacair agus an-tábhachtach é freisin. I wish the Minister the best of luck with the job he has before him. It is a very difficult job and a very important one as well. It gives an opportunity to develop a society which is prudent and that focuses on making sure that the State is sustainable in the long term, but also that money is focused on infrastructure and public services …