I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to be able to bring this important Bill on hospital car parking charges to the Dáil on Second Stage. Aontú has been developing this Bill for a long time. We want to see it pass through the Oireachtas as fast as possible. Car parking charges are having a critical effect on families across the country. Anybody who has had a diagnosis of cancer, heart disease, stroke, mental health issues or any serious, life-threatening illness will know that those dia…

There is an awareness and agreement, at least among the contributors, that there is a significant problem here. Citizens who can least afford it are carrying a significant burden that they should not be carrying. Unfortunately what we have got from the Government is a nebulous maybe; they might have a look into it, review the situation, think about it for a little bit longer. On one side of the scales we have a crisis in many people's lives who are suffering a life and death situation; on the other we have a Govern…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an nGrúpa Réigiúnach agus Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh as an obair a chuaigh isteach sa rún seo. Aontaím go huile is go hiomlán leis. Is rún iontach láidir é agus le cúnamh Dé beidh gach páirtí sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt dó. I am grateful to the Regional Group for tabling this strong motion. I am also grateful that this subject is being debated by all parties here because this concerns an important aspect of inclusion. Ireland today wears the clothes of inclusion. Indeed, it flies the flag of inclusion…

While the provisions of this Bill are to be welcomed, I have concerns over the exclusion of a number of elements of the recommendations of the finance committee, especially the retrospective elements. We sat on the committee week after week, and we listened carefully to what was said by a string of whistleblowers who testified before us. Some of them have had their lives ruined due to their experiences. I have spoken to many whistleblowers who have lost marriages, families, jobs, pensions and homes. Being a whistle…

The crisis in the cost of living for people across the country is at an extreme level. Utility bills are going through the roof. Many people are getting bills of €600, €700, €800 or €900. Most families do not have that kind of cash lying around for such bills and some are getting into debt in order to try to cover the cost of them. The number of people who have contacted my offices across my constituency of Meath West and Meath in general over the past couple of weeks and detailed the increases in their bills is in…

Over the past two years Ireland has seen the implementation of the longest and most severe restrictions anywhere in Europe. That has had a massive negative effect on many elements of society, from cancer care to domestic violence, mental health etc. Small businesses especially have suffered significantly over that period. Many were hammered and are now what are called zombie businesses, only functioning because of the supports they have got. What supports will they be given now to ensure they survive?

I am glad the Tánaiste did compare the monetary elements of the crisis to the banking crisis because it is in that space financially. A figure of €40 billion is a phenomenal amount of money that has built up cost-wise over the past two years. A lot of that was necessary. The Tánaiste should not get me wrong; I am aware the Government had to make difficult decisions over that period, but we are talking about an enormous economic impact. Last year, we had a deficit of €9 billion, and we have a deficit this year in th…

We know there are 4,700 childcare providers in limbo at the moment due to the difficulty regarding funding. We also know that approximately 40,000 people who worked in the hospitality industry in 2019 are not expected to be there in 2022. We further know that there is a significant number of zombie businesses. I do not like using that term because it seems sensationalist, but it does convey the true picture of a whole lot of businesses that stayed alive simply because they have had Government supports and, as the s…

Corporation tax in this country was the Holy Grail of economic policy for government after government. Anybody who questioned the corporation tax rate in this State was almost deemed an enemy of the State and someone who was attacking the very existence of jobs. Now there has been a change in the corporation tax regime, is the sky falling down? How many businesses have left this country? How many jobs have been lost as a result?

Ireland has had a bargain basement corporation taxation policy for the past 20 or 30 years. We have an infamous reputation as a tax haven. We have done enormous damage to ourselves among our international partners. In debates I have had with the Tánaiste in this Chamber and on radio and television I have stated that any change to the corporation tax of this country would lead directly to radical difficulties within businesses and in regard to the development of foreign direct investment and a loss of jobs. I welcom…

Fine Gael in particular sells itself as a party of business. The increase in input costs, rents etc. is costing major difficulties with regard to competitiveness in the economy.

It is important that as a State, we start to analyse what we are doing to respond to the cost of living. It is interesting that we are having this debate over the wages of people who are on the lowest level of income in the State, and the Government is pouring water on any opportunity to see those incomes rise. That is in stark contrast to the Government's attitude to the likes of Robert Watt, who have experienced increases in their wages of almost €100,000 in a short period. It is amazing that a Minister can pick …

On 5 February 1992, the UDA murdered five nationalists and wounded another nine in the Sean Graham bookmaker shop on the Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast. Two men wearing boiler suits and balaclavas pumped 44 bullets into the victims. The names of the five Catholic men and boys were: Christy Doherty, aged 52; Jack Duffin, aged 66; James Kennedy, aged 15; Peter Magee, aged 18; and William McManus, aged 54. The police ombudsman for the North yesterday released another shocking report. There has been a litany of reports. …

Ten days ago the Taoiseach laid a wreath at the Bloody Sunday Memorial in Derry. At the time and since then the Taoiseach has indicated the families of those who were lost, who were murdered, on Bloody Sunday need to find justice. We are looking at the likelihood that there is going to be an amnesty. If there is an amnesty in the North of Ireland, it means there is no rule of law and that the perpetrators will get away with murder. I attended the 50th anniversary of the Ballymurphy massacre, and speaker after speak…

What is the cost to Britain?

The Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention team patrols the River Shannon at night to prevent suicide or accidental death but it is without a base. It has no building or location for operations and it is currently working out of a van. If somebody is suicidal, he or she clearly needs privacy and support when waiting for an ambulance. Such people need to be away from cameras and video devices. The chair of the group, Mr. Matthew Collins, and Aontú Limerick representative, Ms Sarah Beasley, are working hard to try to get…

It has.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael present themselves as parties of the free market. In many ways both parties have skewed the housing market significantly. A young family looking to buy a house needs to compete with an institution that has a tax regime not comparable to the young family's. It may pay no tax, but certainly pays a very small amount compared with the family it is competing against. It is getting an interest rate on international markets of 0% or a little above compared with what the young family must pay here…

I referred to a doubling of leasing on social houses.

But the leasing of social houses in Dublin-----