-----and the Tánaiste actually does not know the Government's own housing policy. He stood there and tried to justify this. I understand his dilemma because I asked him a simple question, which was whether he believes the houses the Government is delivering on Oscar Traynor Road, at an entry price of €400,000 for a three-bedroom house and going up to €475,000, are affordable. He cannot answer that simple question because he knows that to say "Yes" is absolutely daft and to say "No" shows up that the Government is c…

-----is about gifting public land to private developers. This scheme should be 100% affordable - social housing and affordable homes. I ask the question very simply. Is €400,000 affordable for a three-bedroom house in Coolock, in the Tánaiste's view? It goes up to €475,000. It could have been affordable. This month, Ó Cualann has delivered three-bedroom affordable purchase homes in Ballymun at purchase prices of €264,000 to €295,000. Why? It is not for profit. The land was kept public, the right thing was done. The…

This is ridiculous.

A Cheann Comhairle, you cannot accept that these houses are being sold for €270,000. Let us fact-check it.

Let us fact-check the Tánaiste's claim.

Let us fact-check.

Can I ask a question on a point of order?

That is fine, but I would like to know at some stage after Leaders' Questions, when the Tánaiste deliberately misleads the House, what rights does the Opposition have?

I am absolutely, fully accusing him of deliberately misleading the House. He suggested that these houses will be sold for €270,000. It is a bloody plain lie.

I am not making an accusation, I am stating a fact.

I am. You are being completely dishonest.

As Ireland prepares for Swiftmania, with Swifties from all over the country descending on Dublin, one would be forgiven for thinking that the music festival scene in Ireland is booming but nothing could be further from the truth. As a founder, director and chairperson of the Sult Music Festival, a not-for-profit festival held in Gaoth Dobhair, which will be held again in a fortnight, I have seen at first hand the importance of the music festival circuit to Irish acts and the industry that surrounds it. While many o…

What we are debating is whether Ireland should opt in fully and wholesale to the EU migration pact. Sinn Féin's position is crystal clear, and it is that we should not. It is not in Ireland's interest. Ireland and Europe have seen a significant increase in migration rates for a number of years. In 2019, the number of people applying for international protection in the State was fewer than 5,000. Last year, the number was more than 13,000, almost tripling it in the space of four years. By the end of last month 107,0…

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, agus cuirim fáilte roimh an rún seo. Níl dabht ar bith ach go bhfuil ár gcomhlachtaí beaga ag streachailt agus go bhfuil siad mar chnámh droime eacnamaíochta, go háirithe in earnáil na turasóireachta. D'fhulaing siad go mór le cúpla bliain anuas. Our hospitality and tourism sector, which is the backbone of our economy has suffered from a very difficult three years. As a result of the pandemic, so many were forced to close their doors and they endured a dramatic drop in footfall…

My office has been inundated with demands for a dedicated outpatient neurology service provided by a consultant neurologist at Letterkenny University Hospital. The community neurorehabilitation team in the north west is seriously understaffed and operating with only one third of the required number of staff. This will not change until the HSE's recruitment embargo is lifted. That recruitment embargo was brought about by Government underfunding of the health service. Is it not time for better neurology services to b…

I accept that Letterkenny University Hospital currently provides clinics for patients with neurological conditions but it urgently requires a dedicated outpatient neurology service provided by a consultant neurologist. This is not the first time I have raised this issue with the Minister. He previously informed me the review of the neurology services in the north west was under way. The difference is that the review was supposed to have been completed by now. The last time the Minister told me about the review, it …

It is not acceptable to make neurology patients travel so far. The campaign group Patients Deserve Better has outlined the impact of this, including the increased costs and waiting lists, as well as unnecessary hospital admissions when services are not provided locally. It is not just the campaign group, however. The HSE model of care report suggests there is a need for a consultant neurologist to provide neurology services at Letterkenny University Hospital. This is just another example of Letterkenny University H…

I will begin by wishing our colleague Deputy Jennifer Whitmore a speedy recovery. We look forward to welcoming her back to the House. I read this morning that she was taken to hospital. All of us on these benches wish her a speedy recovery. Aréir, thuairiscigh "RTÉ Investigates" an mí-úsáid uafásach, an cruálacht agus an drochíde capall ar an seamlas amháin atá againn atá ceadaithe sa Stát seo. Teastaíonn gníomhú láithreach ar an mí-úsáid a thuairiscíodh agus caithfear an dlí iomlán a chur ar na daoine atá freagrac…

I thank the Minister. I agree with him. Anybody who watched that programme last night could not be anything but shocked, appalled and sickened to their core at the distressing images that were presented. This morning I am struggling to find out some information. The Minister may be able to shed some light on it. This is the only licensed abattoir in the State. Is it still operating? Is it business as usual? Is this company still operating this abattoir this week? Will there be slaughtering of animals there? Does th…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and let me also, Martin, be associated with the words of the Ceann Comhairle. I wish you all the best in your retirement and thank you, on behalf of Sinn Féin, for all the assistance you gave us and the whole team in the Oireachtas throughout the 22 years. We really appreciate that. Yesterday, the public had a case of déjà vu , with the chair of the RTÉ board telling the Oireachtas media committee that the national broadcaster is considering paying out €400,000 to an unnamed individual. …