How did it all go wrong? We had a story in this country of which we could be truly proud with the electrification of our country when times were really tough - Ardnacrusha. We built up an electricity supply sector that was publicly owned and the cheapest in Europe, something of which we could be immensely proud. When liberalisation policies were requested by Europe, we had Thatcherite governments that could not move quickly enough to sell off the family jewels. Remember when they privatised our services. Today beca…

The issue I am raising with the Minister of State is astonishing in its injustice. There is a situation whereby schools across the country have welcomed children from refugee and asylum-seeking families with a good heart. They are nurturing and educating those children, and have welcomed them into their schools. I want to give an example from one school in Donegal but there are many other examples I could give across the county and the country. I have one example on my desk. Sessiaghoneill National School had 152 c…

As I have said, what I have here in front of me is a brief that was sent from the school to the Deputies in Donegal. I quote directly from this brief where it says: "In fact we were advised by Department representatives to contact our local Red Cross or St. Vincent de Paul." That is their testimony, so somebody has done that. The report also shows that they have 52 additional children. Normally a school would get capitation rates per child. Covid cleaning comes from that along with minor works, free school books gr…

In recent days, the management of Letterkenny University Hospital, LUH, launched a plan for the improvement of services at the hospital. Hardly a week goes by where I do not hear horror stories from families about the emergency department and what is happening there. The conditions are absolutely unacceptable, both for the patients and the nurses and doctors who have to work there. We do not have enough beds, nurses and doctors in LUH and in the community hospitals. LUHl is the sixth largest hospital in the State. …

There is no legislation. What legislation is here this week?

Due to the appalling imagery of the retained firefighters walking out of the Public Gallery last night while the Minister was giving his speech, and because the gap was ten or fewer, under Standing Order 83(3)(b) I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

The Minister has got the immediate reaction of firefighters to what he has said. They have walked out of the Public Gallery in response to his words because he gave pretty much the same speech here last November. There is absolute tone deafness among the likes of the LGMA, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Government. How can the Minister possibly connect the working pay and conditions that have been so well reported to the people of Ireland over the past week on our public airwaves, …

The Good Friday Agreement was a momentous achievement, not only by political leaders on the island of Ireland but also facilitated by political leaders in the United States, the European Union and others internationally. I am almost 50 now. It was half my life ago. In the first half of my life, I witnessed nothing but conflict. I saw it in my family first hand, in my community and across the Border in the nearest city, Derry. The agreement was of huge importance but it must be nurtured. That is why there has been a…

The Minister of State was here last week when I challenged the Taoiseach on the failure in respect of affordable housing. I thank the Social Democrats for its motion. I will repeat what I said to the Minister of State on that occasion. Last year, just seven of the 31 local authorities in the State delivered affordable housing. There is a complete failure to deliver affordable housing. In my home county, Donegal, we have a perfect storm, as the Minister of State well knows. We have the defective blocks crisis and th…

The people of Donegal are sick and tired of the neglect of Letterkenny University Hospital, LUH. The Minister for Health met with representatives of the County Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland when he was last up in the county. He learned first-hand about the serious crisis in diabetes care. An adult is supposed to wait six months for an important appointment, but it is 24 months in County Donegal. Recently, not one but two consultant endocrinologists resigned from the hospital. Will the Minister personally inter…

These are facts, the hard facts.

I am happy to meet the Minister one-to-one to enlighten him, if he wishes.

A Banking & Payments Federation report reveals that the average income now of first-time buyer families is €90,000, a shocking figure in light of the average wage in the State. I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, talk about affordable housing. I have to hand a copy of the report from last year for all local authorities. Seven out of 31 local authorities delivered affordable housing and seven out of 31 delivered cost rental. The Government is not serious here. There are no plans to build affordabl…

I will focus my comments on the need for partnership with fishing communities when the Minister is developing offshore wind. I want to report back to the Minister that I met with fishermen from Wicklow just before I came to speak in the Dáil and they are very clear. I speak to fishermen all around the coast. They do not feel that they have a partnership with the wind energy companies and that they are equals in terms of sharing the marine resource. The Minister will agree that there are three key stakeholders here:…

Hear, hear.

The Minister of State's colleague, the Minister for Health, is not here. At the Business Committee last Thursday, I made it clear this Private Members' business would be on hospitals, relevant to that Minister. He has not given any apologies to our colleague and spokesperson on health, Deputy Cullinane. It is really disrespectful. What is happening in our health service is having a profound impact across the country on families and is incredibly cruel on the doctors and nurses carrying this impossible burden becaus…

Hear, hear.

This week.

It is a great pity that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs did not stay for this debate because this goes to the heart of the Irish people's stand against apartheid over the years. In 1984, the workers at Dunnes Stores led the way, and within a few years the Irish Government had followed suit and put in place sanctions and bans against the South African apartheid regime. Ireland led the way in confronting apartheid in the world. How did we get to where we are today? How have we gone so wrong? How did we …

Oh come on now.