Public service.

One aspect of a changing world is a population that is getting older. That means we need more people caring for the people who get older and who are less mobile and have higher levels of disability and so on. That means the people who provide that care need to be treated properly if we are going to get the people to do the work, the need for which is expanding and is going to expand as the population of this country gets older. However, we do not, to a very large extent, treat them well. I have met quite a lot of p…

I am happy to support this extension insofar as it is contributing to enabling and supporting street life in cities, towns and villages. It will allow people to socialise and interact on the streets. People will be able to enjoy the lovely weather we are having at the moment and make the very best of it. Generally, it brings vibrancy and energy to our cities, towns and villages. This is a good move by the Government but I wish enabling bars and restaurants to seat people on the streets was matched by a greater comm…

The Government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth on the question of sanctioning Israel. It is trying to convey to the public, who want to see sanctions imposed on this genocidal murderous regime, that it is imposing sanctions but in actuality it is doing everything to ensure that no serious sanctions are imposed on the regime. On the same day that 14 Irish people were being kidnapped on the high seas, tortured and abused last week and the Taoiseach was saying publicly that there should be no business as us…

What is wrong with that?

Yes.

Yes.

It would not-----

As it was so obvious to the world that a genocidal slaughter was taking place in Gaza and that Israel was inflicting genocide, the Taoiseach was eventually forced to say that he thought a genocide was taking place. I ask the Taoiseach a simple question: do we continue to trade with regimes that are doing genocide and treat them as normal states? Do we just treat them like any other trading or business partner? Do we continue to increase the amount of trade we do with states that are doing genocide and apartheid? Do…

The Taoiseach is saying the Government is going to do it unilaterally. What is he talking about?

Not only is the Taoiseach gutting the occupied territories Bill but, according to The Currency, which put in an FOI about the investigation into overflights as to whether weapons are going across our airspace to help Israel commit its crimes, that investigation has effectively ground to a halt. The Government is not serious about ending the potential complicity of this country with the genocidal horror being imposed on the Palestinians.

I have asked the Taoiseach repeatedly about the social housing income thresholds, which have not been increased since 2023. Every year - indeed every month and every week - working people who have got a pay increase and who in some cases just get the working family payment are pushed over the limit. They might have been five, ten or 15 years on a housing list, and it is all gone. They are left in limbo. Most of the time when they go just over the threshold, their income is not sufficient to qualify for cost rental …

On 13 May, the Irish Independent reported that DLR Properties Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, but which, incredibly, councillors have no control over and no say in whatsoever, put up for sale on the private market land in Cherrywood, which is zoned for more than 1,000 units of housing. It is shocking that the State - the only political representation on it is Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - is selling off land that could be used for housing in the midst of a housing crisis.

Why sell it?

It is publicly owned.

Today, the world is rightly expressing disgust at the treatment of Irish and other activists trying to bring aid to the besieged people of Gaza at the hands of the Israeli regime. However, Germany, a European country, is treating another Irish citizen, another pro-Palestinian activist, in an equally outrageous way. There is a show trial going on and the basic rights of an Irish citizen are being absolutely flouted as he and the other detainees are being prosecuted as criminals and terrorists for protesting against …

I actually cannot believe my ears. Daniel's family are appealing for the Government to send observers because they fear a show trial situation. The detainees are being prosecuted under anti-organised crime legislation. They are being tried in a high-security court, not a normal court. They are being denied access during the trial to their own legal team. They are brought in handcuffed and put behind high-security glass. They have been kept in more or less solitary confinement – since last September in Daniel's case…

I did not ask for legal assistance; observers are what I asked for.

This points to the duplicity of the Government. It says it is appalled at the treatment of flotilla activists at the hands of the Israeli regime. The flotilla activists, before they were detained, or kidnapped, urged for a vote in favour of the sanctions Bill to sanction Israel but the Government condemned it, said there should not be business as usual and came in here and voted against sanctions. We are getting the same duplicity in the case of Daniel. Will the Minister send observers to the trial, which is what t…

This is the duplicity of the Government.