There needs to be a massive change in the approach to remote work in legislation to formalise it as a legitimate labour entitlement and a right and to ensure that remote working is harnessed to support people and communities. Ireland needs a national target for remote work. We need to facilitate and support companies to support workers to ensure that the right and access to remote employment is available for workers across this country. We should not be reverting to them versus us, as has been referred to. This is …

Next month will mark three years since the publication of the Shannon report into sexual abuse of children at St. John Ambulance. Despite the passage of so much time, we are still waiting for recommendations to be implemented. Now there are question marks about the independence of a national safeguarding officer. I am told that survivors have been trying to meet the Minister but they have been refused a meeting. This foot dragging and refusal to engage in such an important issue is unacceptable. We need a debate on…

It is very disappointing to again see the Minister's failure to support a measure which could help the housing crisis. I thank Sinn Féin and Deputy Doherty for bringing forward the motion. Unfortunately, it is one of many areas where we are seeing the Government claiming that its policies are being developed to promote affordable housing and to promote delivery of housing but, in fact, they are, what I think describes it very accurately, "designed to fail". The Minister had no interest in banning or stopping instit…

Tá an ghéarchéim thithíochta uafásach. Today, it has been revealed by the Simon Communities Locked Out of the Market report that there are zero properties available within standard housing assistance payment, HAP, limits. This is the first time any Simon Communities report has shown there is not one property available. Where are people to go and how are they supposed to afford the extortionate market rents? It is an emergency, but the only emergency action the Government is taking is to allow landlords to hike up r…

This matter relates to Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin on Glasanaon Road in Finglas, Dublin 11. A number of parents contacted me to outline some very serious concerns regarding the condition of the school building. Tá an-fhearg agus an-fhrustrachas ar na tuismitheoirí. The building is simply not in an acceptable state. The parents highlighted the fact that the teachers in the school do an excellent job but that the school is located in an extremely old and visibly deteriorating building that is no longer fit for purpose. It w…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I will again emphasise that, as the Minister of State has outlined, we have had a serious weather situation. I am sure it is not the only school in the country facing situations like this. Indeed, I know it is not. In my constituency and across the country, there are issues in relation to school buildings being kept up to standard. We have an issue in that the capitation grant given to schools is not sufficient to cover the basic cost of running a school. That is why parents are…

This motion has some very positive aspects. It is important to highlight the issue of flooding and its impacts on people across this country. It has impacted people in so many different ways and our hearts go out to all those who are dealing with the fallout from it. While we cannot predict whether it is going to rain tomorrow or the next day what we do know is that climate change is happening right now. We also know that we can prevent further changes in climate change. We also know we lack infrastructure investme…

Start now.

If we could get more in, we would not have to-----

The saving scheme is private sector-----

Hear, hear.

But the Taoiseach has no problem giving investment funds their-----

----- thousands of euro extra.

As I have stated previously, this Bill will be deeply damaging for renters. When we talk about renters, who are we talking about? We are talking about families, individuals and young people who are trying to work, go to school, go to college and live their lives. This Bill increases rents in a way that will absolutely hammer people. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Minister are completely disconnected from the reality of what is involved in trying to rent a home right now. If they had any sense of what it is like to …

I never said it was.

It is not mud; it is the reality.

This Bill lacks it.

They will not be able to afford to be in it.

Not for existing renters. You give no protection to existing renters.

They are still as vulnerable to no-fault evictions.