I add my voice to what Deputy Boyd Barrett said. There is a huge power differential in the film industry between producers on the one hand and actors, crews and directors on the other. We have heard about blacklisting and other issues that do not add to the sustainability of the film industry. We need a stakeholders' forum and to ensure we have a framework for catching those issues. The well-being framework also deals with environmental matters. I am glad to see that the SEAI has carried out and published a feasibi…

Many of us have brought up the issue of housing adaptation grants, particularly those to be used for older people and those with disabilities. There are particular issues in respect of councils running out of money but beyond that, the thresholds and amounts are not sufficient to deliver what is required. We have heard about the review that is ongoing. Can the Taoiseach give us an update on where it is and the timeline? Hopefully, it will deliver on some of these issues. We are constantly talking about modern metho…

What about the housing adaptation grant?

I assume the Taoiseach agrees with me on my third point on assessments of water capacity.

As regards the process and set-up of the consultative forum, many of us saw it as the Government removing the conversation from the Irish people to some degree. We have issues with that particular process and set-up. I welcome some of what has been said. A peace and stability unit, using the history and skill sets we have and built on our history of having been colonised and our anti-colonial history of resistance and peacebuilding, is what we need to do. There is absolute belief among the Irish people of the need …

I move amendment No. 69: In page 75, after line 41, to insert the following: “(3) Section 481 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (2)(b), by the insertion of the following subparagraphs after subparagraph (iv): “(v) a condition that the qualifying company shall, in respect of the qualifying film concerned, comply fully with the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and the Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019, (vi) a condition that the qualifying company s…

The Government is great at setting targets and disgraceful at delivering them. It is nearly December and we are still waiting for the climate action progress report for quarter 3. When will that report be published? In mid-October, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, advised it would be delivered shortly. More than a month later, there is still no update on how Ireland is addressing climate change. Will the report be delivered this side of Christmas? According to the Climate Change Advisory Council, 49.3% of the 2021-…

It is a huge issue that Israel has never been called out or held to account for its many crimes. There is a particular right-wing regime, run by Benjamin Netanyahu, which has the worst elements of the settler movement. We are talking about annexation, apartheid and the idea of a greater Israel right at the heart of the Israeli Government that is absolutely committed to there being no Palestinian state or self-government of any real and meaningful sort. Disgraceful cover has been provided by both America and the EU.…

I want to deal with the issue of the ambulance services. Much fine work is done by many who work in the system but talking on a local or even a State-wide basis, we hear about the many deficiencies and issues that need to be looked at. It is an issue that I brought up with the HSE. On Friday, 10 November 2023, a 93-year-old woman waited from 5.20 p.m. until 9.05 p.m. for an ambulance to come and help her. Her son told me she fell in her home and was unable to move. She was in a huge level of pain. There were a numb…

It is not the first time that employment conditions within the film industry have been brought up with the Taoiseach. The power differential is huge at times. The stakeholder forum is a means of addressing these issues so the sooner the better. It is absolutely required. As much as we would like to deal with some of these issues through the Finance Bill, this is something that is required across the board, whether we are talking about actors, crew members, directors, or whoever else, and it is about maintaining a s…

Of course he has something to say.

As Deputy Cullinane said, we will support this legislation. It is required in the context of the risk equalisation system. We all know people who, at times, cannot afford health insurance but who believe it is the only way in which they can keep themselves and their families safe. Even when they cannot afford it, they do everything they can to cut back with a view to paying for private health insurance. In 2022, that was 47% of people, a huge percentage, which tells us we have a two-tiered system that is not workin…

People Before Profit-Solidarity now have a 20-minute slot. Will Deputy Boyd Barrett be taking it all?

It seems that Lebanon's military tribunal has released one of the men accused of the murder of Private Seán Rooney. Obviously, four others are still at large also. Could the Tánaiste give an update on the case and any engagements that he has had with the Lebanese authorities and other stakeholders? As he said previously, it is all about leaving no stone unturned in the context of delivering justice for Private Seán Rooney.

Obviously, I cannot imagine how this is for Natasha and the rest of the family. I am aware that the Tánaiste met with them. The most important thing is that we ensure the family is kept up to date as much as possible. It is vital that we get answers. I do not think it is okay that the Tánaiste learned of this through media reports. I do welcome the fact that the family was informed as soon as he knew, but we need to get the answers in relation to this issue. We are very worried about this situation. We know that it…

It is vital that we keep our eyes on the situation and that we get the answers as to why we were not informed initially. Beyond that, it is vital we maintain contacts with the UN and the Lebanese authorities. It is also vital that we look after our Defence Forces. Private Rooney was on a UNIFIL operation, which is vital peacekeeping. We have always been afraid about such a set of circumstances given the particularly precarious situation in the Middle East. Given the onslaught that Gaza is under by the Israelis at t…

I want to deal with the concerns raised by the head of the UNIFIL mission and force commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro about the security situation in south Lebanon. The Tánaiste has already spoken about how none of us want to see an escalation of anything in the Lebanon on the basis of the slaughter happening in Gaza. He spoke about peacekeeping being the most noble act of all, but we must ensure we have best practice in protocols, operations and equipment for our troops.

It is absolutely necessary that we do whatever can be done to ensure there is not a regional escalation. If we could have a ceasefire in Gaza, it would obviously facilitate this to a significant degree. We must be absolutely vigilant for changed sets of circumstances. I get the tension. I stress, as have many others, that we are talking about our Defence Forces. Our personnel are very highly trained and have a great level of professionalism and, at times, necessary courage. However, we need to ensure this vigilance…

We also need the Israelis to stop their slaughter.

Science Week is incredibly important. We recognise the huge potential we have as humans and the massive strides we have made through science. It is also fair enough to say huge difficulties have been created by certain aspects. Speaking as a constituency Teachta Dála, I have seen some of the positive work that has been done by the likes of SOLAS and the Louth-Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, with the Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education and Drogheda Institute of Further Education, and the multiple path…