That is a pity. Ba mhaith liom an Teachta Whitmore a mholadh as an mBille seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Molaim an Dr. Sinéad Mercier freisin. Is bean iontach í. It is essential that we talk about climate action and a just transition. When the climate committee was working on the climate Bill, we were desperately trying to get a proper definition in that. People did not feel that a just transition was in order or that it was actually about climate action through justice for people and workers. The climate and biodi…

We are seriously reaching a crisis point with the cost of electricity and energy. Sinn Féin asked in September in the lead up to the budget to extend the energy credits introduced in 2022 at a time when the cost-of-living crisis was at its worst with fuel and food costs, with electricity companies announcing price hikes to customer bills and with more than 300,000 people - and growing - already in arrears with their electricity bills. We warned the Government this was going be a particularly difficult winter for pe…

My question is for the Minister for Health and concerns the free HRT scheme and the situation for women with cancer who cannot take oestrogen. While the free HRT scheme is certainly welcome, there is a vacuum for women surviving cancer. I asked about this previously on Questions on Policy or Legislation and the reply by the former Minister, Paschal Donohoe, was quite promising. I have also asked the Department of Health about it via parliamentary questions. Veoza is very expensive, with many women unable to afford …

Cuirim fáilte roimh na mná sa Gallery. This is a specific and important Bill. The crime of sexual violence and the scar it leaves on its victims are severe and devastating. It scars the person and impacts severely on their family and friends as well. I listened to the Minister's speech. People scarred by a perpetrator should not be expected to haul themselves back through the courts to obtain a restraining order or barring order. The Bill would empower the courts to impose such measures instead of placing the burde…

You were not so quick to defend Deputy Whitmore when she was interrupted-----

I thank na Teachtaí Kenny and Newsome Drennan for bringing forward this motion. I welcome the farmers to the Dáil. This Mercosur deal has been dubbed "the cows for cars trade deal" by many who rightly believe this trade deal will overwhelmingly contribute to a climate crisis that is already out of control. Those who did the cows for cars deal do not care about the programme for Government. This deal is completely incompatible with our commitments under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C, a target …

I welcome the young people to the Gallery. It is great to have so many people in the Gallery on a Thursday afternoon. I give a special mention to Paul Minnock and Charlotte Minnock, who are with me on work experience. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála inniu. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil guth ag daoine óga sa lá atá inniu ann. It is very important that young people are heard and not simply seen. Their involvement in politics can be insp…

I did not heed him. My mother told me to go out and vote for the Labour Party.

I did my own thing because I always believed in a united Ireland as well. This is my last point and we have to take it very seriously. We are currently in a world of political extremism where young people can be easily sucked into a world view that is built on misinformation and deception. Young people who use the Internet a lot are particularly susceptible to this world view but I really believe that we can inspire young people to engage in the world around them by showing them their voice is as important as ours.…

The crisis in the cost of living is out of control. Every day in this Chamber, the Opposition comes to the Government with solutions to the issues that people are facing every single day. People are having to choose between lighting and heating and are paying through the nose for insurance, toll costs and petrol and diesel. The Minister of State knows these issues are facing people. Tá a fhios aige faoi na fadhbanna atá acu. He knows the people are at the pin of their collar with inflation that the Government has f…

They are trying to work out if half of Fianna Fáil are clapping for Micheál Martin or if it is all of them. It is nonsense that is going on here.

Molaim mo chomrádaí an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh as an obair ar fad atá déanta aige ar an mBille seo. Irish culture is much revered around the globe, from our music, our poetry and our plays to our dance. Our culture is synonymous with our identity as Irish people both at home and abroad. Our old rebel songs give us insight into our past, honouring those who came before us, ag troid ar son saoirse na hÉireann. Our poets and playwrights are well renowned, and works by Beckett, Joyce and many others are still perform…

First, we support the need for this Bill but objected to the fact that there was no pre-legislative scrutiny. I hope the Minister will look at our amendments in good faith. The ESB must focus on the public good. The Minister will have heard me on several occasions, here and in the planning committee and the infrastructure committee, talking about the need to strengthen the infrastructure to strengthen the grid but that it cannot be just for data centres. We have to make sure that the grid is fixed. It has been weak…

I am disappointed that the Minister is not accepting our amendments in whole or in part. About 21% of our electricity goes towards data centres. I think I read recently that was set to increase to 30% by 2030. In France and Germany, it is around 3% or 4%. We have to make sure that the increased investment in the grid goes towards the public good. More importantly, amendment No. 2 deals with €1.5 billion in public funds drawn from the Central Fund rather than borrowed. The fact that this money is not voted by the Oi…

The current state of our country's grid and infrastructure more broadly has been a direct result of years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael neglect. Decades of under-resourcing, bad planning and mismanagement by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments have left us in the mess we are in now, with the crises in housing, education and health among a slew of others. Our grid infrastructure is the energy giver to our economy. It is the lifeblood of our country and it has not been recognised as such by this Governmen…

There comes a time in the march of a nation when it has to take the next step. That time is now. Irish unity is not just a distant aspiration. Deputy McDonald was right - the conversation has begun already among people of all ages. Uniting Ireland was brought up with me today when I met fifth and sixth-year students from Naas Community College on their visit to the Oireachtas - an chéad ghlúin eile. It is not just the next generation, but on the doorsteps of the campaign, it is coming up again and again. It is a pr…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Children and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)( b ) and 184( a ).

Decades of inaction, mismanagement and a lack of ambition from successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments have caused Ireland's critical infrastructural deficits to develop into a full-blown crisis across multiple sectors. An Teachta Daly referred to the motion that Sinn Féin brought forward last week and the snail's pace at which the Government has rolled out the transition to renewable energy. On this, we are way behind our European colleagues. While countries like Scotland, Denmark and Portugal have seriou…

I raise the case of Rebecca from Kildare. Twelve years ago following treatment for cervical cancer, Rebecca experienced early medical menopause. Women with cancer in remission are unable to use traditional hormone replacement therapy, HRT, but thankfully, a new drug for cancer survivors by the name of Veozah has been developed. This drug would be a game-changer for young women like Rebecca. However, it is not available under the new HRT scheme and it costs €75 per month. This is a cost that, unfortunately, Rebecca …

In the past few weeks, we have all heard the crushing news that electricity providers are increasing prices by significant amounts this year, but there has been no intervention by the Government to protect those forced to pay the highest prices in Europe. SSE Airtricity will increase bills by 9.5%, Energia by as much as 12% and Bord Gáis by a whopping 13.5%. Hundreds of thousands of people across the State are already in arrears on their bills. Now energy customers face even bigger bills. We are facing into another…