On Friday, 9 May, Europe marks the 75th anniversary of the Schuman declaration, a moment meant to usher in peace, human rights and solidarity in Europe. Those founding ideals lie in tatters. Peace in Europe did not hold, as anyone in the Balkans and Ukraine could tell us. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU stood united. Sanctions were imposed, aid was sent and declarations were made that such aggression would not be tolerated. Like Ukraine, Palestinian land has been occupied, annexed and bombarded by a monstrous r…

Eight years and €13 million later, we are still in the dark about what Grace endured. Shockingly, critical information and extensive submissions have been omitted from the 2,000-page report, according to the legal team responsible for the legal, personal and financial affairs of Grace. This raises huge questions about the report. That such vital information should be omitted from it beggars belief. Farrelly's report on Grace managed 2,000 pages, the equivalent of a box of paper, the Minister knows how big that is, …

I could speak about a hundred different issues in my constituency of Kildare North today, but I cannot, and my constituents would not want me to, ignore the depravity we see on our screens every day. Last week Irish mothers felt compelled to comply slowly with gardaí outside the Dáil because they refuse to normalise the barbarity we see on our screens. Irish legislation requires air carriers to get an exemption from the Department of Transport to carry munitions across Irish airspace. Yet Israel-bound cargo planes,…

How do we know?

We do not know.

Yesterday, on World Autism Awareness Day, parents of neurodiverse children slept outside the Dáil for the second time this year. I went out to them after the voting block yesterday, so taken was I by their hard-hitting presentation in the audiovisual room yesterday. Many of these children have no school place for September. They are being denied fundamental human and educational rights by the State. One of the mothers said to me last night that although her child is non-verbal, she is not. These parents are a formi…

It is clear that criminal activity among young people is on the rise but that did not happen in a vacuum. With increased reports of theft, fraud and sexual offences by teenagers aged 12 to 17 years of age, more needs to be invested in our young people to engage with them instead of treating them as social pariahs. Last week, I visited the Lough na Mona community centre in Leixlip, which is supported by In Sync. Lough na Mona is a council estate in a very affluent area in Leixlip. Supported by Kildare County Council…

It is the Government's motion.

Like-minded is right.

What has he got on you?

Shameful.

The tenant in situ scheme has saved many families across north Kildare from homelessness due to the housing crisis created by this Government and the almost identical Government before it. Abandoning this scheme is going to leave people in a housing limbo suddenly facing homelessness. The tenant in situ scheme has offered a lifeline to those facing emergency accommodation, sofa surfing, sleeping in their cars or, worse, sleeping rough. It is a vital homelessness prevention scheme, yet it has been up to Sinn Féin an…

Do not treat us differently than men. The Ceann Comhairle is well able for it.

As north Kildare's only female TD, I am delighted to speak on International Women's Day as a member of Sinn Féin, a party that champions women and holds them to the same standard and regard as our male colleagues. We do not expect to be treated differently - just the same, thanks. I have always said that a woman's place is in the revolution, be that here sa bhaile, sa Phalaistín nó fud fad na cruinne. From Constance Markievicz to Mairéad Farrell, whose anniversary it is today - suaimhneas síoraí di - tá mná i stair…

The same cannot be said for the likes of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, but particularly Fianna Fáil. With just seven women elected out of 48 Fianna Fáil TDs, it is the worst party when it comes to gender balance. What must it be to be a woman in Fianna Fáil and manage to get elected? I do not know but I imagine they would be as good as any of their male counterparts. I have noticed that only the member of the Cabinet spoke here today. All the other Fianna Fáil women left, and I hope they left in protest. It is importan…

We can all hear you, do not worry.

That would be great. We are waiting for Deputy Ward's leader to come in and explain what is going on in his party.

Níl mé líofa ach táim ag foghlaim. Chuaigh mé go dtí an Ghaeltacht i nGleann Cholm Cille an samhradh seo caite agus beidh mé ag dul ann arís i mbliana le cúpla ball de mo chumann Shinn Féin i gCill Dara Thuaidh. Cabhraigh sé go mór liom. Is féidir linn go léir feabhas a chur ar ár gcuid Gaeilge le chéile. Tá an-chuid tacaíocht don Ghaeilge fud fad na tíre. Táim ag caint faoi ghrúpaí cosúil le Cill Dara le Gaeilge agus Sult na Sollán i mo Dháilcheantar féin. Cuireann siad tacaíocht ar fáil do shiopaí agus d'áiteanna…

This has nothing to do with anything.

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach as a ról nua. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit as na róil atá acu freisin. As has been outlined by my colleague Teachta Eoin Ó Broin, the Housing Commission report is such an important piece of work that it needs to be taken very seriously by the Government. We all recognise that the housing crisis is the single biggest issue facing the Government. However, that recognition is not being met by action on the part of the Government. In fact, …