On 30 June, the Irish Independent published the result of its investigation into the regulation of how sick certs are issued. There are serious limitations to telemedicine and areas where it can be exploited. The newspaper revealed that in some cases sick certs were issued without having any phone or video consultation with the patient. It has correctly been described as a bit of a wild west. There are serious issues with the practice of telemedicine as it relates to Irish abortion policy. Since its introduction in…

I welcome the Minister. Reading through the proposed motions, the first thing that struck me was that we could have been doing this all along ourselves and, indeed, we have been doing it to an extent. Ireland should not have opted into the EU migration pact when we have the full capability to govern and legislate on migration ourselves. Now, we find ourselves in the scenario where we will have to adhere to an annual specific number of relocations and financial contributions at an EU level. We have ceded power to th…

I wish to express my deep concern over the European Union's attempts to enforce hate speech legislation on Ireland, legislation that would undermine our national sovereignty, erode free expression and impose a one-size-fits-all model out of step with our Constitution. Before the general election, the Government suddenly recognised its lack of popularity among the general public and removed the hate speech aspect of its Bill. We now know the Government is sitting on both sides of the fence. When the Taoiseach was qu…

I welcome Deputy Dooley’s new Ministry and wish him the best of luck in his work. There is much to be done. The marine sector in this country has faced unbelievable challenges in recent years. Many of these hardships have been the direct result of Government policy and legislation and the implementation and interpretation of those policies and that legislation. Ongoing discrimination under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy means that Irish fishermen are watching in growing frustration and anger as their rights to fi…

The penalty points. We are an outlier in Europe.

I support the Bill and the amendment. I commend Senator Ryan on her powerful testimony. The report from Women's Aid makes for difficult reading. More women contacted the organisation last year than ever before. I have been reading the details of the report and they are shocking. I agree with this amendment in that if children are present that factor should be considered when the sentence is being decided. Well done to Senator Ryan. The report from Women's Aid talks about women who have experienced miscarriages as a…

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Sarah Montgomery. I cannot imagine the hurt and grief they are experiencing. To think of a young pregnant mother being killed in her own home is deeply upsetting. According to Women’s Aid, more than one in three women have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse, or all of these, from an intimate partner. Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women and children in Ireland. Cavan is one of the nine counties tha…

I second the Senator's proposal. I welcome the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, that implementation of the national dementia registry is to commence. Organisations such as the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, ASI, have lobbied for it for a long time. The ASI is a brilliant organisation doing great work. It has the voice of people with dementia and those who care and support them at its core. Dementia is progressive and there is no cure. Demands for supports are increasing, with 64,000 people …

I want to speak today about the fact that the upgrades to the A5 road, which links Derry with Aughnacloy in County Tyrone, have effectively been cancelled. The project has been quashed by the Belfast High Court as it was in breach of elements of the climate action Act. This is a devastating result for the 57 families who have lost loved ones on a road that we all know to be unsafe. The climate change Act was enthusiastically supported by Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, the SDLP and Alliance who were all informed t…

I want to raise the issue of foster children and the back-to-school allowance. This has been publicised by the Government as a new support for foster children but it has been very disappointing for families to learn it will be means tested. It is concerning that this long overdue step will come with conditions attached and will not be universally applied to all foster children. This will rule out a large number of foster children and cannot be seen as a support for foster carers in general. The practice of awarding…

There is no choice but to support this Bill because the Government is aware that many in the Opposition have been calling for an extension to the rent pressure zones for years. However, this legislation is ill thought-out. The reality is that the Government is not being forthcoming in terms of how badly it will impact renters. Rents will rise and extra pressure will be put on renters. Under this Bill, rent can be reset to market rates when a tenancy ends. This is disastrous for student accommodation. We already kno…

Last night, the Dáil debated the Finance (Local Property Tax and Other Provisions) (Amendment) Bill. It was presented as providing for a fair and proportional increase in property tax ahead of the November revaluation. We have to be honest that the tax is fundamentally unjust. It punishes working families, older people and rural homeowners simply for having a roof over their heads. Under this proposal, every home in the country will be paying more. When first introduced during austerity, local property tax was bill…

I thank the Minister for coming in. I commend her colleague, Deputy John McGuinness, on all the brilliant detective work he has done over the years on this issue and on his determination to seek justice for Grace. I am gutted that justice has not been served. In this country we are very good at looking back at historical abuse but one area the State has failed to examine is abuse in the foster care system, and indeed abuse in the State care system at present. Last week I raised the issue of the death rate among chi…

I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic. I want to speak on my amendment No. 2, which has been seconded by Senators Keogan and McCarthy. With looming threats of tariffs to our economy, we need economic resilience. Now would be an opportune time for the Government to invest more in local and indigenous businesses. We need to address some of the blockages that are preventing indigenous businesses from starting up or expanding. SMEs are faced with …

I move amendment No. 2: After the last paragraph under "calls on the Government to:" to insert the following paragraph: “ - develop a funding stream to allow local authorities to deliver fully serviced sites to stimulate local, indigenous enterprise.”

I recently had the privilege of meeting representatives of SMA Ireland in the audiovisual room. Spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, is a rare condition that causes weakness throughout the body. People living with SMA can experience difficulties swallowing, breathing and performing basic day-to-day activities. In recent years, the HSE has approved three treatments that can halt the progression of this condition and significantly improve an individual's quality of life. Unfortunately, these treatments are unavailable to th…

The recent RTÉ exposé on nursing homes in Dublin and Laois was heartbreaking to watch. Vulnerable elderly people - our mothers, fathers, grandparents and neighbours - were left without dignity and proper care. Yet, the Government continues to outsource elder care to private corporations, many of which put the bottom line before people. It was shocking to watch an elderly man ask repeatedly to be taken to the toilet, only to be told to stay in bed and pee in his pad. Elderly people who paid tax and contributed to th…

On a point of clarity, it was announced on 13 May, yet all Oireachtas Members in Cavan received a letter from the housing authority in Cavan on 28 May. That was after the announcement. Applications are in and so when the application-----

At the outset, I commend the good work of many in the education system. We all want a world-class education system that allows every child to real his or her full potential. However, too many people feel that the Department of Education and Youth is ignoring the voices of those who matter most, namely students, parents and teachers, many of whom have contacted me. There are hundreds of children with special educational needs who do not have school places. There is chronic absenteeism. Teachers are warning us that l…

I thank Senator Flynn and the Civil Engagement Group for their work on this issue. I agree with all the amendments and fully support their proposals. It is beyond time that our laws be updated so that images of child abuse are referred to as what they are. We have a very serious problem of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation in this country. Aontú has exposed a number of alarming facts in recent weeks and some of these statistics are as follows: there are currently 37 children missing from Tusla's care,…