I want to return to the question of Ukraine and to ask the Minister if she agrees that there can be no peace agreement imposed on Ukraine without its support and the support of the European Union generally.

I am not sure that I agree with the Minister in welcoming the nature of the American involvement in this particular situation. It has been characterised as being on Putin's side, appearing to be on Ukraine's side, and now being back on the Putin side again. Some people think that the current peace plan was written in Russian and translated via Google Translate. I am deeply concerned about many of the provisions in that plan, which seems to have the enthusiastic support of President Trump. One could believe, given r…

We all want peace, but what is certain is that Russia cannot be rewarded for its crimes. It should not be readmitted to the G8 or reintegrated into the global economy. The plan, for example, demands Ukrainian denazification, effectively validating Russia's absurd narrative that Ukraine is riddled with Nazis. I have been there, as have other Members of this House, and I do not think there is any evidence available to that end. There have been war crimes committed in Bucha, Irpin and other places, forced relocations …

I am delighted we are having this debate on Gaza. We cannot have enough debates on this matter for as long as the travesty happening there lasts. As one of the older Members of this House, I can remember the atrocities we have seen in the world down through the years. I remember Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge and the 2 million people slaughtered in Cambodia. I remember other, more recent events in Europe: the Croat war, in which 20,000 people were lost, Srebrenica, where 8,000 people were slaughtered, and the upwards of hal…

I join with colleagues in expressing my horror and revulsion at the experiences of the Tánaiste and his family and the intimidation inflicted on them earlier this year. I think the solution to that particular problem rests in following the advice of the Ceann Comhairle yesterday and proceeding to build on the work of the committee on safe participation in public life, led by the former Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan. Governments in this wonderful little country of ours have on occasions in the past got things wrong…

The Tánaiste will not be surprised that I rise to speak today to mention the illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains. In mentioning them, I immediately thank the Tánaiste and his official for the speed with which they moved in the earlier part of this year to deal with the several illegal encampments which were established. The Tánaiste's alacrity contrasts with the way in which the problem was dealt with in previous years. What has been happening on the Curragh with these illegal encampments, with visitors comin…

As someone who has heard the heartbreaking descriptions of the plight of women and emaciated children in Gaza from heroic front-line defenders and medics over the past 24 hours, like others, I cannot stand here without referring to that particular matter and adding my voice to the calls for a ceasefire and for peace. We have to acknowledge that Hamas terrorists and the monstrous Netanyahu regime have brought about an apocalyptic situation that horrifies all decent, right-thinking people. Further words of condemnati…

Since this tragedy began 20 months ago, we have heard some of the most passionate and sincere contributions in this House from people whose concern is palpable about what we see transpiring before our eyes. Our inboxes over recent days have been inundated by correspondence from members of the Irish public right across the country who are concerned, troubled and heartbroken by what they see happening in Palestine. At the risk of repeating myself, when this conflict commenced with the Hamas attack and kidnapping on a…

Despite the wonderful weather we are having, there is a certain sense of foreboding around the country as we see - thanks to Donald Trump - the dark clouds of economic uncertainty beginning to gather. I am conscious that in such circumstances, where we have had difficulties in the past, we have always moved to secure the well-being and welfare of the most disadvantaged and the less well off. It is in that context that I have been thinking about those who have been impacted by thalidomide. It is nearly 50 years ago …

Does the Taoiseach see his Government being able to meet the needs and resolve the problems surrounding those survivors of thalidomide?

Why is it that this great State of ours-----

-----has to be forced so often to apologise for the mistakes of the past?

One child living in poverty is one child too many nonetheless we must recognise that major achievements have been made. ECCE, increased child support payments, the free clothing scheme, free school books and the meal allowance have helped to support families in dire need. Points were made by Deputies Bacik and Connolly about child homelessness as being one of the key issues affecting children living in poverty and it must be tackled aggressively. It is an area where Bertie Ahern's slogan applies. A lot has been don…

During the course of the last week, the Governor of the Central Bank, Gabriel Makhlouf, entered the debate on housing. He did so in response to a Government initiative calling for greater liquidity for developers and builders. He told us that the banks are well capitalised and have plenty of money to lend but that they would do so subject to their own lending criteria and risk assessment. If you talk to builders, particularly small and medium-sized builders and developers, across the country, they will tell you tha…

As a Member who fully appreciates the need for us all to drive, and drive enthusiastically, the development of the renewable energy sector, I am very conscious that the concentration in recent years has been on the offshore energy sector. It would be beneficial to all of us to have a clearer understanding of the timescales involved in the development of this sector. We have spoken about being able to become net exporters of energy. There are those in the sector who tell me this is a very long way away. While all of…

I find myself in large agreement with Deputy Daly. Like the Taoiseach, I was born in 1960. Back in the sixties, for entertainment we had a very strong diet of American movies, TV programmes and sitcoms. That might have helped us come to the view of the US as the land of opportunity, a champion of democracy and human rights on the world stage and, if you like, a self-appointed world police force. If this was ever true, it certainly is manifestly not true today. The Irish people, our representatives and the Taoiseach…

I congratulate the Minister on his return to the Department of Finance. I raise a matter related to that raised by Deputy Duncan Smith. We have heard a lot in recent years about the fact that the planet's poorest people have suffered as a result of the ravages of climate change but the geopolitical situation that we find ourselves in now has rejuvenated and turbocharged the arms race. As we in Europe in particular justifiably and understandably seek to spend more and more on defence, will the Minister assure us tha…

When the Cabinet committee on health next meets, I ask that it discuss the situation regarding the national child development centre at Kildare town, which stands partially constructed but abandoned following a decision by the Department of Justice to withhold funding committed under the immigrant investor programme, IIP, system. This is run by Sensational Kids, an organisation that functions at four locations across the country, and can provide essential assessments and therapies for children.

The peace-loving international community has been transfixed in recent years by the sheer horror of what we have seen happening in Palestine and in Ukraine. However, there are many other places in the world where all is also not well. Has our Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs and, indeed, our Department of foreign affairs in consultation with our European partners, been looking at the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, for example, under the tyranny of the Taliban regime? Have we looked at wh…

Tréaslaím leis an Aire as a ceapachán mar Aire Oideachais. Tá mé cinnte go leanfaidh sí ar aghaidh leis an tsárobair a bhí ar siúl ag an Teachta Norma Foley roimpi. Education features very prominently in the programme for Government. We thank the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Deputy Lowry for ensuring that has happened. Pages 67 and 68 reference forward planning and the provision of accommodation. Does the Minister share my concern that her Department's forward planning unit is not working as effectively as it might?…