It is only a fortnight since Sinn Féin introduced the Israeli genocide bonds Bill. In voting against that Bill, the Government squandered an opportunity to stand on the right side of what will, no doubt, be remembered as a decisive moment in history. I thank the Social Democrats for returning to this issue and giving the Government a second chance to make good on its supposed commitment to the Palestinian people. For all the Government's back-patting and boasts about being the best in class on Palestine, the truth …

An estimated 90% of Travellers report ongoing mental health difficulties while 11% die by suicide, which is over seven times the national average. Four out of five Travellers say they have been directly affected by suicide, with nearly half losing someone in their own family. These are not just shocking statistics; these are families devastated, communities grieving and lives lost far too young. We cannot talk about mental health without talking about discrimination. Discrimination against Travellers is widespread …

No, the Deputy's colleagues kept talking.

This week I spoke to a woman in Kildare town who is facing the prospect of homelessness. She told me, "I have done everything right, and now the State is slowly killing me." The pain and dread she is feeling as the clock runs down is absolutely crippling. Her landlord is selling up and she simply cannot afford to re-enter the private rental market. Just a few weeks ago in this Chamber, we discussed double-digit rent increases in Kildare. Homelessness rose by about the same figure last year as well. This woman is a …

Half a million Gazans are starving. Thousands of children are dying from hunger alone because of the Israeli blockade. Yesterday, while very little aid was being distributed, Israeli troops fired at desperate Palestinian civilians. Enough food was given to feed 2% of the Gazan population for half a week. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation director overseeing the delivery resigned in protest, stating aid could not be distributed according to basic humanitarian principles. Aid is blatantly militarised and used as a wea…

As a teacher for 20 years and an SET múinteoir for ten, I have seen at first hand the power of education to break down barriers for children. From my own experience of growing up in Ireland's education system, I know how one good teacher can change a child's life, nurturing confidence, curiosity and a sense of belonging. This is especially true for those without much support at home. I thank the teachers of Ireland, many of whom go above and beyond, often at a significant personal cost, to ensure that every child h…

After the longest blockade yet, Israel is starving the population in Gaza. Israel brazenly continues its airstrikes and full-scale ground offensive, advancing its openly stated imperial imperative of the total occupation of the Gaza Strip, regardless of the human cost. Yet, our Government still places zero sanctions. Ireland, a State with a proud history of principled neutrality and human rights, is instead enabling this destruction. We are literally fuelling the war machine. We are selling bonds that finance the w…

Yesterday, expectant mothers in Kildare received word with very little notice that the community midwife service at Athy primary care centre had been cancelled. This service has provided crucial prenatal care to women in Athy, Castledermot and surrounding areas. This care was local, consistent and accessible. The sudden withdrawal of this service now means that women will have to travel to Portlaoise for similar care. Public transport options are limited and many will need to pay out of pocket for taxis to the hosp…

Staffing issues.

Kildare has the highest number of overdue assessments of need, AONs, second only to Dublin, with 1,700 children on waiting lists. I want to take this moment to speak about Isaac. He is 14 years old and has four siblings. He first got onto the AON waiting list eight years ago and has yet to receive a written diagnosis. Back in 2017, Isaac was first seen for an occupational therapy assessment and was diagnosed with developmental co-ordination disorder, DCD, despite his parents, Vivienne and John, suspecting something…

Arís eile, táimid ag caint faoi thithe a d'fhéadfaí a thógáil, ar chóir dúinn a thógáil, ach atá á gcur siar mar gheall ar theip leanúnach an Rialtais seo infheistíocht cheart a dhéanamh i mbonneagar criticiúil. Níl aon áit go bhfuil sé sin níos soiléire ná i gcóras uisce dheisceart Chill Dara. Idir 2018 agus lár 2024, thaifead Uisce Éireann os cionn 15,500 gearán ó chustaiméirí i gCill Dara amháin. Sin gearán amháin maidir le soláthar nó caighdeán uisce gach ceithre huaire an chloig. Sa bhliain 2023, tharla brisea…

The Schuman Declaration that we commemorate today begins, "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it." Military neutrality and our triple lock system are the kind of bold policy instruments that are in keeping with this European vision of world peace laid down 75 years ago. Last year saw the highest number of state-based conflicts since 1946. The past three years were the most violent in the past three decades. Around the world, nation st…

Gabhaim míle buíochas le Páirtí an Lucht Oibre as ucht an rún tábhachtach seo a chur os comhair na Dála inniu. Tá sé thar am dúinn éisteacht le guthanna na dtuismitheoirí atá ag fulaingt i gcóras a bhfuil ag teip orthu. Tá mé tar éis bualadh le han-chuid tuismitheoirí thar cúpla mí anuas, go háirithe North Kildare SEN Action Group, agus tá obair na gcapall ar siúl acu ar son a gcuid páistí. Inniu, I would like to share with Members the voice of a mamaí in Kildare whose words speak for hundreds, if not thousands, of…

Iarraim ar an Aire nua-shonrú a thabhairt ar líon na ranganna speisialta nua agus na scoileanna speisialta a cheadaíodh i Meán Fómhair 2025. An féidir léi a dheimhniú go mbeidh gach cheann dóibh oscailte roimh mhí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo? I would like the Minister to provide an update on the number of new special classes and special schools sanctioned for September 2025. Can she guarantee that these will be opened this September?

Cuirim lánfáilte roimh na figiúirí agus na huimhreacha a thug an tAire Stáit dúinn ach is iad na focal is tábhachtaí ná "they are provided" agus "they are sanctioned". It is important these are actually open. As a former primary school teacher of nearly 20 years, with at least eight of those in special education, and now as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on special education, I am deeply concerned for the many families in Ireland who are struggling to secure appropriate school places for their children. Last week alone, …

Tuigim an tábhachtacht a bhaineann leis na huimhreacha atá curtha ar fáil, ach is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeidh na spásanna oiriúneach do na páistí. There is another issue that is coming up. I and my colleagues have had many parents contacting us regarding SNA allocations. In one case, 15 students were told on Friday that their SNA allocation was being withdrawn on Monday. In two other schools, reviews are indicating there will be a reduction in SNAs for September. In another school, a review recommended addi…

There has been no change; this is just a coincidence.

Do something on the settlements.

Act on Shannon.

Is mór an onóir dom a bheith ag labhairt ar an nGaeilge don dara huair i rith Seachtain na Gaeilge. Is seachtain í seo do gach duine le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar ár dteanga. Gaeilge más féidir, Béarla más gá, mar a deirimid. Ba bhreá liom a bheith ag seasamh os bhur gcomhair agus ag ceiliúradh na rudaí iontacha faoin teanga. Ba bhreá liom a bheith caint faoin ngrá pearsanta atá agam di, faoin saibhreas atá aici, faoin neart agus spiorad atá ag Gaeilgeoirí fud fad na tíre, agus faoi na daoine ar fad atá á labhairt lá…