Why raise it then?

That is ironic.

You knew him very well.

No, you did not.

Sinn Féin called for her to be taken out.

They are our communities.

I have full confidence in my friend and colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I am proud of her and proud of her work. The Irish people wanted political leaders to stand united behind the gardaí, behind our Minister for Justice and against the thugs who set this city alight. The Minister wanted to park politics. She picked up the phone and offered that to the leader of the Opposition, but she was refused. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Government support the Garda. We stand with them and with Garda famili…

You did not listen.

You are misrepresenting our position.

Do not misrepresent us.

It is a matter for the court.

Like most people, I am thinking of the people affected by the horrific attack on Parnell Square last week, most particularly the young children impacted and their care worker. I commend the local heroes who stepped in. I thank everybody on the front line - the emergency services, the gardaí, the front-line workers and the fire brigade - for their swift response. This House needs to send a clear message that we stand united in the face of criminality because the eyes of the country are on us and they want to know no…

Free the Belfast brickie.

What about 65 for the Belfast brickie?

I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak to the House during Science Week 2023. I thank the Business Committee for scheduling this debate. Science Week is a celebration that many of us in the House and across society are passionate about. It is a celebration that, encouragingly, is growing in stature and significance every year. I sometimes believe that, when we talk or think about science, it is considered the preserve of a few whereas Science Week is an inclusive participatory community where different abil…

I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising the important issue of how we ensure we continue to grow our health service by hiring more nurses and doctors and people to work at the front line. It is important when talking about the health service and recruitment levels that we bring a bit of context and honesty to the discussion. The first thing to say is that as of September, there were 143,075 staff working in the health service, an increase of 5,330 this year to date. Sometimes when you hear Sinn Féin and others, you ge…

The Minister for Health is supportive of this because there needs to be some link between the budget we allocate in this House and what happens in relation to a public service. The reality is that the HSE is now on course to exceed the 2023 funded workforce target. To be clear, this is for 2023. Budget 2024 will come in on 1 January, which is weeks away. In 2024, the Minister for Health will have more money for the HSE to hire more nurses and doctors in addition to the exemptions already secured. Honesty is importa…

I will.

Deputy Cullinane needs to get over himself. I am not making this about Sinn Féin at all. I am making it about the choices Irish people have between this Government versus that government. Those choices are clear. The Deputy does not have to take my word for it on what the Sinn Féin alternative health budget was. His leader said it on RTÉ on "This Week" on Sunday. Now, do not sue me, but she did say it.

She is hardly wrong.