Nobody can stop a storm but the Government can and must prevent the predictable damage. The repeated extreme flooding events we have witnessed were not all inevitable but they were worsened by delay, underinvestment and a lack of urgency. Communities have repeatedly shown extraordinary levels of resilience but that is not a substitute for investment. People deserve more than hand-wringing, sympathy and sandbags. They deserve infrastructure and ongoing maintenance that safeguards their homes, farms and businesses. T…

We move to a Government slot. I call Deputy Dolan.

The Minister will have his opportunity to respond.

The very fact that we are here tonight having this debate sickens me to my stomach. It really does. The fact that somebody in a tech company somewhere sat down and thought it would be a great idea to create a tool that will strip clothes off women and children, and to have that tool circulated online for profit makes me want to physically vomit. I do not understand that mentality. I do not know anybody who understands it because that mentality has no place in our society - none whatsoever. The companies that facili…

Bord Bia has done some very good work promoting Ireland’s food and drink around the world and protecting the reputation of those exports but that very reputation is built on the work that goes on in cold yards, calving sheds, milking parlours and small farms where people are farming under ever-increasing pressure. Irish food and drink exports are vital to our economy but let us be very clear: there are no exports without farmers. Those farmers are expected to meet the highest standards. They are constantly told tha…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes the report from the Mental Health Commission entitled "Acute Mental Healthcare in Hospital Emergency Departments in Ireland: A National Survey from the Office of the Inspector of Mental Health Services", which found that "international best practice… is not available in most emergency departments in Ireland"; further notes that: — more than 50,000 people in mental health crisis present annually to emergency departments; — hospital managers are reporting increased mental health deman…

I welcome that the Government is not opposing the motion but the Minister of State and her colleagues need to act, and act much more quickly than they have to date. At the current rate it will be the mid-2030s by the time we reach the target under Sláintecare. People in crisis cannot wait that long. We are going to lose people. People are going to lose quality of life between now and then. I have heard the lack of service provision being described as "gaps" throughout this debate but these are not gaps but black ho…

Some 85% of women affected by pregnancy loss before 23 weeks experience difficulty in returning to work. The need for appropriate workplace supports has been well established and a previous Government commissioned the PLACES report, published in 2004, which set out the social, health and employment impacts of early pregnancy loss. The new women and girls strategy committed to advancing reproductive healthcare and related leave entitlements. However, deliberations on two Private Member's Bills in these Houses to pro…

I call Deputy Ward to conclude.

I thank the Deputy.

The division is postponed until the weekly division time tomorrow evening.

Question No. 138 will be introduced by Deputy O'Meara.

I too know people who have spoken about going back to cigarette smoking after the last budget. This will be a bit of a trend. I am a vape user and a former smoker. Like most people, I used vaping as a way to get off cigarettes. That is probably more reflective of my age and generation than it would be for any of our younger people. I support the ban on single use vapes contained in the Bill. They are environmentally destructive and wasteful but also have no place in a serious public health framework. However, while…

I commend all the farmers who turned up in Athlone last weekend. I also commend the members of the public not involved in farming who turned up to support them. They are just as concerned - entirely rightly concerned - about what the Mercosur deal will mean for them as consumers. They are asking a simple and reasonable question: how will they know where the food they put on their table comes from, what it contains and if it meets the same standards as Irish produce? That concern and lack of confidence was compounde…

The Minister of State has had his opportunity.

The division on Aontú's amendment to the Minister of State's amendment is postponed until the weekly division time tomorrow evening.

As we are short of time, I ask the Deputy to keep things as tight as possible. I will allow a one-one-one exchange.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the need for an ASD class for Scoil Bhríde Lackagh, County Kildare. Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss qualification for carer's leave for teachers. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - To discuss the CFRAM project at Blackrock, County Louth. Deputy Liam Quaide - To discuss assistance for healthcare workers currently on special Covid leave. Depu…

The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is to reply to the first Topical Issue. She has indicated she needs to leave the Chamber briefly to obtain documentation. The Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, is in the Chamber and is willing to reply to Deputy Wall's matter if it is taken before the first Topical Issue. On second thoughts, we will not mess with a well-designed plan and will leave the order as is. We are two hours ahead of schedule. I will pause for a moment to give the Minister a chance to return.

Deputies, please.