What has happened is that it seems a number of businesses made a mistake when they applied for the ICOB 1 grant. Due to that, some of them did not follow up for the second ICOB. When they went for the third grant, even though they were eligible for the power up grant, because they made a mistake at the start, they did not get it. Is there any chance the Minister will reopen that grant for people who qualified for it but made an initial mistake? I have contacted his office, as has Deputy Louise O'Reilly, who is our …

----- and which fill the criteria. Will the Minister show a little common sense and maybe help them, because he has the ability to do so? These businesses need that support.

Will you reopen it for those who made an initial error?

We are talking about AI and the future of technology in the State. The reality is that while technology has moved forward in leaps and bounds in some areas, we still have large portions of our public service operating off systems that are from the last century. The bus app in Cork that is run by Bus Éireann and the NTA is one of the most unreliable and useless pieces of technology or apps that people could have on their phones. This is because instead of using real-time information, the app operates on paper-based …

There is a crisis in children's mental health services in Cork and Kerry. A total of 60% of all children on waiting lists for CAMHS appointments for more than one year are in Cork and Kerry - 60% in just two counties. Hundreds of children experiencing severe mental health issues are on a waiting list while their parents and loved ones watch their condition deteriorate. A mother contacted me recently. Her child was refused access to CAMHS twice. In December, she was finally accepted and was told that she would be wa…

I am disappointed that the Minister, Deputy James Browne, is not here today. This is a serious issue. If I had known in advance, I might have postponed the question until next week when he would be here to answer it. It is about a serious public health matter in Cork and the senior Minister should be here to provide answers or I should have been notified he would not be here. For two years, the communities in my constituency have been plagued with dirty, filthy water. Sludge, muck, dirt, rust and high and unsafe le…

This bottle I am holding contains what we are drinking in Cork. It is yellow. The thing about this is that if you boil it, the cast iron, the dirt and the manganese are still in it. People are boiling the water at home thinking they are doing the right thing but instead all they are doing is drinking dirty water. Does the Minister of State think the people of Dublin would accept this? Why should the people of Cork North-Central accept it? Does she think the people of Dublin would accept dirty water or manganese lev…

I will finish with this. People with children and babies have to buy bottled water. The people at risk here are people who are blind or have sight issues, as well as older people, who are drinking this water because they do not have the money to buy bottled water.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.

The figure is 29,000. The figure should be correct.

We told the truth. We told the truth; that was the difference. The Tánaiste misled the public.

They were.

First of all, I thank the people of Cork North-Central for re-electing me. I am proud to be back here for a second time as a TD. I am really proud of my family, my friends and everyone who got behind me. I will work for all the constituents of Cork North-Central and of this State because we have a big job of work to do. This storm and the previous storms have highlighted the job of work that we need. I also thank sincerely all those front-line responders - the staff of ESB, Irish Water, An Garda and local authoriti…

One in every 50 people in Gaza has been killed by Israel. Can you imagine the scale of that? Forty-six thousand people have been killed since 7 October 2023. We now have a ceasefire, but in the midst of the ceasefire that came into effect on 26 January, a two-year-old girl, Layla, who was being fed by her pregnant mother in the West Bank, was shot in the head. She was shot in the head by an Israeli army sniper. Three thousand toddlers have been murdered in 12 months. That is an unimaginable figure. One year ago, Hi…

Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, can I have a point of order, please? I would like to pick up a point of order.

I am an elected Member of this Dáil and I am entitled to do that. The people of Cork North-Central elected me----

Fair is fair. There has to be fairness. There must be fairness now.

We are not going to take five years of being pushed down and unfairness. I am asking about Standing Orders.

We will not stand for it.

Will the Tánaiste provide an update on the recent emergency meeting of European Union foreign affairs ministers regarding the Israeli Government and army attacking the sovereign country of Lebanon, their attacks on Syria and Yemen and their continued attacks on the West Bank and Gaza? What action will the European Union be taking to ensure an immediate ceasefire and the protection of the sovereign country of Lebanon?