The Government is not giving them enough money.

That is a drop in the ocean.

I was hoping to speak on the next question.

It is time to scrap the TV licence. In the wake of the financial scandals at RTÉ and more than 100,000 people who have not paid their TV licence, it is now time for it to go. Public support for the licence has collapsed and the idea that the State would chase thousands of people through the courts is, frankly, absurd. The Taoiseach has described the TV licence as outdated and has said we need a new funding model that works. Sinn Féin's motion tonight proposes that the licence fee be scrapped and replaced with direc…

I thank the Taoiseach.

That is an awful thing to say to me.

What about the water charges?

Post offices are closing down every month.

Like all of the other speakers, I wish to send my condolences, thoughts and prayers to the families who lost loved ones, last year especially. It was a catastrophic year on our roads. I know the Minister of State knows that. To be honest, this Government is saying one thing but doing another. We have seen budgets cut for road maintenance and safety by €150 million. This is shameful. In my constituency, Cork North-Central, yesterday, there was great fanfare with the opening of the Dunkettle roundabout. Without the n…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — a vibrant, diverse, financially sustainable and independent media sector is critical to any well-functioning democracy; — the Future of Media Commission Report published in 2022 recommended that the funding model for public service media change from the current system of funding by the television licence fee combined with general Exchequer funds to a funding model based entirely on general Exchequer funds; and — financial scandals at Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) have roc…

Like water charges. Let us not forget.

Yes.

It is absolutely shocking that the Minister has come in here today and called Sinn Féin's proposal "premature". She said she feels there is a need for some serious consideration of the proposals before there is action. I will just give the Minister and the Government a small bit of history. This has been discussed for ten years. For ten years it has been recognised that the TV licence was out of date. The Minister said it today in her speech. The Taoiseach has said it. Everyone has said it. In 2013 we saw the publi…

The issues raised here are happening nationally, in every town and city. Along with Deputy Kenny, I think this Government needs to look at a specific transport police to ensure people's safety when they are using all forms of public transport. The other thing I would encourage the Minister to do is to work with and to link in with schools and community projects. I have seen at first hand buses being attacked and services being stopped and then the parents and grandparents of the very same people who have attacked t…

Has the Minister recently met with Bus Éireann in Cork city, and is he aware of the frequent delays and cancellations of bus services, which increased before the Christmas period and are still ongoing?

I have engaged extensively with BusConnects because I believe Cork needs it, but it needs to be a BusConnects that delivers. We are working very closely with the NTA on that. Buses in Cork are being cancelled and delayed. People have no faith in the service at present. I met Bus Éireann before Christmas to explain to it that more and more people are getting into their cars because they do not trust the service. It has never been as bad as it is now. During the meeting I was told the drivers were not the issue. A pe…

That will not be for years. I am talking about now.

We want BusConnects, but it will take years. These are the facts. Today, people in Cork are not getting buses because they are delayed or have been cancelled. I need an answer from the Minister today. Will he provide additional funding for bus drivers? A young man going to college every day needs to take the 201 bus service. Nine days out of ten, the bus never turns up or is delayed. How can a person depend on that service? A lady in Ballyvolane looked at the app last week, which told her that the bus was cancelled…

People in glasshouses.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I understand that the Bill addresses many of the issues that extend beyond addiction and these have been well addressed by Deputy Daly. As the Sinn Féin spokesman on addiction, recovery and well-being, I feel it is vitally important to speak for those in the sector who are actively experiencing the harmful impacts of addiction - both individuals in active addiction and their loved ones, and their communities. Addiction services in this State, at government lev…