We have got one. I just want to get the Taoiseach to ask the HSE to do it.

They might just listen to the Taoiseach.

I thank the Taoiseach.

I echo the comments made by our party spokesperson on climate action, Deputy O'Rourke. Sinn Féin believes in more than just tackling climate change. We believe in a just transition to a sustainable, cleaner and better future life for all of us. We believe climate action can and must be achieved without penalising the most vulnerable in society. It is amazing that after two and a half years in power, the Green Party has done little for those who are most at risk of harm or to tackle the behaviour of those who are ca…

People are sick to the teeth of this Government hiking prices left, right and centre. Ordinary people are sick of being at the bottom of the pile time and again. Once again this Government is trying to sneak through measures that will put even more pressure on the pockets of ordinary people. We are talking about a counterbalance to Dublin in Cork but the reality is that without public transport we need connectivity. People coming from outside of Cork have no way to access Dublin and no main roads unless they are go…

This weekend 15 workers from the Butcher's Block shops in Cork were told their jobs were gone. They were made redundant by text message. Some workers went in to find the shops had been cleared out and the doors locked. They were told that no statutory holiday or redundancy pay would be paid. The workers were advised that the process for the Government to pay redundancy would take weeks and they should go to their local social welfare office for an urgent needs payment. It is six weeks out from Christmas. I know som…

I will make one last point.

There are families who have saved for their Christmas food and their money has gone now as well.

The company cleaned up the shop and took all the assets.

Yes, we do.

The Government closed down the community welfare officers and the Deputy is coming in here to-----

I wish to raise an issue that was raised with me by a constituent this week. His wife is on a community employment scheme but has recently gone on maternity leave. Because of this, they have lost their entitlement to the fuel allowance and the lump sums. These were payments they were waiting and depending on. I ask the Minister to consider this anomaly, because I know there are a number of anomalies, and to include women on maternity leave in those payments. I think we can all agree on the Trojan work of my colleag…

If Deputy Durkan wishes, he can come over to this side of the House after that contribution.

The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, said that people feel they are living in a housing emergency. If you are in emergency accommodation with your children, you do not feel you are living in a housing emergency; you are in a housing emergency. That is the fact. The Minister of State came in here and opposed our motion because we did not acknowledge what the Government is doing. This is what we will acknowledge. This Minister and this Government have been in place for two and a half years. The Minister spoke earlie…

Last weekend, hundreds of people came onto the streets of Cork city to call on the Government to take action. So far, it has not done enough and people are suffering in this cost-of-living crisis. Their voice and message were clear. People are sick of rising fuel and energy prices and the Government must do more. Caitriona Twomey from Cork Penny Dinners spoke and outlined how that charity is feeding 1,000 people per day in Cork. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul said it is receiving 800 phone calls per day for hel…

Ten per cent.

The European Drug Report 2022 states that there has been a worrying increase in crack cocaine use in Belgium, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. This is a massive problem that is placing a major strain on services. Those addicted to crack cocaine behave differently and require different treatment from those who are addicted to heroin. We desperately need a concerted effort across Europe to find a synthetic and safe substitute to crack cocaine, similar to methadone, in order to try to give people a chance a…

Glanmire flooded again recently, which affected businesses and homes. I was there on the night and saw the frustration and anger. The people and businesses in the community of Glanmire have been putting up with ten years of broken promises. They are sick of delays. This is like the Cork event centre. Every year, there is an announcement on flood protection for Glanmire but it is not delivered. They need flood protection now. They are facing into winter and every time there is a high tide or high rainfall is forecas…

I raise with the Minister of State the issue of the housekeeping attendance in Cork University Hospital. The pay scales of a number of positions in the hospital have been reviewed. They will see increases in the new year and I welcome that. However, housekeepers are to be excluded from this increase. This is despite Cork University Hospital’s providing housekeeping services 24-7. They are long, hard shifts, often in overcrowded wards where they are surrounded by infectious diseases. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, …

I thank the Minister of State. I recognise her point about the general round of pay increases. She touched on the main issue, that of the job evaluation scheme, which is the least fair aspect. These workers feel that the evaluation has not been fair on them and their work. We all accept that they are front-line workers. They are continuing to do the work they did during the pandemic. For many people, we are in a different place where Covid-19 is concerned, but people working in a hospital, especially in housekeepin…