Like the rest of the Sinn Féin speakers, I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this important motion. Diagnosis of cancer is devastating for an individual and his or her family. It is a shock to the system. It is unacceptable that in the midst of this upset, fear, anger and sickness, the HSE is sending debt collectors' letters to people. The HSE has spent over €4 million on these debt collecting agencies for cancer patients since 2013. That is a shameful indictment of the treatment of cancer patients in…

The Taoiseach will have heard of the brutal attack on a young woman in Cork at the weekend. It comes three weeks after the awful murder of Ashling Murphy. There was another attack last week on a woman in Kilkenny. Our thoughts are with these women and their families. Violence against women is an epidemic. We are all agreed that consistent action is needed to eliminate it. The women of Cork and Ireland need to know that they are safe on the streets, in their homes and everywhere. Two weeks ago, this House passed a S…

I express my sincere and deepest gratitude to volunteers and workers, especially front-line workers. At a time when the State was in most need, people stood up to be counted. Everyone in this Chamber recognises that and we salute those people for their efforts and respect the work they have done. In January this year, there were over 650 people waiting for access to residential rehabilitation beds. Waiting times in many facilities have doubled and even tripled with people now waiting four to five months to get into…

It is time for there to be more regulation within the higher education sector to ensure that third level is accessible for everyone. Cork is very well known as a beacon of education, with both University College Cork and Munster Technological University recognised regularly on the world stage for their academics, both in teaching and research. Unfortunately, on the north side, in the heart of Cork, we have low levels of university attendance and we do not have a single university campus. In the initial planning sta…

There are large parts of Cork North-Central, my own constituency, that are without high-speed broadband and there is no timeline for delivery. I recently contacted Eir about River Towers, an apartment block on Lee Road in Cork city that is waiting for a fibre to the home connection. Eir informed me it could not give me a date for delivery but that it will be done by 2026, which is four years from now. That is astounding. In Cork city, the second city in this State, there is an apartment block without fibre high-spe…

This year, the cost of food is expected to rise by almost €800 with the running cost of the average car to increase by €500. Rents and heat costs are skyrocketing. They are completely out of control. We are ordinary people. The increase in cost inflation is not just affecting the poorest; it is affecting everyone. I refer, for example, to people's ability to pay for childcare, their mortgage or college and school fees. We must look at the poorest in society, who will be most affected by this. The cost of heating an…

I wish to raise concerns around Russia and the planned military exercises off the coast of County Cork in the coming weeks. I know that for some of my constituents, and in particular fishermen in Cork, there are a lot of concerns about these exercises. While there are no rules to stop the Russians from doing them, it is deeply concerning that they are choosing to do them off the Irish coast. The Minister of State needs to push his EU colleagues to support us in making it clear that these exercises are not welcome a…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on youth mental health. It is an issue we need to focus on because I believe we are at a turning point. With the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, young people will finally be able to socialise and experience their teenage years after a long and tough two years. We must bear in mind the many young people on whom Covid has had a very negative effect. This will be especially hard for those who have not socialised at all in the two years. It must be remembered that many families stuc…

What about Cuba, when it was the other way around?

Yes, and there is a blockade on Cuba-----

I extend my deepest sympathies to Ashling Murphy's family, partner, friends and community. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. I considered seeking speaking time on this subject because after having listened to the National Women’s Council, Women's Aid and to my female colleagues here I felt it was important that I sent out a clear message that the men stand firmly alongside women when it comes to looking to end gender-based violence and having a zero-tolerance approach. I am a father with two daughters, a hu…

I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Ó Broin. The Department was before the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage today and its officials enlightened me, telling me that our cities have dereliction rates that are below average. I found that an astounding comment to make. I have asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and I now ask the Minister of State, to come to Cork and walk around the city with me. I will show the Minister of State the dereliction and he can t…

I am not sure if the Minister of State will remember but last May I asked him for an increase in funding for full-time vacant home officers in every local authority. At that time, he said that it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in local authority staffing. However, in November, the Department said that every local authority should have a full-time vacant homes officer. In other words, it took six months for the Minister of State to make up his mind on what I said last May. I appreciate him li…

Check the minutes of the meeting.

What do they say? The Minister of State said he could not do it and then he did it.

Some of us are correct.

Fianna Fáil voted down social housing in Cork in 2018.

The brother of the Taoiseach, the leader of the Fianna Fáil party, was one of the people who voted it down.

Check the records of the council.

Fianna Fáil voted down social housing in Cork.