The budget did not include much of benefit for small businesses which are suffering greatly in the current climate. The one exception is the increased cost of business scheme, which apparently will be available to 130,000 small businesses across the country. All we really know about it at this stage is that it will be equivalent to 50% of the relevant commercial rights. Is it a rate reduction or a grant payable to businesses? I believe that would be a measure of the success of the scheme. Does a business need to be…

In the lead-up to the European Council meetings, I take this opportunity to call on Ursula von der Leyen to resign her position as President of the European Commission immediately in light of her comments on the conflict in Palestine and her trip to Israel, where she met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After that meeting, she released a statement that backed "Israel's right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorists", justifying Israel's horrific decision to cut off food, water and electricity to civilians in…

The Committee to Protect Journalists has reported that, as of yesterday, the number of journalists killed since the start of the present escalation of the conflict in Gaza stands at 23. Three have been killed by Hamas and 20 have been killed by Israeli forces. Eight others are reported injured, and three are missing or detained. At a time when we are flooded with vast amounts of propaganda and falsehoods emanating from official Israeli Government sources, uncritically carried, often without property scrutiny, by va…

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023. This is one of the largest Finance Bills put forward for some time, mostly due to the implementation of the EU minimum tax directive and the OECD model rules regarding pillar 2. Despite being the largest Finance Bill in a long time, it does very little for the ordinary citizens of the country. There are many simple things the Government could implement to make life much easier for ordinary people, especially during this …

The Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, received a letter two weeks ago from almost 80 GPs in County Donegal and a letter last week from consultants in Letterkenny University Hospital in Donegal calling for urgent action in the emergency department at Letterkenny University Hospital. In the letters, GPs and consultants warn of a service collapse and call on the Minister and senior officials to step in and carry out an external review of the emergency department, with an action plan put in place regarding …

The Tánaiste has outlined some of the positive stuff that happened in Letterkenny over the past couple of years and that is true but in reality all of that happened because the hospital flooded. That is why it happened and that is why this work was carried out. The hospital is greatly increasing the numbers at all times and even with all the work that has been done, we are in this crisis situation. The letter from GPs states : "We have patients who are refusing to attend the emergency department because they would …

Cuban doctors.

Yes.

It is all right for Portugal.

Sweden takes them.

It was interesting listening to Government Members before I came into the House and hearing their take on what is happening with the health services. In the same breath we hear that they have got extra money - a record amount of money - and then we hear about all the problems. There should not be any problems because they have this record amount of money. The reality is that the record amount of money is not enough. If the Government and Government Members were to recognise that, we might get somewhere with solving…

On the same issue, it is wrong that the Government should table a motion to be taken without debate tomorrow on the Palestinian situation. In particular, such a motion as has been put on the agenda is very sad. It was only circulated in the past hour to us. I could see why, when I read it. That is what is wrong; this motion should have been done by agreement with all parties in this House. It would have been possible if the Government wanted to but obviously it does not. It is the wrong way if we go down this road.…

No, he has not.

Who did he talk to?

We need to know who the Tánaiste spoke to-----

-----because what the Taoiseach has said is completely wrong.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to these statements on the final report on the independent scoping exercise into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O'Farrell. I welcome his family here today as well to listen to this debate. It is absolutely devastating that the O'Farrell family has been forced to continue this fight against the State to get answers they need over the past 12 years since Shane's untimely death in 2011. Unfortunately, their fight will have to continu…

This year, I and other County Donegal Deputies have raised issues around the defective blocks scheme 44 times in various debates in this Chamber. More than 240 parliamentary questions have been put down by Members across the House. Yet, each time I have raised this matter with the Tánaiste or Taoiseach in whichever of the rotating roles they happen to be occupying at the time, the concerns and questions I have raised on behalf of my constituents in Donegal have been treated dismissively, with trumpeting talk of a €…

The Tánaiste and Ministers continuously go on about a 100% redress scheme. The redress scheme is nowhere near 100% redress. Householders are looking at an average of €50,000 to €70,000 to pay for redress under the Government's 100% redress scheme. That is nonsensical. Every Minister continuously mentions 100% redress, as if it will happen if they say it often enough. It will not happen. That is the problem. The Government is doing nothing to engage with householders on how to bridge that gap. Householders have had …

-----and actually give them the money to get into the scheme.