It was a five-minute speech.

Recently, a constituent of mine wrote to me for the third time in less than a year. She stated: This month will mark one year since I joined the waiting list for an insulin pump in Sligo University Hospital, and still there is no end in sight. In fact, I have been informed that almost no one has been taken off this list in the past year and I am essentially in the same position I was in one year ago. She continued: Type 1 is a horrifyingly hard diagnosis to live with and affects almost every part of ... [her] life.…

I was distracted there for a bit, a Cheann Comhairle. I was listening to that contribution. It was very interesting. One would wonder what Fine Gael did to local authorities at any stage. They participated in the fiasco that we have in terms of local authorities - Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party and every Government - and that is the problem. Out-of-government control would make a big difference to it. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. There is no doubt the system…

The legislation does not scratch the surface of the local government reform that is so badly needed. It is completely unambitious and does not go far enough in addressing major issues with our local authorities. It is for this reason that I think this legislation will fail and I cannot support it. I believe that it will ultimately set back the reform of local authority. It will also mean that the people of Limerick will wonder is this form of mayor what they voted for.

On behalf of the Independent Group, I also join with the Ceann Comhairle in thanking the staff of the Houses for their facilitation over the course of the term. As the Tánaiste will know, several Iceland stores across Ireland have been closed, including the Letterkenny store in my own constituency, after its parent company went into examinership. I welcome here today seven workers from Iceland and their union representative from the Independent Workers Union. I am horrified to learn how the workers have been treate…

That will take years.

It is with deep sadness that I contribute to these statements today. It is sadness for the at least 12 Palestinians who were killed after a devastating Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp. It is sadness for their families and the thousands who were forced to flee their homes following this raid, while the camp was left in ruins. It is sadness for the Palestinian minors facing immense emotional and physical abuse having been arrested by Israeli forces. It is sadness that although we continue to have these stateme…

There are a number of areas of consideration raised by the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023. On one hand, we have people who wish to exercise their freedom to protest. Within that, are freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression. On the other hand, we have a legal healthcare service, the right to avail of that healthcare and also to the ability to safely provide this service. It is a balance of proportionality. I will fiercely protect the right to pr…

I mean no offence to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, who is here in the Chamber and I thank him for coming here today to take this Topical Issue matter.

The reality is that the Government holds Topical Issue Debate in contempt. The Ceann Comhairle has raised this previously on numerous occasions with regard to the attendance of Ministers here. I ask that he would raise it again with the Government. I have had numerous Topical Issue matters and only once has a Minister with responsibility been in attendance here. This is disrespectful to the House. Topical Issue Debate is part of the routine of the House and the Ministers should make themselves available. They get p…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for his response. Thankfully, it seems as though Ireland is doing all that it can to ensure that this is raised through the proper channels. I welcome the fact that the human rights council has been raising it here in Ireland and making statements. Pursuing it and pushing it through human rights is the way to go. I welcome that; it is vitally important. I welcome the fact that Ireland is working with the International Accountability Platform for Belarus. It is import…

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. I support the motion and its call for the Government to give its backing to the FAI report on facility investment with a comprehensive State-backed investment programme, its call for a review of the sports capital and equipment programme grant and its call to address gender equality access issues within football. There is no doubt there has been underinvestment in soccer in this country. This, coupled with poor leadership, has made it hard for clubs and players to …

I am glad to hear it. The club has been waiting a long time. The completion of a new stadium, finally, is vitally important to ensure football can continue as best it can in the club. Despite underinvestment, we have managed to produce many brilliant soccer players, such as Séamus Coleman from my hometown of Killybegs. However, these players are forced to move abroad to further their careers in football. It is obvious that Ireland's football facilities have fallen behind those of our European counterparts. Some 55%…

I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to the statements on the European Council meeting which took place between 29 and 30 June. It was disappointing to see that these meetings were once again dominated by Ukraine, with the biggest crisis facing our planet and our very existence receiving only a fraction of the attention, labelled under "other items". It is also disappointing to see that the European Council has welcomed the decision to increase further the financial ceiling of the deceivingly named Europ…

Does the Government believe that the title "European Peace Facility" is appropriate, given it is used to buy arms for Ukraine? Will Ireland take a position on the appropriateness of this title? Has Frontex been discussed at any European Council meetings? Has Ireland taken a position on the abuse it is carrying out every day in respect of migrants, including their drowning in the Mediterranean?

Frontex.

It is part of the EU.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 14, to delete lines 9 to 41, and in page 15, to delete lines 1 to 12. This amendment calls for the deletion of provisions relating to focused monitoring by a member of Garda personnel relating to arrestable offences and matters relating to the security of the State. I am seeking the deletion of the whole section. This is warranted because, as I read the section, it lays out that An Garda Síochána can make use of this section off its own bat and that this monitoring can continue on. W…

I am sorry. I forgot about that.

I am sorry; that was my mistake. I will speak to the other three. On what the Minister has said with regard to oversight, the section actually says: A member of Garda personnel may utilise ANPR data to monitor the movements of a particular vehicle (in this section and section 18 referred to as “focussed monitoring”) only if that utilisation— (a) has been approved under this section by a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of superintendent following receipt of an application which shall be made by the m…