I met with families from Donegal town, Inver and Ramelton in my constituency outside the Dáil today. Families from all across the country were at the gates of Leinster House as part of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland's support the Kaftrio 35 campaign. Some 35 young children with cystic fibrosis are currently deprived of a groundbreaking new drug due to a pricing dispute between the HSE and the provider, Vertex. It is wrong that these children should continue to be deprived. The Taoiseach should act to ensure that the Minis…

This report was of the Houses, rather than of the Government, so the House should be in control of how it is debated rather than the Government deciding what the time is for a debate. We need to find a method that allows the Houses to set aside time to have this debate and then we might have a real debate. I would love to be able to hear a lot more of my colleagues' analysis of what went on within the report because that is vitally important. We have been waiting a long time for this report, seven years in fact, an…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this very pressing issue.  I completely support this motion to introduce measures to assist with household bills.  It has been a difficult summer for many households across this country and I know that many in County Donegal have been struggling to keep up with the never-ending rise in household bills.  What I have found extremely alarming is the level of anxiety among my constituents.  There is a strong sense of fear of this coming winter and sheer …

They are up; I should have said nothing.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will have to make it up to me.

This has been an interesting debate on the summer economic statement. The document provides a snapshot of what is happening. On paper, things are going exceptionally well, with Government Members saying how great things are. When you look in more detail at what is happening and how people are reacting, the problem is people are just trying to survive. They should, in normal circumstances, be doing okay. Based on their wages, they should be doing all right, but they are struggling badly. It is happening across the b…

I am sorry to interrupt, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle; is there a copy of the speech?

This happens very often now, and has done since Covid, that Ministers arrive without a copy of the speech. The very least we should have is a speech, especially on something as rushed as this legislation.

The time is going to have to be moved. The very least we could expect is that the Dáil would be respected by the Government Ministers.

I ask that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's office get on to the Government Ministers because this happens regularly. I do not think it is acceptable.

No.

It is shocking that we are discussing a motion to allow the Government to table a set of amendments covering more than 50 pages to a Bill that is to be dealt with later on today. It is mind-boggling when you say it like that. The contempt the Government shows for this House really is shocking. Yesterday, we saw a Bill rushed through to enable the ratification of a treaty we signed 50 years ago. This treaty regarding outer space was only moved for ratification yesterday. There must be something coming up in that reg…

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important and necessary Bill. I absolutely support this legislation establishing a national rent authority and reducing rents to affordable levels by limiting them to a maximum of a quarter of households' monthly incomes. As we all know, this is the last week the Dáil will sit before the recess. Although we have unnecessarily rushed through a lot of very important and heavy legislation, we have actually done very little to help to ease the cost of living for famili…

I am grateful for this opportunity to say a few words on the recent European Council meeting. No doubt the European Council has a considerable impact on our lives. It will be interesting to see how that impact will increase over the years to come. I wish I had Deputy Harkin's confidence in what Europe will do in terms of Ireland and that we should be looking out for and happy with what they will do. Unfortunately, I do not believe that we should. Even when it comes to Brexit, for instance, in terms of the fishing c…

I wanted to talk about food security, but also about how Germany wants to reduce the criteria on decision making. I will get to that on another occasion.

The Minister of State said in response to Deputy Howlin that, unfortunately, unanimity is required in the decision-making process on these issues.

The German Chancellor made a statement calling for reform of decision-making within the EU and indicating an intention to make proposals for a shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting on issues such as foreign and fiscal policy. What is Ireland's position in this regard and how does the Minister of State see that we can be protected in such a situation?

Will it happen?

The programme for Government contains 66 headings. After two years, it has failed under most, if not all, of them. For my constituents in Donegal, it has failed on mica, farming, fishing, protecting the vulnerable, transport, broadband, homelessness, public housing, affordable housing, energy and emissions targets. It has failed family carers, mother and baby home survivors, people with disabilities and people with mental health issues. It has failed on Sláintecare and it has failed pensioners. It has failed to end…

Although I agree with the principles of the amendment to AMIF, I am sceptical of the pact on which it is based. I am concerned that it will only further reinforce European policies focused on externalisation, deterrence, containment and return. Following the mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine, I understand the need for increased financial aid and that facilitating access to financial resources under AMIF is badly needed. However, I am also aware that accelerated border procedures, when implemented, often…