No, you are not making it clear. You are making it unclear. You are creating an element of doubt. You are obfuscating, you are conflating and you are eliding, and I will not tolerate it.

I want the clock set back to three minutes. I am here to advocate for the rights of disabled children-----

-----and I would never raise or mention the name of a child without their parent's permission-----

-----and if you want, I can hand you the email with that permission-----

-----if you are not going to take my word for it.

I think we need to start again and I want that formula of words you used removed from the record because I will not have my contributions framed in that manner.

No, you are not. You used a formula of words-----

-----that brought me into disrepute and impugned my integrity.

I am saying it because that is what you did.

It is not my opinion; it is an objective fact-----

-----if you look back at the record.

I want the clock set back to three minutes.

Can we start again? I raise the case of a 14-year-old boy in Tralee, Daniel Collins, who, like thousands of other disabled children in Ireland, is not receiving the support, therapies or surgical interventions he needs to grow and thrive as a young man. He is 14 years old, he has autism and cerebral palsy and, since August 2024, he has been categorised as an urgent case for spinal surgery. His scoliotic curve has now increased to beyond 90°. If that continues, it will render him inoperable. For the last long eight …

-----spend millions and millions on legal fees and senior counsel to put families like this through an adversarial system-----

-----and to push back against them getting their treatment. I am asking the Leader that we have a debate with the new Minister with responsibility for children, disability, integration, youth and so on, Deputy Foley, to try to see whether there is-----

-----a way forward with this. I do not want to come in here every week for the next four years and raise-----

-----these cases. Let us turn it into a good news story and try to change something for children within the life of this Government.

The Minister is very welcome to the House and I thank her for being here. I want to make a few general points about early and preschool education in Ireland. We are both former teachers. I was a primary school teacher back in the 1980s, briefly. In fact, I would say that I have not really worked since. It is a very tough job. Philosophically, we all accept that the State should provide education for children at primary level, from junior infants and senior infants right through, and at second level. The State suppo…

Minister, fáilte isteach agus comhghairdeas on your new portfolio. I want to address section 2. I commend my colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group on bringing forward the Bill. I am proud to support it. Section 2(1)(a) seeks to oblige the Minister not to provide exemptions for aircraft where an application has been made with respect to military or dual-use items destined for the State of Israel. Let us consider the geography involved. Ireland is the largest and busiest air corridor between north Africa, the Midd…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, for coming in. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, approached me yesterday to give her personal apologies to the family this matter relates to because she cannot be here due to her schedule. However, I am glad the Minister of State is taking it because we have worked side by side over recent years in the Seanad, and I know he understands where I am coming from with regard to this Commencement matter. This is the story of Mikey Henry, a 16-year-old boy who…