The Deputy is in her colleague's time.

The Deputy is way over time.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor is sharing time with Deputy McGuinness.

I am delighted to be in this Chamber for a third International Women's Day. It is a great privilege to be in a position to speak for women. This morning I began my day by visiting Wygram Nursing Home in Wexford. There were probably 30 women there aged from 75 to the great old age of 98 who were delighted to see me and I was delighted to see them. All too often on International Women's Day, and every other day, we lose touch with that age group when they go to a nursing home. They were all delighted with their care.…

We move to the Independent Group. I call Deputy Connolly, who is sharing time with Deputy Harkin.

I am pleased to associate myself with the motion as a member of the Regional Group, and to shine a light and constructively bring about some innovations and improvements when it comes to pre-hospital emergency care and community healthcare. There is no doubt that our hospitals and healthcare services are under pressure. This is mainly due to mismanagement on a grand scale over a number of years. I have had many battles with officials in the HSE and the Department of Health through my work on the Committee of Public…

Today is the day when the Government reintroduces the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy of 2 cent per litre on the price of fuel. It might not sound like a lot but NORA does not just store oil; it also stores money. In 2021 NORA raised €120 million, with a surplus of €39 million. That surplus has accumulated year on year, and the Government feels the need to introduce a levy on the hard-pressed people of rural Ireland who are working hard. I am collecting for a food bank to give those people a leg up because…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor - to discuss the recruitment crisis facing Carlow and Kilkenny’s children’s disability network teams. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív - to discuss the need to ensure speedy payment of providers of accommodation to Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - to discuss the need for improved bus services in Fingal. Deput…

Some 23 months ago, the Ireland East Hospital Group, IEHG, announced that a new 96-bed unit for Wexford General Hospital had gone to design stage. That was 23 months ago. On 11 January 2023, our local newspaper reporter, David Looby, said there is no design stage. Why are the people of Wexford less important? We got a measly €780,000 out of a €23 billion budget from the Department of Health. Wexford was allocated €780,000.

That is true. I have the figures here. I have the response to my parliamentary question from the Minister, who now says we are only at the strategic report stage. We have now gone from being at design stage, which was confirmed, to not being anywhere near it and having no capital budget for the unit. I ask the Tánaiste to clarify for the people of Wexford when they will get not another politician, but their 96-bed unit.

Can it be clarified how it went from the design stage?

Unfortunately, the Minister of State can probably pre-empt what I will say on the matter. I thank People Before Profit for bringing the motion before the House. It is a very important talking point and very concerning to most people. The real question is why we need an eviction ban. We need an eviction ban because the Government has failed to provide adequate housing. It has failed to acknowledge and deal with the root cause of the failure, which is poor planning policy. Before I move on I want to reiterate what my…

Next are Deputies Joan Collins and McNamara, who are sharing time.

The farming community will have been a bit disappointed to hear the Taoiseach say earlier that he was not aware of what the price of fertiliser is in the UK per tonne because it has been their talking point for a week. Farmers now realise the only way they as primary producers can ensure the sustainability of their farming income and activity is to have direct input into their cost base and for them to have direct involvement in the primary and secondary processing of their product. A large number of farmers have c…

Will the Government support this co-operative?

I was to speak in place of Deputy Nolan.

That is fine.

We will conduct the debate with respect for both sides. I would prefer if there were no interruptions.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

In 2016, EUROSTAT reported that Ireland has one of the lowest police to population ratios in Europe, with 278 gardaí per 100,000 citizens. That is 40 less than the EU average of 318 per 100,000. Since these 2016 figures were compiled, Ireland is reported to have increased its population to over 5.1 million people as of April 2022. A recent report based on Garda website figures and freedom of information requests shows the Garda to population ratio to be 241 gardaí per 100,000 of population. That is another reductio…