Next is Deputy Mac Lochlainn. Excuse me, I am wrong. The next slot is the Rural Independent Group's.

I need my glasses.

As someone who comes from a part of County Wexford located 1 mile from Duncannon, where fishing is a way of life for many, I am deeply concerned for the community. I thank the Rural Independent Group and will support its motion. It reads "all fishers, including the inshore fishermen, have been hit extremely hard by record high fuel cost increases, while bait prices have also ‘soared’ (mainly due to almost all bait now being imported) as larger whitefish vessels have taken advantage of tie-up schemes". We all know t…

Let the Deputy talk.

Let the Deputy finish.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges that: — most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages; — oral diseases share common risk factors with chronic disease, such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes; — oral diseases are caused by a range of modifiable risk factors common to many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including sugar consumption, tobacco use, alcohol use, poor hygiene, and underlying social factors; — oral diseases disproportionally affect the economicall…

Last week, I stood here and highlighted the story of little Jacob McMahon from Wellingtonbridge, County Wexford. Jacob is nine months old. He was born with complex medical needs and requires 24-hour nursing care, and he was approved for that. Having spent the first four months of his life in hospital, he has been five months at home with his family, a family of six children and two adults. The parents get two hours' sleep a night and are currently trying to run a business while looking after Jacob. Having represent…

Everybody in the House will be aware that a nine-year-old boy, Alejandro Miszan, was ravaged by a restricted breed of dog in Enniscorthy, which left him with life-changing injuries. I ask that the resources given to dog wardens be looked at. There are 55,000 households in Wexford. Statistics show that 49% of householders own a pet or dog, which is 27,000 households in Wexford. We have 1.6 whole-time equivalent dog wardens. I ask that the injuries of that child not be in vain.

This area has a whole host of consequences and implications on both sides of the argument. On one hand, we need to increase the thresholds because of the implications of the cost-of-living crisis but I have given examples in the House on multiple occasions of where I believe the Government has contributed to cost of living increases, which we have seen throughout the course of 2022. Naturally, any increase in the cost of living will have the largest impact on those who are least well off in society. Those on lower …

The current punishment levels for those found guilty of stealing a pet are simply too soft. I thank my colleague who is predominantly responsible for this Bill but I am very proud to support it. Last night, I posted some information on Facebook about the Bill and early this morning, I received an email from a constituent which stated: I am [a] Wexford based [constituent] and I run a Group on Facebook Missing Stolen Animals Ireland which I set up in 2020 at the height of pet theft during lockdowns. Over the past two…

The Minister of State has been very proactive in bringing forward Bills of this nature, including some relating to pets. I reiterate what he said about Alejandro Miszan. I brought this up with the Tánaiste this morning during Questions on Policy or Legislation. He said there is a review under way as to how we resource our dog wardens. Clearly, 1.6 whole-time equivalents in Wexford, servicing 27,000 homes, is not effective. We can have all the laws we like but if we are not able to resource them into effectiveness a…

Deputy, you had your turn.

Deputy, be fair, you had a few minutes.

Deputy, let the Minister finish.

Minister, your time is up.

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this Bill and highlight some of the problems it will cause. The Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 will entirely change the appointments process of An Bord Pleanála board members for the worse. It will seriously compromise the independence of the State's top planning body. The Bill hands unchecked powers to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with complete discretion in determining the board appointment process. It also p…

The Taoiseach is no Elvis; he might be more Daniel O'Donnell. I congratulate the Taoiseach on his term in office. His many years' experience as a parliamentarian have stood to him. He has been courteous and balanced, generally speaking, and has maximised, in an understated way, the art of the political announcement. I doubt there was ever a Taoiseach who was as successful at creating photo opportunities and making announcements. In fact, there were many announcements made by the Government that never got to the nex…

Never did the Taoiseach think he would have me to call on to rescue him.

I wish the Taoiseach and his family well. I am sure they are very proud of him, and so they should be. His departure is more a case of, " Hasta la vista , baby. I'll be back next week as the Tánaiste." He will appreciate that I must be careful about eulogising his time as Taoiseach because, as is the culture in the House, I will probably have to hold him to account next week.

Today I will take the opportunity to seek a commitment to retain the 9% tourism VAT rate, which is vital to my constituency of Wexford in the coastal sunny south east. Tourism businesses, hotels and restaurants, are collectively our largest employer and prior to the pandemic that industry supported over 270,000 livelihoods nationwide. That included 10,000 jobs throughout County Wexford, generating €227 million in tourism revenues annually for our local economy. In light of the turbulent times ahead, it is therefore…