As the mother of a child with autism, developing policy that ensures inclusion and access is of particular significance and importance to me. For this reason, I support the Bill and what it is trying to achieve. I reiterate, however, the point made by Deputy Tully regarding language and terminology. After a recent engagement with the AsIAm organisation, I am aware that a large proportion of the community dislike the word "disorder", as it frames their experience and reality as a sickness and as something being wron…

The 45 recommendations shine a light on the key issues hampering women's full and free access to and participation in all areas of our economy and society. This should not be so prevalent in 2021. We have a long way to go yet. We know that Covid-19 disproportionately impacted women and, unfortunately, that still is the case. We know too about the feminisation of poverty. We have heard that we are on the verge of another recessionary chapter in Ireland. We know the risk of shecession, that women earn less than men a…

Yesterday saw a very powerful and poignant rally outside the gates of Leinster House. The march for maternity reminded us there is still an important part of society to which somehow, inexplicably, the Government has not responded and it highlighted the change in circumstances in which we find ourselves 19 months down the line of this pandemic. Has the Tánaiste read the experiences of the women detailed on the scroll that was delivered to the Dáil yesterday? If not, will he ensure he does so? Does he understand the…

I am eager to make this contribution today on the reopening of the tourism and aviation sectors, two essential industries in my constituency, Clare. They prop up and sustain other micro-economies in the county. I will have Shannon Airport at the core. First and foremost, I want to talk about the future of Shannon Airport as we emerge from Covid-19. I propose, as I have done on many occasions, the reintegration of Shannon Airport into something similar to what the DAA was, to be known as the national airport authori…

Childcare desperately needs reform in this country; the dogs on the street know this fact. It is expensive, inaccessible and has become akin to a luxury item. It is a service many families struggle to pay for and refer to it as being similar to a second rent or mortgage and that is absolute madness. We know Ireland has one of the highest childcare costs in the world. The European Commission's research put us behind only the likes of Switzerland and England and we have some of the lowest-paid professionals, with 60%…

My question is to ask the Minister for Defence the status of the investigation into the claims made by the Women of Honour campaign, whether he is considering an enquiry to report back on the steps his Department has taken to date and whether he can give the date as to when it will commence.

I ask that no assumptions be made by this House, Members or the Minister about earlier statements that this involves a minority of members of the Defence Forces. I ask that all be withheld until after the inquiry. It is dismissive, unhelpful and disrespectful to the women who have come forward. The Minister has met with the five former Defence Force members and 14 current members. Those involved in the Women of Honour campaign felt the meeting was beneficial and positive. I ask that this engagement be committed to …

I commend the women who have come forward on their bravery. As a former member of the Defence Forces, I must say the "Women of Honour" documentary was hard listening but I was not at all shocked. I know of incidents that occurred during my short three years of service. I know first-hand these issues were not responded to and were merely brushed under the carpet. We need to send a strong message to the women of Ireland and to all women who may feel inspired or called to serve in the Defence Forces that they can do s…

Like my colleagues, I wish to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest and deepest sympathies to the families dealing with the aftermath of this scandal. It was heartbreaking to listen to the parents of baby Lee and to hear the story recounted by Deputy Gould. It was harrowing news for us all to hear, and all of the parents who have been affected by the recent revelations from CUMH are at the forefront of our hearts and minds. We must now ensure that this sensitive matter is dealt with in an appropriate, profes…

As somebody who lives in, and represents, a rural region and county and as the mother of a child who has endured the child's unfair share of waiting lists, the findings of the survey brought forward by our spokesperson on health, Deputy Cullinane, who put Trojan work into the collection of this information, confirm what I have experienced and what the people of Clare are dealing with daily. We had the curtailment, as it was called at the time, of the Shannondoc services, which resulted in their disappearance. Denti…

My question is straightforward and asks the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for an update on the status of a review of the income thresholds for social housing, one that he referred to in this House on 5 May when he said it was under way. Previous to that, it was also described as being under way in November 2020.

I thank the Minister of State for his response, although parts of it were regurgitated from the debates on 5 May this year and November 2020, bar the inclusion of the last bit of information he had. In my constituency of Clare, the band is set at 3, which at €25,000 is the lowest for a single person. The fact that each additional adult in the household is only afforded 5% of the threshold is completely and entirely nonsensical. This has been the case for ten years now. I see the ill judgment and irrationality of th…

The Minister of State knows the heartbreaking stories that are being relayed to us on a daily basis. The fact that he cannot do anything for these people is just so frustrating. I am confused because he said the review is under way and adjustments have been made thus far but, according to Clare County Council, there has been a decision to adjust the household means policy providing the preceding 12 months' income of a household is taken into account. I ask the Minister of State to address this judgment, especially …

The vision set out in this document is extremely timely and necessary. To eradicate child poverty and eliminate child homelessness are two monumental undertakings. They are outside the child's control. No child deserves to be in homelessness or to live in poverty. All Members of the House would agree on that. For a relatively wealthy First World country, the socioeconomic division across our society is striking. The inequity and inequality that persist across the country reinforce high levels of hunger, poverty and…

In broad terms, I too stand in firm support of the provisions of the Bill which intends to rectify the power imbalance between renters and landlords that plagues the private rental sector, where acute pressure exists. The sector increased by 109% between 2002 and 2016, accounting for almost one fifth of households. Pressures in the sector are driven by rising demand, a lack of supply and the high cost that indebted landlords face in servicing their loans. Security of tenure and rent certainty are principles that my…

We know that Shannon Airport is a great driver of economic growth in the mid-west region. Shannon Group comprises Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon International Aviation Services Centre. I also seek an update on the appointment of the chairperson for the Shannon Group governance structures.

The role of the Minister and the Department in appointing the members of the board is also questionable. This is further exacerbated and demonstrated in that the track record is far from impressive. First, we had a six-month gap from the exiting of Rose Hynes in August 2020 and here we are, over 12 months later, with the appointment still left vacant. That is completely unacceptable and on the ground, the Clare folk feel the exact same. They do not want excuses any longer. They want results. The Minister also commi…

My question is on the measures the Minister plans to include in the CSP to redistribute funding to smaller and poorer family farms.

Gabhaim buíochas for the information that the Minister has provided there. I refer to the flexibilities the Minister has held out for. These have left uncertainty as to what the final result will be, and most pressingly, whether it will abide by the status quo of favour to the bigger farmers or whether it will genuinely reallocate resources and do more to protect the small and medium-sized farmers. The 10% ring fence as a frontloaded payment, specifically with smaller farmers in mind, is one measure I know that has…

It is very important to implement a definitive set of upper limit payments to avoid what happened last year, for example. We know that obscene payments were received by some individuals during the last CAP cycle, which some have called criminal. While the average smallholding and farmer struggled to make their vocation viable, reform is well overdue. The fact that the Minister has avoided responding to the call for the CAP strategic review to come before the Dáil does not exactly inspire confidence. Sinn Féin has a…