Mary Lou McDonald

It is a statement of fact.

Do you?

Well then do something about this.

You are the Taoiseach.

The motion tabled today by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is a move cynically designed to intercept and shut down a prospective motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, to shield him from being held to account for his litany of failures, but primarily his profound failure of children with scoliosis and spina bifida. The pace with which the Government moved to protect Simon Harris today st…

I have no doubt that if she were in the Chamber today, she would back him again.

Nominating him for Taoiseach, she had this to say: It is that sense of simply wanting to help, of breaking down barriers, and making life better for people that drives Simon Harris. I know, under his leadership, we will see a major focus on improving supports for people with disabilities. So she said. I would imagine that at that time, the parents of children waiting in agony for spinal surgery …

The vast majority of people are decent and trusting and they believe that if you say something, you will follow it through and if you promise something, you will keep your word and come through for them, especially on an issue profoundly affecting their lives. Making promises is easy. Doing the work to keep those promises is hard, and Simon Harris does not want to do the hard work. The shattering…

Aww.

So did your colleague.

A Cheann Comhairle, could you assist by telling us what the salient ruling is?

A warm welcome to the visitors from Claregalway and the people from the United States. The ambassador is also most welcome. Cuirim fáilte rompu go léir. More than a million households will be hit with big hikes in their electricity bills this month. This morning we have further proof of what we have been saying for a long time, that energy companies are brazenly ripping off customers in Ireland. …

Tá a fhios ag gach duine nach bhfuil rud ar bith sa bhuiséad do dhaoine, teaghlaigh ná oibrithe atá ag fulaingt. Is í sin an fhírinne. I have asked a question about price gouging and ending the rip-off by energy companies. As usual, the Taoiseach has come up with nothing. His budget has made a bad situation worse for working people. I know he is not a great listener - God knows, his backbenchers k…

Did the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, tell the Taoiseach that?

Rather than the Micheál methodology.

It is a strange methodology.

What is the Taoiseach doing to end the rip-off?

Jesus, that is not answer for the people who cannot get a home. It is outrageous.

Blah, blah, blah.

That reply is obnoxious - people responsible for being homeless.

So poverty is okay.

They are not agreed to. Under Standing Order 35(3), I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely to have statements and questions and answers from the Minister for Health and from the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, on the ongoing scandal regarding children with scoliosis and spina bifida who require spinal surgery and why they are continuing to be failed and left on waiting lists, and …

Not agreed.

I give a warm welcome to the yellow bellies. Fáilte isteach, ladies. For all of the Taoiseach's big talk about phasing out the carer's allowance means test over five years, we got the truth of his position in last week's budget. Instead of allocating the €133 million that would be required for this phase-out, only €10 million was allocated for next year. At this rate, it would take 30 years to re…

There is no pressure on the companies.