Mary Lou McDonald

I thank the Minister. Let me acknowledge the actions that have been taken by Government and the commitment the Minister has made here to the House in respect of Jennie's law and further reform. That is welcome but it is not enough. The evidence on the ground reflects the reality that violence against women and their children is not taken with the seriousness it deserves. Those are the facts on the…

The lack of standardisation is undesirable, as is the lack of wraparound services. I do not want the Minister to deliver just more of the same. We need a real step change if we are to achieve zero tolerance.

Yesterday, Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, unveiled the Government's intention to convert the GPO for the purposes of retail units and office accommodation. This is the Government's shameful plan for the most iconic site of Ireland's struggle for freedom. This is the building outside which Pádraig Pearse in Easter 1916 read aloud the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. This is…

Cuirim fáilte roimh na Little Blue Heroes. We are in very safe hands with outstanding people like them. I thank them for being here. Households continue to be hammered left, right and centre by soaring prices with no let-up. With extortionate rent, big electricity and gas bills, high fuel prices, unaffordable childcare and runaway insurance premiums, prices are out of control. Workers and familie…

Some 70% of people are concerned about food prices. That is what I am raising with the Taoiseach. I gave him some examples earlier; let me give him some more CSO data. Over five years, the price of sugar has gone up by 54%; fillets of cod, 55%; pork sausages, 21%; lamb, 48%; and spaghetti, 46%. This is the reality people face every week when they go to the supermarket to do their shop. People tell…

Does the Taoiseach do a weekly shop?

Clearly he does not.

Does the Taoiseach do his weekly shop? No, he does not.

Yes, you did.

HRT is not a grocery.

Insurance has gone up.

Does the Taoiseach keep track of even his own bills?

Last week, the Government brought forward a plan, the net effect of which will be to cause rents to rise across the board. One particular group who will be affected by this are students. Having said initially the Government would have their backs, it is now clear it does not have their backs because those renting in the private sector will suffer, just like others, as landlords can seek market-rat…

Never mind that. What about services?

What about services? That was the question.

They are being slaughtered.

Pathetic.

It is such a cheap shot.

That is not happening.

Tairgim: Go gcuirfear an Bille faoi bhráid an Roghchoiste um Thithíocht, Rialtas Áitiúil agus Oidhreacht de réir Bhuan-ordú 187. I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to Standing Order 187.

12. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [26977/25]

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the 1998 Good Friday Agreement recognises the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves, and be accepted as, Irish or British, or both; and — the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution - Amending the Constitution to give citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections at Irish emb…

We are not splitting the atom either.

The scandal of abuse and neglect of elderly residents at two of the country's nursing homes has deepened with the publication of a HIQA report last night. It revealed that one of those homes, Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, had almost 200 allegations of abuse of residents in the past three years. HIQA has notified the Garda of its concerns regarding the two nursing homes concerned and has requested t…

The Taoiseach is not a commentator on these matters. He is after giving me a whole spiel there that told me precisely nothing, with all due respect. A total of 198 complaints were made against a nursing home with not a cent of financial penalty. There were no consequences until RTÉ showed up. This tells us the system is not working. It is not sufficient for the Taoiseach to take to his feet and of…