Mary Lou McDonald

I called them underlings not lackies.

For the avoidance of doubt, they are in fact underlings and not lackies. I am happy to clarify that.

Israel has resumed its genocidal war on the people of Gaza. Some 970 deaths over the past 48 hours have been reported by health authorities, the majority children, women and the elderly. Those who have died have died hungry. The attack follows Israel's total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and doctors watch people die before their eyes. This is the horrific result of the impunity handed to I…

I am not the Taoiseach.

I do.

Correct.

Jesus, that is pathetic.

The Taoiseach did not do that.

You sang dumb, Taoiseach.

Tugann Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan deis dúinn go léir machnamh a dhéanamh ar an am atá caite agus tabhairt faoin todhchaí go cróga. Déanann muid ceiliúradh ar na glúnta máithreacha, iníonacha agus deirfiúracha ar diúltaíodh fios a bheith acu agus a tháinig timpeall ar dhúshlán doshéanta le misneach an t-athrú a chur i gcrích. Tá dul chun cinn suntasach bainte amach ag mná ag obair le chéile, ach tá r…

Over the course of the next week the Taoiseach will engage in three crucially important meetings for Ireland's future. The first is a meeting with the British Prime Minister in which I hope the Taoiseach will press for a reset of relationships as equal partners. Then there is an EU Council meeting at a time when the European Commission has kickstarted an EU arms race, proposing a colossal €800 bil…

Gan dabht, tá na gaolta sin uilig an-tábhachtach ar fad. That is why I have raised the question with the Taoiseach. I am not in the least bit complacent. I am deeply concerned about the international order at this time and Ireland's place within it. Peace is not achieved by investing in and financing war. Every rule in the book is being set aside to enable Europe to invest €800 billion in weapons …

What about Palestine and Gaza?

Figures were released this morning to our justice spokesperson, Deputy Carthy, that make for very shocking reading. They reveal that suspects in 40,348 crimes carried out in 2024 were out on bail. This is an issue we have raised repeatedly with the Government, and I am raising it again this morning. The 2024 figure represented an increase of 5,000 on the figure for 2022. Astonishingly, the combine…

The figures are shocking.

The figures do not tell that story.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

13. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach how the new disability unit within his Department will function. [7554/25]

26. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [6074/25]

The right to feel safe in your home, in your community and on the streets is precious. As a TD for Dublin Central, I represent communities who could write volumes on how that right has been systematically taken away from them. It is shameful that families who live in strong, resilient and vibrant communities, people who work in the centre of Dublin and those who visit our capital city are so ofte…

Parents of children with special needs are constantly coming up against brick walls while trying to access essential services for their children. The scandal of children with scoliosis and spina bifida, left in pain while waiting for their operations, has been one of this Government's most damning failures. The heartbreaking stories of people being left behind often involve excruciating waits for …

To be clear, that has been sought and secured. This case is on the public record.

I am glad the Taoiseach agrees with me that this situation is entirely unacceptable, that children are left without access to urgent dental care. I also welcome the fact that the Taoiseach will, as I understand it, make a direct intervention in respect of Tiernan, because a solution needs to be-----

I am putting the question to the Taoiseach, with respect, not to the Chief Whip. I asked that the Taoiseach make an intervention, and I would appreciate it if he did that. The problem is that we cannot bring all 7,000 stories of all of those children waiting for more than a year, or the 1,100 who have been waiting four years.