Conor D. McGuinness

Very briefly, my question relates to the restitution and reparation of cultural heritage, the work of the advisory committee and whether a national strategy is in place.

The Minister will be aware that I have submitted some parliamentary questions on the work of this advisory committee. I am really keen to see the report. I do not know if the Minister has published it, or if he is willing to publish it or share it with Members. It is really important that we see the fruits of that work. The minutes of meetings have been published but there does not seem to be any…

I agree with the Minister that it is a two-way street. In the case of any artefacts or items of cultural heritage held here that are vestiges of the colonial past of this country and its unhappy presence within the British Empire for far too long, they should of course be logged and dialogue should take place for those to be repatriated to their peoples. I just want to give a very brief anecdote.…

What we are witnessing in Palestine is beyond what we can describe here in words. It is the systematic destruction of a people, of human beings - babies, adults, toddlers and older people. It is the destruction of their homes and their lands, their children, their very future, their dignity and their peace. There is no denying that it is a genocide and there is absolutely no denying the utter dep…

I welcome the chance to speak in this debate in the statements on the sports capital programme, the large-scale sporting infrastructure fund and the major events programme. I want to highlight four examples that show both the power of sport in our communities and the urgent need for further Government action and investment. The Government often speaks about participation in sport but the reality…

Oh, this was the unions?

It is the Opposition's fault, it is the unions' fault - the Taoiseach is the head of Government.

Right across the State, families, small businesses and community groups are being squeezed and screwed by soaring insurance costs. In recent months I have been contacted by families across County Waterford who are struggling to keep cars on the road. Any of us who represent rural constituencies in particular, but also all across Ireland, understand that having a car and keeping it on the road is a…

Earlier today I attended a briefing by the Family Resource Centre National Forum. I think we can all agree that FRCs are tremendous services. They are holistic, engaged, progressive, they provide vital interventions for families and individuals at all stages of life. In Waterford city we are very fortunate to have three excellent centres, Sacred Heart, Brill FRC and St. Brigid's, but there is a gl…

I agree with everything my colleague Deputy Donnelly said. We have spoken about this matter in the past. The Minister of State knows my feelings on it. Social enterprises are at the heart of rural and community life. They create jobs and roll out services. They foster innovation, but too often they have been treated as an afterthought by the Government. They have not been given priority and have b…

That is not good enough. I look forward to the remainder of the debate. I look forward to hearing the contributions of other Members. Hopefully, the strategy, as I said, will be followed by a framework for action.

Right now in Ireland, 5,000 children are homeless and more than 100,000 children are living in consistent poverty. That is only the tip of the iceberg and what the official figures are telling us. One in five children is living below the poverty line once housing costs are counted and 250,000 children in this State are in enforced deprivation. This is a State that has recorded unprecedented surplu…

How about the facts and figures of 5,000 children who are homeless. That is only the tip of the iceberg.

It is the tip of the iceberg. Shame on you.

Look at all the facts and figures, Minister.

It is 5,000.

That is outrageous.

The Minister of State does not need me to tell him the school transport system is in chaos across this State, but I will do it anyway. Families in my constituency of Waterford are being failed. The system is broken. Parents are exhausted, angry and frustrated. Children are left without a safe and reliable way to get to school. I have been raising this for months. I have written to the Minister of …

As my colleague Deputy Cullinane has laid out, this is not the first time the two of us, as Sinn Féin representatives for Waterford in this Chamber, have raised this. I believe the Minister of State was here the last time we raised it as a Topical Issue, just a short few months ago. We did so because of the demand and the urgent need for the Government to come to a decision on this. We have the v…

From listening to the Minister of State and scanning his speech as he read it, it strikes me as a bad mash-up between "Yes Minister" and "Computer says no". It is shifting the goalposts every single time. It is putting unfair demands on Waterford and the south east that simply are not placed on other regional airports around the State. No other regional airport is forced to jump through these hoop…

Migration has become a touchstone issue in Irish public discourse. Too often, it is used as a wedge issue - a tool to divide communities, to stoke fear, to sow hate and to distract from the Government’s failures. In my experience, people who come to Ireland from abroad make an enormous contribution to our society. They work alongside us in hospitals and care homes, in our schools, in construction,…

Too often when we talk about antisocial behaviour it is framed as an urban problem. However, the reality is that this is not just an issue for cities or large towns. Rural communities, small villages and settlements throughout the country are also experiencing the impact. Communities in every county want to feel safe. They want their young people supported and they want to know that the Government…

Every child with additional needs has a constitutional right to education. That is something my colleague Deputy Cullinane and I raised with the Minister of State at the start of February this year. It is not simply a right to education but to a suitable and appropriate school place. Families are doing everything in their power, but they are being failed by this Government. In Dungarvan and Waterf…

Over 200,000 children were eligible for school dental screenings last year but only half were actually seen. The other half, amounting to more than 100,000, were left behind. It is not an isolated failing; it is part of a wider collapse in public dental services – a collapse that is hitting families hard, especially those without the means to pay privately. Even medical card holders are struggling…

Pride is about equality, solidarity and community and as an Irish republican, these principles are fundamental to me. I am very proud to stand here as an ally. Pride is also about love, acceptance and the joy of acknowledging and celebrating every person's authentic self. Tá cearta agus comhionannas ríthábhachtach ach tá sé chomh tábhachtach céanna go dtógaimid pobal inar bhfeictear gach duine, i…