Peadar Tóibín

There are global pressures. There is no doubt about that, but this country is an outlier in terms of many of the costs people are paying. It is the Government's effect that makes this country an outlier. The Taoiseach talks about the carbon tax. We have shown through parliamentary questions that hundreds of millions of euro from that have gone back into the Exchequer and have never been used. Thes…

The ESB.

It is from the dysfunctional system of electricity generation.

No, we support it; we just think it should be underground.

No.

It is not built because you want it overground.

There is very serious overcrowding in Tullamore hospital at the moment. It is the largest hospital in the midlands region. A memo was sent around to staff stating that there was a black escalation, as I have been told by staff within the hospital. They were told that 35 inpatients are being accommodated in surge beds across the hospital, with a further 14 off-site in private medical beds. This is …

I can get the details to the Minister today if she likes.

14. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the most recent EU leaders’ meeting or Council. [45026/26]

It has been reported that Ireland has signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the French Government around the purchase of military hardware and the training of Irish soldiers by the French army. I understand this may include the location of French soldiers and military hardware in Ireland. I understand it is to aid interoperability between the two armies. There are major concerns the MOU …

-----and the location of French planes here could reduce mobilisation time for the French. Will the Taoiseach address these concerns?

It is not just radar.

There are other military vehicles included in the-----

34. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the revised national digital and AI strategy. [45027/26]

Social media is robbing childhood from many young children. It is putting enormous pressure on children, isolating them and creating situations where there is 24-hour bullying. This is leading to all sorts of distortions in relation to children’s understanding of the world. One suggestion I made to the Taoiseach previously was for the Government to seek to ban the purchase of smartphones by those…

Nine euro socks.

The Taoiseach is having a laugh now.

How could Deputy Ó Murchú miss these words?

Local regulation.

Last year there were 10,852 abortions in Ireland. The lives of 10,852 living human beings were ended last year as a result of the legislation that was passed a number of years ago. It is the highest figure on record. It is equivalent to 400 classrooms of children who are no longer with us as a result of that abortion law. It is absolutely heartbreaking. In all the politicking we see in this Chambe…

There is no need. The TDs are on the same side.

Everybody has been shocked by the brutal attack that happened in Belfast this week and by the subsequent riots. Hadi Alodid has been charged for the alleged attack. The Chief Constable in the North of Ireland has said that this individual is a Sudanese national who came to Belfast via Dublin from Paris but no information has been given by the Government as to his movements in this jurisdiction. Ho…

This question.

That is a disgraceful load of rubbish.

I am simply asking factual questions that everybody understands.