Ivana Bacik

He is increasingly tetchy, positively frothing with rage over some of the proposals we have made.

It is true. The Taoiseach may laugh, but it is increasingly-----

It is increasingly evident.

The Taoiseach knows that in the Labour Party manifesto we put forward-----

-----careful proposals to transform-----

-----the building of homes in this country. He would not engage and he continues to dismiss our ideas.

We are proposing a better idea.

I never disagreed with that

We have no issue with that.

Absolutely.

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At this time, we remember all those who have lost their lives, homes and families in the brutal war that has ensued. We must reaffirm our solidarity with the people Ukraine at this time. On this sad anniversary, US President Trump joined with Belarus and North Korea at the United Nations, siding with the dictator V…

No.

No, it is not.

I am glad the Taoiseach acknowledges the need for greater investment in the Defence Forces. We are all very aware of that. On the triple lock, however, the Taoiseach continues to say that retaining the requirement for a UN mandate leaves us at the mercy of Russia or China having a veto. The Taoiseach knows that the legislation underpinning the triple lock enables a UN mandate to give authorisation…

On behalf of the Labour Party, I want to express our strong opposition to the Government's attempt to ram through this proposal to designate those who are clearly in government, who have supported the Government, as "Other Members". It is ridiculous to see the tortuous attempts the Government is making now to facilitate the Lowry lackeys by this attempt to shoehorn in-----

I will withdraw that remark.

The proposal put forward by the Government to facilitate the group led by Deputy Michael Lowry does not even make grammatical sense, nor does it make legal sense. It would apply to members of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to designate a body of Members who are not in opposition in this way.

We are strongly opposed to it.

That is not the case.

The Taoiseach stated that it is unacceptable to have so many people in homelessness. There are 4,500 children in emergency accommodation. We need workable proposals from Government to address the housing crisis. We do not need things like beds in sheds; we need really workable schemes. We in the Labour Party welcomed the tenant in situ scheme. We recognise it is the only hope for many families fac…

They cannot get places from the Government.

11. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on water quality will next meet. [7360/25]

The programme for Government refers to the establishment of the Cabinet committee on water quality in the context of the nitrates derogation and to evidence-based solutions to assist farmers to improve water quality. The Taoiseach stated the committee is due to meet shortly for the first time. I ask that the remit might extend beyond that issue and hope that it will. There are many other issues t…

15. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [5758/25]

Last week I raised the chronic shortages of staff across the healthcare sector with the Taoiseach and clearly that is contributing hugely to delays in the system and to the numbers on trolleys. Today the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, reported 669 people on trolleys, and 9,738 so far in February alone. This is clearly not just an issue around weekend cover or workplace practices. Wh…