Holly Cairns

The Taoiseach can-----

If the Taoiseach could see the anguish-----

I thank my colleague, Deputy Rice, for all of his hard work and passion on this issue. Our GP services are stretched beyond their limits. In most areas of my constituency of Cork South-West GP practices are no longer taking on new patients. People ring practice after practice only to be told there is no room. Families who move to the area cannot access primary care locally. Young people ageing out…

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition. Eating disorder services in this country do not reflect the seriousness of this. Young people with eating disorders face a medical cliff-edge when they reach adulthood. Their care can simply stop. They are discharged from CAMHS and placed on a waiting list for adult services that are understaffed, under-resourced and,…

I give a very warm welcome to all the survivors in the Public Gallery. We are here today because of their tireless efforts to get justice. I welcome the State apology today for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools as well as the clarification on criminal records. I do, however, want to talk about what it took to get here. Survivors of these nightmarish institutions, Mary Donovan, Mary …

At the outset, a Cheann Comhairle, I want to express that our thoughts are with the families, friends and communities of the seven people who lost their lives on a road over the weekend. This Government claims that disability rights are a priority, but the Taoiseach's words on disability have not been matched by action. The Government has found €19 million to postpone the proposed cuts to SNAs, o…

The Taoiseach asked what I mean by the change of approach and I will elaborate on that. I mean a change from this, where the Government comes in and uses language like "progress", "investment" and "increases" and all of these big, grand words whereas the reality for disabled people on the ground is a nightmare. The reality of the language in your own Government's reports is very different from you…

-----and makes decisions not with them but for them. That is the change in approach that is needed. We need an overall approach to changing the situation.

After ten years and 15 years-----

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I want to talk to the Taoiseach about this SNA fiasco. I will get straight to the point. This Government seems to think disability is almost exclusively physical. It is 2026 and that is akin to saying mental health is not a thing. I should not have to explain this but children being able to communicate, regulate and participate is just as important as their…

The Taoiseach said it is a "bit much" to ask that question and I have to say I agree with him. I do not think we should have to ask that question but the reality is that the policy - the implementation of this - does not represent his words here today at all. Over time and incrementally, it has happened that the allocation of SNAs is based almost exclusively on physical needs and not other needs. …

I said that.

I am asking-----

If you could answer the question, it would be helpful.

One in six babies in this State is born in the Rotunda. It is the busiest maternity hospital in the country by some distance and it is also the oldest maternity hospital in the world, and in many ways it feels like it. I was there yesterday to speak to the team after the devastating news that the planning permission for their long-awaited and desperately needed extension had been overturned. On Fr…

The Taoiseach says colocation between the Rotunda and the Mater is there in essence. Yes, I agree with him and everyone can see that. The problem the Taoiseach is talking around is that it is not there in reality in the Government's maternity strategy and An Coimisiún Pleanála brought that into its decision-making process. Part of the reason it gave when balancing it with the cultural heritage of …

Has the Taoiseach read An Coimisiún Pleanála's-----

Has the Taoiseach read the decision?

They cited the colocation with Connolly Hospital.

You should read the An Coimisiún Pleanála reason.

It said it was because of colocation.

That was taken into consideration.

It does.

Today, the Government is using the guillotine to ram through legislation that will have one overriding result, that is, allowing record rents rip even further. Once this legislation goes through, it will mean monthly rents for new tenancies being reset to market rates. People watching at home might not know what that means because the phrase "market rate" does not capture what is really going on h…

-----developers and investment funds. It is not too late to step back from the brink, abandon plans to jack up rents and finally protect renters.