Ruth Coppinger

----- this speech was sent out by Deputy Michael Lowry yesterday -----

----- to a constituent. We should have it here.

It was.

It was sent out yesterday by Deputy Michael Lowry to people.

If Deputy Lowry had it yesterday, the rest of us who are in here for the debate should have it.

And it is not off the cuff.

I welcome the survivors, therapists and campaigners who have come to the Dáil today, including those who have campaigned on the issue of an amnesty for same-sex relations crime in the past. I do not know if they are still here. The issue in this Bill that has dominated is that of the use of counselling notes. There are many survivors here today. I cannot mention them all but will mention a few. S…

26. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach for an overview of his Department’s annual report for 2024. [3746/26]

This is ridiculous. Thirty seconds. This is happening every second slot. We warned about this when the Government cut Taoiseach's questions.

It is happening every week.

A huge amount of resources went from the Department of the Taoiseach last year into trying to strategise and manage the visit to the White House for St. Patrick's Day. I am wondering what the hell level will be needed this year for the Taoiseach to manage such a visit if it goes ahead because we have a demagogue, dangerously unleashed at this point. I was never a fan of the shamrock at the White H…

I am sorry. It was what?

Yes. That is what I mean. That takes money.

The Taoiseach is not named.

Why is the Government demonising them every day?

Did the Leas-Cheann Comhairle call on me?

I am sorry.

I will try not to be. How does the Government justify ploughing ahead next Thursday with a Bill that still allows the counselling notes of victims of sexual assault, rape and child sexual abuse to be accessed in trials despite all it has been told in recent months and years about how damaging and traumatising that is? I refer to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026.…

They have been raised with him already.

12. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [1707/26]

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." That is from Orwell's 1984. I am wondering if that is what happened with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in relation to what Donald Trump is doing in general, and has done in Venezuela. On Truth Social, he announced that he is now the de facto leader of Venezuela. They swooped in, kidnapped a l…

You just got back from China.

It is Taoiseach’s questions.

29. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [1708/26]

Since we began this debate 67,700 images of a sexual nature of children have been created by AI. I have spoken many times in this Dáil on the issue of abuse and how these social media companies are child groomers and endanger women and children by encouraging misogyny. However, we now have an app that actively allows people to participate in child abuse. What is the Taoiseach going to do about it?…