Ruth Coppinger

It is five seconds. I am about to stop.

We have to begin by saying that we all agree drones have massive potential for good in society such as for emergency relief mapping and delivering medicines to isolated areas etc. The focus of this Topical Issue is the fast-food drones that have been operating in Dublin 15 in particular. Manna, which operates these drones to deliver fast food, has been doing so for about a year and a half. It is u…

The Minister of State's reply fails to grasp the point. The framework says that the Irish Aviation Authority oversees the implementation of the EU drone regulations, but it does not monitor noise. It said this at the Joint Committee on Transport. There is nobody monitoring what is the biggest single problem of these drones, which is noise. The Minster of State has said that drone delivery operatio…

Shame on you.

What about Melissa Hortman? There was no minute of silence. The Deputy is an absolute disgrace.

In my brief time, I do not really have time to comment on the whole national strategy on disability. I just want to focus on one little boy who kind of sums up the attitude of this State to people with disabilities and particularly disabled children, namely, Harvey Morrison Sherratt, whose life was undervalued from the word go. Ironically, his parents were strongly encouraged to have an abortion w…

When is a school place not a school place? When it is a sanctioned school place. The verbal gymnastics the Government has been engaging in have been going on for a while, not just under the Minister of State's watch but under that of his predecessor. We have been asking for a long time for a figure in respect of the number of children who still do not have places. Now we want the figure for the nu…

Why are teeth a luxury item in Ireland? Why are they considered an accessory? Everything about our dental system implies that. On one hand, one in six adults over the age of 54 in this country has no natural teeth. The figure for Japan is 15%. It is just completely different. We have a historic and systemic unequal dental system whereby if people are rich and able to pay, they can keep their teeth…

Can murderers, specifically wife murderers, continue on the State payroll after conviction? Is there any regulation to stop someone receiving State funds years after killing someone, particularly the mother of their child? A number of attempts have been made to find out if James Kilroy, who murdered Valerie French, is still being paid by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. My informatio…

Yes.

There is no law to stop such people being on the State payroll.

Well, Deputy Martin should know that. He is the Taoiseach of the country.

He should be able to indicate whether there is a law-----

I asked the Taoiseach if there is a regulation or law and he has not answered.

You might just let me ask a question without getting-----

Well, I know you do not care about women's rights, but I am allowed to ask a question.

Unbelievably rude.

These statements are very welcome. I thank the Deputy who raised this from the floor because there had been no statements until this. The reason it is important is that it is very clear that despite the massive rights and wonderful gains that were won for LGBT+ people ten years ago and women in terms of repeal, we are in a different era now. We are in a different space It was very noticeable on Pr…

5. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [35368/25]

The ongoing genocide in Gaza is obviously a stain on the European community and the US. Is the fear over tariffs going to inhibit our Government from raising serious human rights abuses within the US? I have seen videos - I am sure the Taoiseach has too - of children shackled and chained in an LA detention centre by ICE and being transported, in scenes reminiscent of the Holocaust, before the end…

Holding everyone to their time is fine.

That is fine.

Is that a lot?

What is the Taoiseach suggesting?

16. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach to report on his discussions with the new Canadian Prime Minister. [38778/25]