Ruth Coppinger

And the Israeli equipment?

I welcome this opportunity, particularly as it is the first time I have taken part in a housing debate in the new Dáil with the Minister present. It is important that we get our points across to him. I was also outside at the protest. I am looking forward to a huge turnout on 5 July for the Community Action Tenants Union protest, particularly because young people are in despair. They are either sl…

How important does the Tánaiste think the issue of gender-based violence is? The United Nations and the WHO say it is the greatest threat to the health of women and girls in the world. There has been a record number of calls to Women's Aid and a rise in calls to gardaí regarding gender-based violence. I am struggling to find one measure the Government has introduced in its six months. Today, howe…

Not every issue has to be defensive either.

There is an irony in the Tánaiste saying we should all work together when the Government is stopping my Bill. The Government could have allowed the Bill to progress. We could debate it and it could amend it on Committee Stage. The problem with the Bill the Minister seems to be talking about is that it will not exclude the potential for counselling notes to be admitted. That is the problem. The act…

This is the kind of thing we have to listen to during Leaders' Questions.

I send my sympathies to all affected by the crash in India. It is absolutely horrific. Thousands of people are taking part in a march to Gaza today. They are trying to break the criminal blockade which is allowing thousands of people to starve, be killed and so on. It is something the Tánaiste commended when he spoke of doing anything that can be done to keep the eyes of the world on this when wo…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." In starting the debate on my Bill today, I am thinking in particular of the family of Annie McCarrick who disappeared 33 years ago but only now is a man being arrested in relation to that crime. Obviously, women do not disappear; something has to happen to them. We recall many other women in the 1990s who just suddenly disappeared and the State w…

We should register that it is poor the Minister is not here himself. No offence to the Minister of State but it is also poor that he is not even in the area of justice. He is in the Department of heritage and housing, I believe. This does not send a good message. What the Minister of State has read out is even more disappointing than I thought it was going to be. Listen to what the Minister is sa…

No, that is a fact. The idea that judges are always right and should have arbitration on this is not right. I do not agree with giving all power to a judge. I thank the Sinn Féin Deputies who have stayed and contributed to the debate on a Thursday evening. It is a pity there were not more parties. How many more women and people, because we had male victims in the Gallery when First Stage of the B…

Unfortunately, in Blanchardstown we have been suffering with this for more than a year and a half and nobody is listening. Manna Drone Delivery began operating in Blanchardstown and it, apparently, has 170,000 drone flights done. The plan is for 2 million. The company has now linked up with the massive multinational, Deliveroo. Let us be clear: the company is not delivering blood or medicine; it i…

I did not have time to read the Minister of State's substantial prepared answer but the Department of Transport has known about this because residents have been in contact. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, is also based in the area and replied to residents last August. I warn people in Dublin city that this is what they are in for. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, it seems, will let these companies unleas…

Will the Minister of State put the matter on the transport committee's agenda?

The Taoiseach gets annoyed when we use the word “complicit”. I believe the Minister does too. What does the word “complicit” mean? I looked it up again before I came to the Chamber. It means “involved in, or knowing something is wrong or unlawful”. The Minister knows something is wrong and unlawful and he has a big chance to do something about it. This is a really clear example. The Irish Central …

You are skipping the first one.

It is 9% at the moment.

When will the nursing homes be discussed?

Saudi Arabia?

It is true.

The Madleen humanitarian flotilla was illegally intercepted by Israel in international waters. This is piracy, it is kidnapping and it is a crime to stop aid being delivered to starving children and people. Four people have been deported, including Greta Thunberg, and eight detained, and we commend their bravery. Three ambulance crew and a journalist were among the murdered last night. The Taoisea…

Will he commend the march to Gaza taking place-----

----- this Thursday by thousands of people, including from Ireland?

It was an humanitarian mission, not a military mission.

It was not symbolic; they had aid.

He has done nothing for the Palestinian people.