Ruth Coppinger

That is okay. Before the break, I raised at Leaders' Questions the toxic, misogynistic culture in the National Ambulance Service and I have spoken further to workers and clients of the service, including another worker who was raped and sexually assaulted and whose career was ended by complex post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Inappropriate conduct and grooming on the degree course in Ta…

Will the Minister investigate?

9. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to China. [23833/26]

I would like to ask the Taoiseach about the consistency of his approach to world leaders and dictators. While the Taoiseach was in China, which was some time ago, the attack on Venezuela took place. The Taoiseach condemned the terrible regime in Venezuela while he was actually in China, which I did think was somewhat ironic. China is not a democracy and there is severe repression. The Taoiseach m…

Would you stop.

Not officially.

26. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs will next meet. [23834/26]

There are calls today for an all-island response to the epidemic of gender-based violence. In Northern Ireland, 30 women have been killed since 2020. It is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. A woman is more likely to be killed by her own son than by a stranger. The family and the home are very dangerous places. ROSA in the North has called a protest in Belfast for Saturda…

I echo the comments about grassroots football and the dire lack of funding. The way the clubs manage to provide a service is incredible. I will start by condemning the carry-on of the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, in stopping the funding for the entire League of Ireland based on one event, which was a flare being thrown on a pitch. He thinks that flare is a declaration of war but he is fine with wha…

The Dáil agenda has been obliterated to minimise the Opposition's chance to question the Taoiseach about what happened last week, his inept and arrogant handling of the protests and also to debate the package of measures that his Government brought in. We all feel huge sympathy for the Healy-Raes. I do not know if Danny is back from the top of a tractor somewhere. We all feel for the suffering of…

The Government just gave €500 million to them.

It has been excruciating listening to the Government talking about misery and missed hospital appointments. The housing Minister has left the House. There is a tsunami of evictions in my constituency. Two thirds of the under-35s are living with their parents. Need I go on? This Government leaves vast wealth untapped and untouched. Eleven billionaires own 85% of the wealth in Ireland. The protests…

-----and all the problems facing ordinary people?

This will not deal with the issue. Workers needs to step into action now.

I have a feeling that this is a very important week and a turning point in the life of this Government. Militant protests and blockades have taken place in the context of an ever-worsening cost-of-living crisis. People were threatened with repression. They got some repression as well, actually. Yet, a high level of the population supported those protests. Why does the Tánaiste think that is? Also,…

We have just seen very militant protests that were widely supported in society because of the acute nature of the cost-of-living crisis and the fact that people were supporting those who were having a go. A marker has been laid, and we need workers to do the same. In the couple of minutes I have, I want to highlight that there were some issues with these protests. It was noted by many people that…

I want to raise the pain and suffering being caused to people doing essential work in this country due to the massive backlog and delays in issuing Irish residence permit, IRP, cards. Some people who had to leave for funerals or because of family illness in India and elsewhere have not been able to get back into the country. I also want to raise the family reunification rules and to mention a woma…

It is a disgrace.

It is an outrage that planning permission would be given on this site where over 900 children, that we know of, died but where only 64 graves have ever been found. It has happened despite all the campaigning of survivors and the groups connected with them. I will mention something the Minister for justice said here the other day when this was raised with him. He basically acted like the Governmen…

I welcome this debate. I want to speak in particular on the aspect of the motion on low morale, internal investigations in An Garda Síochána and how people who make disclosures or whistleblowers end up being the ones whose careers suffer. They often end up out sick, being bullied or shunned within An Garda Síochána for speaking out. I would also like the Minister to clarify whether the Fiosrú inve…

The ambulance service is absolutely essential. Paramedics are the first on the scene and they do incredible work, as I know from my own personal experience. However, this week, we have seen further reports of a misogynistic and toxic culture in the National Ambulance Service, NAS. Will the Taoiseach investigate this issue? I have spoken to Kathy - that is not her real name - who has reported a pa…

To be clear, I highlighted a particular case but this is not about one case, as shown by the statistics I gave, the survey that was done in the north east and The Journal Investigates findings. This has been going on for more than a year. It is time for the Minister for Health to intervene. An Garda Síochána, the health service and the Army should not be safe havens for perpetrators. Unfortunately…

It is a bit ironic that the Government is putting a halt to this scheme in 2027 and reducing the amount now when it boasts and brags about the support it gives to Ukraine, pumping money in at EU level, some of which is potentially going in a military direction. We have a scheme here. I am not in favour of ending any scheme housing anybody in this country during a housing crisis. That should be per…

-----because of the figures that have been presented. The Deputy can shout all he likes; I am telling him now.

Punching down is pathetic of Sinn Féin, and it will not get any votes-----