Johnny Guirke

Does the Minister of State have any idea when it will be progressed?

Did the Taoiseach watch the "RTÉ Investigates" programmes last night and the night before on the psychiatric care scandal? At the moment, I am dealing with families who are at their wits' end trying to access mental health services for their adult children. In some of these cases, the person involved is a danger to themselves, their families and their neighbours. Instead of them being turned away …

This Bill is designed to legislate for Ireland’s decision to sign up to the EU migration and asylum pact. We all know every country requires a functioning international protection system that is rules-based, fair, efficient and enforced. We are all very aware of the problems in the international protection system in Ireland, and the EU migration pact does nothing to support or take into account Ir…

Every year, more than 50,000 people go to the emergency departments in Ireland because they are in mental health crisis. These are people who are scared, overwhelmed and often at the lowest point in their lives. What happens when they arrive? They are put into busy, noisy accident and emergency departments. They sit for hours on hard chairs or trolleys, with some left in corridors. Some have no pr…

Over the past few years, we have seen how working from home and the essential right to request remote and flexible work has had its benefits and the power to shape a fairer, more productive and more resilient economy if managed correctly. The Government is required by law to review the right to request remote working legislation through a public consultation. Since the right was introduced in Marc…

I want to raise the issue of the neolithic passage tombs at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, County Meath. These have some of the most beautiful examples of neolithic art in Ireland but remain closed to the public. I have dealt with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and now the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, on this. We do not seem to be getting anywhere. Fair play to…

This evening, I want to recognise the hard work of the volunteers in Meath and right across the country. Among them are Meath River Rescue volunteers who have shown unwavering dedication day in, day out and are always on call. Meath River Rescue was established in 1996 by a group of local swimmers and divers who saw a need to protect and serve our waterway communities. The founders consisted of s…

I am a little disappointed that the senior Minister for housing is not here to answer on this very important issue. The Ringfort development in Rathmolyon, County Meath, has been plagued by mismanagement, delay tactics and questionable dealings that have left five families locked out of their homes for more than five years. It has been more than five years since couples put a booking deposit down …

As State support has been drawn down on these houses, I believe the Minister of State can intervene and that we need to intervene. I visited the site in Ringfort last Friday and blocks were being delivered to complete works on the boundary wall. This site is nearly complete, which begs the question why the developer would continue to work on the site if it is going to liquidate it. Yesterday we at…

Will the Minister of State meet the families?

Bring back the Galway tent.

This question relates to the employees of Fastway.

In the run-up to Christmas, many of the Fastway workers do not know how they will cope. Rose Conway-Walsh, Senator Maria McCormack, Councillor Claire Murray and I have been meeting every few days and more on these issues as well as on the issues arising that franchise owners are experiencing. Councillor Murray spoke to a franchise owner and issues are coming up regarding the franchise agreement. T…

As the Minister knows, these workers and all those impacted deserve clear communication and support from both the company and the Government. Some franchisees have invested heavily to establish their franchises. This must be taken into consideration. Workers need an income and certainty. The Government must engage with the receiver and ensure that all avenues are explored to safeguard jobs, protec…

For years, Sinn Féin has stood with the men and women who have built our economy from the ground up. We have championed the right to retire at 65, a milestone earned through decades of hard work and dedication. Yet we also recognise a simple truth: life does not always fit a single blueprint. Some people want to keep contributing, learning and shaping our world, even after 65, and they should have…

Presidential voting rights need to be extended to all Irish citizens living in the Thirty-two Counties. It is also important these voting rights are extended to Irish citizens abroad. Last week I hosted Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and Karen McHugh of Safe Home Ireland who gave a presentation at a cross-party briefing on issues affecting returning Irish citizens. Many …

-----and had distanced themselves from her she would have had a far better chance-----

-----of getting on the ballot and would probably be on it.

The recently published Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 outlines new service provisions and funding models for community pharmacies. Two areas of particular concern are the exclusion of blister packs or monitored dosage systems, MDS, from reimbursement under the agreement and restrictive provisions on phased dispensing, limiting its use and removing reimbursement in some cases. These omissions un…

The Government is hitting the most vulnerable here.

In Sinn Féin, we stand in solidarity with workers across all sectors who, through their hard work, keep our economy moving. Far too often, though, workers face insecure pay, unstable conditions, and a bargaining environment that favours the few over the many. That needs to change. I thank Labour for bringing this Bill forward and I want to give my strong support to ensuring robust, fair and enfor…

I wish to tell the Tánaiste how much it is costing students to go to college this year. I will tell him about a student in my constituency of Meath West who goes to college in Galway. Last year, she paid €8,632 to go to college. This year, it will cost her €10,380 for the same room, just moving across the hall. How is that happening? There is an additional €350 in rent. Last year, they were talkin…

Every year, families do not fight for a favour, they fight for a basic right: the right to a school place or a school bus for their children with additional needs. This is not a one-off problem. It is one that circles back year after year, with no lessons having been learned from the previous year. In too many communities, children with additional needs cannot even access education in their local …

The rising cost of food has been a worry for many families. Food inflation is now running at double the rate of general inflation, with many families being forced to fork out an additional €3,000 per year just to keep food on the table. The prices of the likes of meat, cheese bread and beef have skyrocketed. The cost of a pound of butter has increased by more than €1 in the last year alone. The ec…

I am delighted to introduce this Bill along with my colleagues Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Mark Ward. It gives the coroner the option of recording iatrogenic suicide as a verdict. Iatrogenic is the ending of one’s own life where the effect of medical treatment undertaken by the deceased, including any prescribed medication, is the primary cause of such action. I welcome Stephanie and John to the Pub…