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absolutely concur with everything Deputy Callaghan has said. She rightly mentioned that families come in many shapes and forms and different sizes. I am very conscious that we link everything to our blood relatives. The time has come that when we are reviewing all the categories we have … those who care for us, family friends or whoever it is, and allow the person who has worked so hard to accumulate their house and assets during their lifetime to decide who should be the correct person to inherit those assets and properties

around this Chamber, I see we still have a long way to go to reflect the true diversity of our country. Until this House reflects the diversity of our society, until every individual regardless of gender or background has an equal opportunity to succeed, we cannot call … better profitability, better governance and more creativity and innovation. Despite this, progress remains slow. Too many glass ceilings remain and, internationally, women's rights are in reverse. Research also shows that women's participation in the Irish workforce over the past 40 years has been a key driver

Ireland would have hoped for a significant radical shift in some areas of policy to resolve the challenges we face, particularly in housing and health, they were met with a programme for Government that resembled nothing so much as a question mark rather than definite statements. One particular … very clear what the roadmap is for the ending of the means test for carer's allowance. That is not only the right thing to do but the wise thing to do to ensure the sustainability of our system of family care. Another area that the programme

safe, high-quality mental health services for people in mental health crisis and deliver the right care in the right place at the right time. This means effective, compassionate and responsive services in the community, but also in our emergency departments and hospitals. The wider shift to community … ensuring culturally appropriate support where it is needed most. We are significantly increasing funding to voluntary and community organisations, including organisations like Pieta House, HUGG and SOS, by €1.7 million, recognising the vital role they play on the ground every day. We are creating a new crisis response

nursing homes in question and committed to providing me with an update on progress this week. I assure the Members of the House that I, the Minister for Health and the Department of Health continue to closely monitor developments regarding both nursing homes. The welfare of residents … poor care is fostered and embedded at all levels. Safeguarding in its widest interpretation is about safe services. We all have a fundamental right to feel safe, especially in the case of residents of nursing homes, in what is their home. As Minister of State with responsibility

Union’s commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on a two-state solution that guarantees the right of both Israeli and Palestinians to self-determination and to live in peace and safety within secure borders. We are now at the fifth … summit the day before, which will be the largest meeting of international leaders ever hosted in Ireland. I look forward to updating the House on these events and future meetings of the European Council, and on the results of the Irish Presidency as we head into the most

committee. This is not within the Minister of State's gift but I do not believe this is the last time in these Houses that we will be regulating or legislating in the area of artificial intelligence. I think the work we have done on the AI committee … enforcement level. I think we should be more specific as to what kinds of directions we are going to give the AI office. Right now, we know what the AI office is going to do. It is going to enforce the EU AI regulation and make sure that

Traveller community itself is not penalised due to a situation it has not created. We need to ensure that education and health supports, housing advocacy and employment and training programmes for Travellers in my area continue and that there is a premises for these activities to take place … organisation does not leave these issues and that work abandoned. I worked a lot on Traveller issues during my time in the human rights sector, and I have to say, it was an absolute privilege to work with groups such as the Southside Traveller Action Group from across

after 1 March. In the past 12 months, rent for existing tenants has increased by nearly 5%, so we are not going the right way. We are going the wrong way. Another woman who came to me is a highly qualified legal secretary with years of experience … types of door in this country. In the health service and mental health service, there is a revolving door. When it comes to housing and homelessness, there is a shut door. It is an absolute disaster. I mention the tenant in situ scheme. It is the one thing

year and then a further three years to build. The area was flooded in 2017. That would mean 12 years, assuming everything goes right, to complete the scheme. It is just too long. As regards the Mountmellick scheme, the Minister of State saw the properties in Mountmellick that … those residents within six weeks. The cost of the scheme is expected to be between €15 million and €17 million. Hundreds of houses will be protected when the scheme is in place but, again, it is just way too long. As regards the timeline there, again

territories Bill; it is because Benjamin Netanyahu's Government is engaging in war crimes, and it needs to stop. It needs to stop right now; it needs to stop today. The aid, including aid funded by Irish taxpayers, needs to get into Gaza. I am meeting Senator Black … doing something but falls at the first challenge. I do not have a policy difference, by the way, with anybody in this House who wants to include services and goods. I do have a legal difference, but I am happy to tease that out with people

again because of the propaganda machine out there, I have nothing against the Jewish people. I condemn antisemitism. I acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. However, it is a powerful state that is abusing its power and committing atrocities. I feel for those families attacked by Hamas … oppressed and we will not be intimidated in the face of any threats from the Israeli government or indeed from the White House. It is good the rest of the EU and Europe appears to be finally waking up, but we will see. We must remember change only

have what we have in Ireland around us and it is imperative we do not lose sight of that. As Minister for housing, I am in conversations every hour of the day about significant building and infrastructure projects but our environmental duties are never far from those discussions … National Biodiversity Week, I want to pay tribute to the countless individuals, community groups and organisations who have organised and participated in events right across the country. Their passion and energy is absolutely critical in driving real change on the ground. In particular, I want to commend

changed. Criminals are using mobile phones, computers and new technology, and the law has to keep up. I said many times in this House that giving gardaí powers is only part of the answer. We need gardaí on the ground as well. In rural Ireland, particularly in west … biometric access there must be clear rules and proper oversight. I am also concerned about somebody being deemed to have given up their rights to a solicitor. If a person has given up such an important right it should be clear that they understand what they are doing

weeks ago and they were very quickly put on the agenda, which highlights the regard in which we hold this issue in the House. The 1989 academic paper "The End of History?" by Francis Fukuyama, and the subsequent book, The End of History and the Last … already having an impact in terms of deaths, illness, and weakening protections against famine, flood and drought. All of this is happening right now. The headlines are rightly focused on the diminishing security of Ukraine with the continued war after Russia's invasion, and indeed what has happened

record that the DOMINO scheme is community-based midwifery-led care. We do not always get the chance in these Houses to talk about services or initiatives that are win-win for the public and for the State but this is what DOMINO is. For the mother … terrific service but it is also in the interests of the State and the hospital if we can get things right. It ensures there is less pressure on hospital beds, that low-risk pregnancies do not escalate to high-risk pregnancies and it is very much in line

ground-breaking at the time but access to it has been an issue. In that regard, it is most welcome that prescription rights have been extended to pharmacists by this legislation. The other critical thing is that for all those women not eligible for the free contraception scheme … barriers and geographical barriers, particularly for women in rural areas, to accessing their GP. An issue I have raised many times in this House is access to GPs in socially disadvantaged or fast-growing areas, where we know there is a lack of access or a long wait

State must intervene in a way that finances local authorities properly, because they do not have sufficient money, to build public affordable housing in our Gaeltachtaí. I will call out the Minister. He threw up his hands and said he is disgraced at what happened with the evictions … those in the Wexford estates and who are being evicted. Some 20,000 households were evicted last year. Thousands are facing eviction notices right now. Why does the Minister not put in place a ban on no-fault evictions? He says it will deter landlords. That

Delivery has seen. As Vice Chair of that committee, I am very focused on it. As a councillor, I saw a lot of houses being built in north Kildare, for example. I am sure the same applies in the rest of the country. In Celbridge, we need … billion to be spent on capital projects over the next nine years. That is extremely welcome. The reason we need to ensure the right culture and accountability are in place across the Civil Service and local authorities is to ensure we get to spend this money

which, as he said, will strengthen the child protection architecture. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is aware of the concerns raised in the House regarding the establishment of the guardian ad litem national service. That was raised here, even in the past hour, by Deputies Donnelly, Currie and Mitchell … litem executive office, under the auspices of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 preserves children’s rights, strengthens their voice in proceedings and provides for legal advice and representation for guardians ad litem in certain circumstances to support them in carrying

wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss appropriate funding and resources for the treatment of allergies. Deputy Mark Wall … funding for youth work in Balbriggan. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss public transport improvements in Chapelizod. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss the need for a 24-hour rapid response vehicle at Tuam ambulance base. Deputies

Valerie's law are advancing, too. The establishment of Cuan by the previous Government was absolutely critical. As a former housing Minister, I was involved in the third national strategy. We need to make sure the supports are there for people. Fundamentally, and I agree with the Deputy … this very serious issue, and to work societally as well. Significant education is required. The Deputy mentioned online content and she is right. The normalisation of pornography among young men, in particular, is a really worrying trend. This is something that can be addressed through our education system

done throughout this country needs to be acknowledged. The new thresholds of €1,000 and €2,000 are a step in the right direction. There are many people who help out their fathers, mothers and loved ones and basically give up their lives to look after them … Government has gone. Is the cow gone or what has happened? That was badly needed. There is a lot of money there for housing, in fairness. When one reads the document, the sad part of that budget is that affordable housing was never mentioned. We all represent different

week I spoke to a woman in Kildare town who is facing the prospect of homelessness. She told me, "I have done everything right, and now the State is slowly killing me." The pain and dread she is feeling as the clock runs down is absolutely crippling … beautiful nine-year-old girl. She is about to fall into homelessness. The Government knows this story well. Its own Department of housing has said private rental is the second most common route into homelessness, yet renters are being punished again and again. It is shameful. Families like

cause fear in another person. Curtilage is any land immediately surrounding a house or other building which forms an enclosure around the house or building, but it does not refer to land beyond that, such as farmland. However, my Bill, if it clears all Stages, will amend … Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 was introduced at a time when there was perhaps a far greater level of respect for the rights of farmers and when we did not see such contemptuous disregard among a substantial number of people for the right of farmers or landowners