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think of the people who faced those convictions and the unfair and unjust way Irish society treated them. It is only right, having come so far in terms of equality legislation, that they are not being left behind and were not forgotten. I appreciate the Minister's support … Government Deputies. I commend those Deputies on their efforts. There are days when one feels one has achieved very little in this House. However, the provisions in this Bill mean many Deputies will see their ideas and contributions brought into law. I particularly commend the people who campaigned

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for welcoming my friends from Tara Hill national school. We are all rightly proud of the very innovative and dynamic film, television and animation production sector here in Ireland. There was cross-party support in the previous Oireachtas, under the audiovisual media services … decision, if he will publish the report from Coimisiún na Meán and any evidence, and if we could have statements in this House on the future of the sector

hope we can stand together to take steps that help to seep that away and remove any of that divisiveness from the House, as Labour Party Deputies have said. Notwithstanding the divisiveness in the debate and our desire to set that aside, I recognise that we have … gender diversity is absolutely part of the human experience and that gender-diverse people should be respected in their identities and in their right to express themselves. They may choose to transition from the gender assigned to them at birth to being recognised and identified as another gender

trying to put together a competitive fund within the Department. We know the priorities of the current national development plan review are housing, water and wastewater, energy and our competitiveness. Those are the four key areas. That is why, as a Government, we need to prioritise those with … significant challenge to those businesses because of the regulatory impact it has had. No other Government has done as much for employment rights and supporting the well-being and rights of employees, but we also have to be cautious to ensure businesses remain viable on that trajectory. That

European Council meeting, I advocated for the re-examination of the EU-Israel association agreement in light of egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. We have continued to call for this in light of continued unacceptable Israeli actions. Leaders had an exchange of views with … discussions with fellow EU leaders in Cyprus over the next two days. I also look forward to continuing our discussions in this House on this very important agenda of work for Ireland, especially as we take up the responsibility of the EU Presidency from 1 July

come home. I am sure there are many more Irish people across the world who would love to return but see the housing crisis and ever-rising cost of living as barriers. We must do more to encourage and help them to return. However, there is no doubt … this State, including the Border and the common travel area with Britain, which is a non-EU entity. While we have the right to opt in to and out of legislation governing the areas of freedom, security and justice on a case-by-case basis the Government

confidence in paediatric care in this country. We are speaking about children, vulnerable young patients whose parents trusted the health system to do right by them. Serious questions now hang over whether some of these children underwent invasive surgery unnecessarily or without proper clinical justification. This … only a clinical matter. It is a systemic governance failure that must be addressed by the HSE, the Department of Health and the House. We need to listen to families, protect and support whistleblowers and ensure no child is ever again subjected to any procedure that

always attend the commemoration in the Mansion House on national Holocaust memorial day and would urge parliamentarians on both sides of the House to do so. It is a powerful and moving event, which I attended this year on 26 January. I commend the Holocaust Education Ireland organisation … address some of the concerns with the wording, which linked criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is important that we have the right to criticise the state involved in bombarding civilians

justice; it is a repetition of the original trauma where an institution exerted control over their children's burial. These mothers have inherent rights to privacy and space to grieve in peace. The Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance wanted to find out where the mothers' babies were buried … extraordinary habit of distorting things that I say and conflating them. We are talking about 60 acres here. The planning permission for housing is not for the entirety of the 60 acres. It is for a part of it. There are two other lots of land. There

Deputy Cahill is right that I visited Cromane. I met with Michael Healy-Rae's colleague in relation to the same issue only yesterday. I asked him to ask the local authority to come in with minor works for Cromane, and it will be dealt with … happened in Enniscorthy, when we were talking about more rain my biggest concern was County Louth. Deputy Ó Murchú's colleagues in the House rang me. I was fearful. My team in the OPW met with the local authorities last week and will continue to engage. I need

moment. We get calls from all over the country. There is a corridor, you could say, from above Tuam and Belclare right down Lavally, Clonbern, heading to Glenamaddy and heading on. What is it doing? Communities that worked together, put football pitches together and helped elderly people together … there - that the commitment is not in this Dáil to make sure that wind turbines are far enough away from people's houses. I believe in turbines offshore - 100%. There is a huge opportunity but, of course, that opportunity was where the designated maritime area plans, DMAPs

misrepresenting and facilitating the endless conveyer belt of online lies which too often end up in diluted form on the floor of this House. For an informed debate, we must speak only to facts. The Tánaiste bulldozed through each of these three last week. He did so purposefully … where it comes from but we can make a fair guess. It is against that backdrop of where are as a country right now that the Government must make a choice. It can speak to the facts about migration and international protection in our country

entered politics to do nothing but good, to deliver and to help those he sees around him. He is motivated for all the right reasons to be involved in politics. Unfortunately, far too many politicians on the Opposition benches today entered politics to posture, shout out and exploit … instead, for its own political ends it cynically chose to exploit people who have a genuine issue which this House cares about and people on all sides care about. That needs to be called out. It contrasts with the daily work of the Tánaiste

then is the Secretary General of the Department saying what is being said and that housing is being threatened by the larger users of electricity? The current proposal in price review 6 is to increase network charges for households. Presumably, the Minister of State does not disagree with … large energy user subvention. We in Sinn Féin believe that the determination of price review 6 in December must reflect these facts and right these historical wrongs

they can build new houses. The Deputy was at a meeting I attended through Zoom in Dunmanway recently on the wastewater treatment plant. Houses cannot be built there and there is no future. It may be 2030, 2035 or 2040. We will be at workshops every … deliver the wastewater treatment plants, seeing as Uisce Éireann cannot deliver them? I would love for the Minister to say I am dead right, that we are not going to be able to do Dunmanway, Shannonvale, Ballydehob, Goleen and Rosscarbery in the next 12 months

This is at a time when hundreds of thousands of people out there need answers and action from the Government to address their housing situation and issues like disability. Hundreds of thousands of health workers have also balloted for industrial action because of the understaffing of the health … programme for Government while they are then pretending to be in the Opposition. They are undermining not just the Opposition but the right of the people of this country to have a strong Opposition and to hold this Government to account. This is more stroke politics from Fianna

value that parents and children throughout the country place on school buses. I know that very personally myself. It is heartening that this House has spent over three and a half hours debating it today and Deputies have brought issues from the length and breadth of the country … number of issues relating to special education were raised. I am quite aware of the challenges with special education in Dublin, Cork and right across the country. The Department and Bus Éireann are working closely to try to find resolutions in this regard. We all came

show that overall consumer prices have risen by 3.7% in the past year, but that headline figure does not tell the full story. Housing, electricity, gas and other fuel costs are up 8.5%. Transport costs are up 5.4% and education costs have risen by 8.9%. The CSO specifically … taxes and transporting goods using its own vehicles, it should not be pushed outside a support scheme because it does not tick the right bureaucratic box. These businesses create jobs. They deserve support, not red tape. There is another thing we are demanding before any future Government increases

beginning of a long and often difficult journey. While medical care is essential, dementia is about far more than healthcare. It affects housing, transport, employment, social participation and financial security. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, in a public consultation on the cost of disability, has highlighted a reality … needed. These realities remind us that dementia must be viewed not only through a healthcare lens, but also through the lens of disability rights, social inclusion and economic security. As Ireland reviews its national dementia policy, we have an opportunity to develop a more comprehensive response, one that

Young Ireland rebellion of 1848 was a very Tipperary-based action, the setting of which was the Widow McCormack's house near the village of Ballingarry in south Tipperary. Four of the leaders of that rebellion, William Smith O'Brien, Thomas Francis Meagher, Terence Bellew MacManus and Patrick … green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organisation of the Socialist Republic your efforts will be in vain." How right he was. Then we had the War of Independence, which, again, was very much Tipperary driven. The Soloheadbeg ambush of 21 January

states in Europe. There is no excuse for parents still paying over €800 a month per child for childcare while also facing soaring housing, energy and commuting costs. In my constituency, over half of childcare services in Cavan have waiting lists while in Monaghan almost two thirds have … leave would recognise caring for our youngest children is valuable work that deserves the support of the State. Families in Cavan, Monaghan and right across Ireland deserve action on childcare, not more broken promises

like to talk about a 64-year anniversary which was commemorated yesterday. A group of us met the Irish Thalidomide Association in Leinster House. It was a cross-party meeting with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party and Independents all represented … survivors and their legal representatives. I ask the Tánaiste for once and for all to bring it to a head. Do what is right and do what is expected. I could not attend the funeral of 95-year-old Peggy Murphy earlier this year because I felt ashamed

thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which is of the deepest concern to everybody, both in the Government and across the House. All of us have been greatly saddened by recent cases that have been highlighted. On the questions that the Deputy raised, Tusla has completed … reopened. The check will be overseen by an independent steering group chaired by Ms Tanya Ward, the CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance. I can confirm to Deputy Farrelly that phase 1 of the project is under way and that a number of steps have been taken

granting of access to a fair, secure public service pension is about equality and equality is not a privilege but a right. That has to be addressed. We will not have time to do it now but I would like to find out, perhaps through a parliamentary question … this issue for more than 45 years. We have recognition for SNAs and disability service workers, who are being discussed in the House this week. This is about giving recognition to those who are supplying that service. That is where governments have failed. It is why this country

scrutiny and, at times, criticism. They served the State well. The transition to the NTMA should be managed with full respect for their rights and their service. I ask the Minister of State to confirm appropriate protections and continuity of terms are in place for all staff affected … logical, efficient and appropriate conclusion to the agency's existence. I take this moment to note for the record of the House that Ireland's response to one of the gravest financial crises in our history was not perfect, as nothing ever