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their bank for help and tried to restructure. Instead, they had their mortgage sold off in a bundle to a vulture fund. The house they built a life in is gone but the letters keep coming, telling them they still owe every cent. The fund, having bought … discount, and never have to offer the family the same terms. If there is any decency left in policy, families must have the right to restructure or buy back their loans on the same basis at which the fund acquired it. This motion is not radical

property tax up or down by 15%, according to their needs or whatever way they chose to interpret it. Notwithstanding the fact this right was given to local authorities, and notwithstanding that it was always anticipated that local authorities such as Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council would … authority area we could pick around the country. They are disproportionately penalised. Now we have a situation where, notwithstanding the significant increase in house prices of 25% over recent years, notwithstanding the fact the Government is doing its damnedest to prevent those increases in costs, and notwithstanding

over many years, which was overseen by Fianna Fáil, in large part allowed this defective concrete to be sold and put into the housing infrastructure of large parts of this country. Indeed, there is still not accountability in terms of the quality of construction products in the market … watching this debate, the people from other counties who are not directly affected, will just nod their heads and think it is all right and the problem is being sorted out because there is money being spent on it. I appeal to the Minister opposite to listen

sense of ambition in this Government in any area as it continues to rely on models which prioritise eligibility rather than rights and which fail to deliver the change needed in our healthcare system. The plans to introduce free universal GP care seem to have disappeared. This … have huge effects on the delivery of care locally. I thank my colleague Deputy Pádraig Rice for bringing this motion to the House. I urge the Government to support

same page and would like to see what we can do. Can the Minister of State imagine if anyone in this House had to go hungry? We can walk out the door, go into a canteen and eat. Imagine he was here, looking at the food, while starving … scars for this generation in Palestine be like? Israel is trying to take the people of Gaza out of existence. Nobody has a right to take away anyone's existence. Anything we can do to make a change, we must do. The one thing we need

have met them and spoken with them, he did not listen to them, similar to the rental legislation. The Irish Council for Social Housing, which represents AHBs, sets out clearly that it is very concerned that, for example, group homes are not included. Perhaps the Minister will give … building new homes and will now also have to do this work. We have an issue with capacity and ensuring things are done right and done to a standard whereby we will not repeat these problems. It comes back to the point that the State has to have

North. Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the ongoing redevelopment works at Ceannt Station, Galway. Deputy Joe Neville - To discuss issues concerning the Ryevale House IPAS centre in Leixlip, County Kildare. Deputy Darren O'Rourke - To discuss the need for additonal SNA support at Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne, County Meath … Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the availability of therapists and SNAs in special schools in Cork. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. The matters raised by Deputies Michael Collins; Paul Murphy; Marie Sherlock; Cian O'Callaghan, Naoise Ó Muirí, Barry Heneghan

with an overwhelming majority of EU member states, was proud to co-sponsor and vote in favour of this Ukrainian-led resolution. The House will be aware that the General Assembly also adopted by the same margin a resolution put forward by the United States but one that … crucial role in rebuilding their country, when it is once again safe to do so. It is clear that what Ukraine needs most right now is military support as it exercises its legitimate right to self-defence. Through the Department of Defence, we have provided direct military support

every 17 people. It is not a marginal issue. In fact, it touches every community, every county and every constituency represented in this House. One of the strongest messages I hear, and I know Deputies hear it too, is about the importance of listening to patients. People living … advances in genomics are transforming how we understand disease, particularly rare disease, and commits to building a system where people can access the right test at the right time informed by clinical need. In practical terms, that means developing national infrastructure, strengthening laboratory capacity, supporting clinical workforce expertise

were to sum up Government responses to the multitude of questions it receives from Sinn Féin and other Deputies in the House in respect of mental health, the response could be summarised as "Wait until next year". That seems to be the answer I get to any question … ground level. I ask the Minister of State to stop forcing people to wait and deliver the mental health services they actually need right

that we get the best and the most possible benefit and that includes ensuring composers have a role in productions. The Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO, in its prebudget submission last year, expressed its concern that despite music being a vital component of film success, most section … they relate to this, as I said, technical Bill. We will have that discussion next week when this Bill comes before the House again. I tabled those amendments earlier, which, I think, was the deadline even though we are only on Second Stage. I sent them

guarantee that at that point this war we all recognise to be cruel and unjust will have ended. We all stand in the House on every anniversary of Russia's cruel and unjust invasion and express solidarity with the Ukrainian community but none of us were told that … there is evidence of abuses but let us not destroy something that works just to tick a budget box. What we need right now is certainty. We need clarity for host families. We need stability for those still fleeing the war and we need compassion to remain

section 102(5) of the Garda Síochána Act and referred the issues raised by Detective Superintendent O'Reilly to GSOC. Was that the right section? Section 102(5) concerns wrongdoing by Garda members. Section 102B refers to the Commissioner himself being investigated and requires Government consent … gets protected and what happens when somebody challenges a person with authority. We cannot decide every allegation on the floor of this House, which is precisely why we need an independent inquiry with the power to establish the facts, but we can recognise the seriousness of what

provide targeted support to households on low incomes in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. More generally, the Government increased core welfare rights above the rate of inflation in budget 2026. In 2026, my Department will spend €28.9 billion on schemes and services, which includes €1.15 billion … continue to monitor the situation and cost-of-living pressures, including those arising from any developments. I will continue to revert to the House on that

beyond 65 or 66 but many who have worked all their lives want to remain in active employment and we must respect their right to do so. If the Ceann Comhairle will allow me, community employment schemes are a vital part of our communities. I am cathaoirleach … happiest, keeping occupied and also providing an excellent service. I commend this legislation and wish it well on its passage through the House

elderly population. The Bill aims to protect vulnerable individuals, which is why I am bringing this matter to the attention of the House. An individual has been taken to court by many victims but the case has been adjourned on four occasions by the judge. This is only … pension is means-tested based on her husband's income. In effect, she is treated as a second-class citizen. Women have the right to have their own pensions and to be financially independent. I have a number of constituents who receive very little pension because their entitlement

this, it seems to just concern the house in one form such as a fridge getting into trouble or maybe damage at the house. Outside of that, however, we have turf. There is another issue that some Minister needs to address, namely, the targeted agriculture modernisation schemes, TAMS … suit telling someone he or she cannot cut this after spending three weeks without electricity. This has to stop. The madness going on right across the country has to stop. A lot of people hired petrol generators and had to pay extra for food when trying

being searched and under what provision. A record must be made of every search and the person can obtain such a copy. The right to a solicitor before and during interviews will be placed on a statutory footing and a child cannot waive it. These are real protections … efforts to keep people safe. The Minister will be aware the population of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has increased significantly since 2020, with new housing in Cherrywood, Carrickmines and Woodbrook. While the recent allocation is very welcome, more gardaí will be required. The Minister will also be aware

covered up, survivors dismissed, their experiences sidelined and their demand for truth and justice ignored. Survivors, for too long, were robbed of their right to say without fear or contradiction "I was there in that place. These awful things were done to me again and again … schools. The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act was enacted in 2012 to manage very meagre contributions from religious orders in the areas of housing, health and education. Let it not be forgotten that survivors had to fight and wait years between each step of progress and reparation. Survivors

society. This Government has a record budget surplus but it has never used it to resolve the housing crisis. We have had a housing crisis for 12 or 13 years now, since way before the recent migration. Migration has also gone down. I have heard different speakers … left. If you do not take a firm stance against it and if you start using some of the arguments of the far right and racists, you will not fight them off. I think Sinn Féin believes it will and that is why it is doing this

been spent on prefabs over the last five years. Prefabs are a stopgap or are put in because things are not going right in schools - where buildings have not been built or are falling apart or whatever. What we see now is prefabs being used for special classes … work on this. As their video on Instagram said, this is not the sexist Bill that will come to the floor of the House but it is hugely important and it impacts every part of our lives. When we do not see that every day, that is when

live in the occupied territories continue to suffer under a cruel and harsh regime that continues to take their land and their houses from them and that allows them to be attacked by settlers with the protection of the military. It is a deplorable situation. International law says … appeal to the Minister to include services, to make the full stand that we need make and stand up for what is right and to ensure that the people of Palestine and the world know that Ireland of all places stands firmly with them

Council and the negotiations that will take place, particularly in respect of coastal states, over the coming weeks. I have been in this House since 1981, with the exception of a few short periods, and I believe this is the worst fishing crisis that will have been experienced … This is very serious for the country and, in particular, for the coastal counties, whether they are in Donegal, Galway or Mayo, right down to Cork and Kerry and across to Waterford and upwards. The proposals from ICES relate not just to mackerel but also to blue whiting

thank Deputy O'Gorman for bringing forward this important motion. He is absolutely right to highlight the need for the Government to recommit in a serious way because it seems to have abandoned any serious effort to address the climate and biodiversity crisis that threatens our planet, threatens … biodiversity in it. What is absolutely critical - this is where I have a genuine disagreement with Deputy O'Gorman and others in the House, including on the left - is that it has to be a just transition. For the 320,000 people who are in electricity arrears

rainy day fund, with €1 billion set aside in a contingency reserve that will be held centrally. Since my election to this House, I have been visiting schools across my community and meeting principals, teachers and parents to see how the State can best support our education system … million in additional funding for youth diversion projects, which will provide opportunities for young people and will steer them in the right direction. I welcome the budget and its awareness of the uncertain global environment. It recognises the challenges ahead and puts forward real solutions to ensure