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those rights and actually breaks the law. It is quite incredible that the Government is a lawbreaking Government when it comes to the rights of children with special needs. It is remarkable that any government would be in that situation. The Taoiseach is on the record as saying … year. We in Aontú stood with Cara Darmody outside the gates of Leinster House recently when she was involved in that 50-hour protest trying to seek the right to have assessments of need given in a timely fashion. Children without assessments of need are often left without

additional care. It is unacceptable to me that older people are left for long times on trolleys. Nobody wants to see that. This House cannot ignore the fact that despite this growing demand, our health and social care workers continue to provide high-quality care every single … health and social care service must work together, and every opportunity to provide safe care in the right setting must be taken. I commend the Government’s amendment to the House

constructive and ambitious set of proposals and a pathway to reform housing policy and ensure Government could provide a resolution to undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing it and all of us and the biggest civil rights issue of this generation. We set out a credible pathway. We heard

Deputies who contributed to the debate this evening with compassion and empathy. That is shared by Deputies on all sides of this House. All of us are appalled and horrified by what is happening in Gaza. I address the Dáil, fully aware of the deep sensitivity surrounding … deep respect for the principles at the heart of this Bill, our collective commitment to human rights and international law. This is the value I believe we all share in this House. The only issue that remains is how we can best act to make a real difference

Tánaiste did was dog-whistling to the far right because it is cheap political right-wing populism; that is what it is. People are hurting. People are being devastated every day by the housing crisis. In my constituency, from Ballymun to Beaumont, I meet people who are really

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission have shown that when the additional cost of disability is properly factored in, poverty among disabled people is drastically underestimated. Even those figures do not capture the daily reality. At a protest outside Leinster House before Christmas, one person spoke about having … disability policy must connect with policies on employment, enterprise, transport, housing and health. Otherwise, we trap people in poverty and then congratulate ourselves for speaking about inclusion. The Government cannot continue to describe disability rights as a priority while refusing to resource the basic conditions that make those

damp on windows and in bedrooms, and the impact on children and babies. How is it right and fair that council tenants living in mouldy and damp conditions in houses that the State is responsible for are now being charged higher rents in the middle of a cost

longer process. We previously had bonfires. Now, we have cars driving over greens and scramblers. This is right beside the national school, Scoil Mochua, and also beside the playground. Residents' houses are being smashed. Front windows are being smashed and there are Garda investigations under way there

seen that individual representation. The Deputy might give me the name on my way out of the House, and I will take care of it this afternoon. The Deputy is right. We have a programme for a two-year intervention in HSE dental services to make sure that

thank Deputy Wall for engaging with the Minister for education on this. He is right that the general direction of travel that all of us in this House want to see is reducing the costs that families face when their children attend school. That is why we have

regarding what we are achieving. We all want to achieve peace. There is no disagreement in this House about achieving peace and getting away from the horrors we are facing right now. I was really struck when I listened to some of the interviews with Bishop Shomali where

issues raised in the debate. We urge the Social Democrats and other Members of this House to take up that offer. By doing so collectively, we can do right by all of the women in Ireland

hold clinics on a weekly basis. I can tell the Minister that people are far from all right in Dublin South-Central. When we set aside the issues with housing and also that of appropriate school places – I am the education spokesperson – we see that the next biggest

leaving this country because there is nothing there for them. They cannot afford to buy a house. They do not want to be in business in this country, and rightly so. People who study medicine want to be carers for people; they do not want

investments and provide for investment dispute-resolution provisions. The investor court system will not undermine Ireland’s right to regulate for legitimate policy objectives, as some have said in the House. CETA and similar agreements specifically note that the mere fact that a party regulates in a manner

Bill a few months ago in this regard. It is essential to protecting victims and ensuring their right to privacy between their counsellor and themselves. It was indicated in the House this morning that the Minister is looking to introduce legislation that would finally end this practice

agree with my colleague on the provision of childcare places and crèches, specifically the right type of building. I have areas in my constituency where massive private housing estates are being built and the childcare centres are not and have not been built at all. I have queried

provided for a cut of €1,500 on the pathway to that. That was the right thing to do. Broken promise number five is that the Government will fix housing once and for all. How many times have we heard that pledge? The Government has caused record rents

part of a litany of failure where children are routinely denied services, treatments, adequate care and their rights by the State in everything from healthcare to social care, education and housing, and where parents must fight the Government rather than being supported to secure what should be automatic

necessitated. These are allegations. Unfortunately, the nature of the examination genuinely means it is not possible right now for me to provide a completion date but I assure the House that officials are working diligently towards its conclusion

will bring forward a solution. Right across this Chamber, people have outlined how there are vacant boarded up houses in every constituency. We are criticised by those in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who ask where our solution is. This is the solution. It is a genuine attempt

Sinn Féín's idea or ours; it was a good idea that came from the Housing Commission and we are trying to act on that. The Minister was quite right this week to bring forward a proposal to Cabinet to move that forward. The only decision the Government

reforms to rent pressure zones which, among other things, will strengthen the rights of tenants and will help to stimulate increased investment and development over the longer term. We are currently developing a new housing plan that will be aligned with the outcome of the national development plan

Members in the House today are very passionate about this issue. They all have their own personal stories of people who have lost loved ones. I thank my Sinn Féin colleagues for some very good contributions. We talking about a Bill that is not perfect - we have Second … here speaking on this Bill. I appeal for us to work together in this House to get this legislation passed as soon as we can. It is about justice and doing the right thing

properties, 50,000 of which have been vacant for six years or more. Despite the immense housing crisis and the fact that over 15,000 people are living in emergency accommodation right now, the Government has done very little to address this. These homes were owned … should be compulsorily purchasing properties that are left vacant for long periods of time? Do not allow these to sit vacant during a housing crisis. Bring them into public ownership and use them to provide housing to the very many people who need