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have said in this House a number of times, before the people, that the Irish Government is not responsible for global events precipitating global energy price hikes. However, people look to their government to insulate them from the worst impacts and the Government continues to fail on that … People are crying out for help and the Government has the power. Why is it waiting? There is a behavioural tax on homes right across the country and in my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. The changed behaviour for many, especially among the most vulnerable in our communities

they want and what they are asking for. The Government is giving them everything. There is a real issue here, for me anyway. Housing is about delivering decent homes that people can live in that are affordable. These guys are not interested in that. What they want … being built. They are more expensive and with lower standards. That is what people will have to live in. It is not right

their biggest issue and two thirds also raised the problem of extra pressure due to staff shortages and stress. Everybody in this House will agree that the people we entrust to educate and care for our children should feel valued and that starts with fair … sector. Investing in our young people and their education from an early age benefits society as a whole. We can get this right but affordability, accessibility and workforce issues need to be addressed to make sure

could have done with this Bill. I thank Deputy Gannon for bringing the Bill to the floor of the Dáil. He was right to acknowledge his staff because they often go unseen in the work they do for us. I was going to say that they make … after a proportionate rehabilitative period. This will make it easy for people who have moved on from past offences to access employment, education, housing and other opportunities without lifelong stigma. I am from an area of high disadvantage. In the course of a debate not that long

right thing to do. Some 191,000 people are employed in this sector directly in 20,000 businesses. The Deputy is right, some of them are large businesses and that is the same when any measure is introduced. Seventy five percent are not, with only 0.4% classified … best way to do so is to get them a job. Many of the large companies that I have heard mentioned in this House in recent days are franchises run by Irish people. They are Irish owned and, yet again, they create jobs. Too many people in this

might outline to us what he intends to do. We all know - it has been said often in this House - the role that carers play and how critical it is. I am the same. I see it every day all around me, where I live, everywhere. Across … trading on it. Regardless of whether they are getting paid or getting an income for what they do - "pay" is not the right phrase - they are going to do it one way or another because they love the people they are caring for. We are really taking them

which, also, is not in Clongriffin or Belmayne. It is disappointing that the Department, in writing this response, could not get its facts right. Third, on the urban regeneration and development fund, there was an application to Dublin City Council for funding from that but it was rejected … been following the steps set out in the reply. It is because Government was not providing a sufficient amount of social housing in other areas and a lot of housing here was then provided, which was not initially planned, and for which there were no development levies. While

Deputy mentioned in his contribution, and with national regulations for the provision of drinking water. I served with the Deputy on the housing and local government Oireachtas committee in the previous term, and it is a very good suggestion he has made that the EPA would come before … assure householders and businesses that its dedicated task force is taking all possible measures to minimise discolouration and to address the underlying issues right across the city. It continues to advise customers not to drink discoloured water and to contact it directly with any reports of discolouration

single solitary speech and language therapist, occupational therapist or special education place more. Without those services, all the chat in this House is not going to make any difference to people's lived reality. I was looking back through my emails. A woman whom I have met contacted … fact that she now has to start applying for schools, but she has no assessment of need. This mother has done everything right. She has given up work in order to be able to attend to the needs of her child because the State is not stepping

built. Just yesterday, the Central Bank report detailed that a lack of access to the grid is one of the key reasons why housing is not being provided. While Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael fight for this status quo, Sinn Féin is absolutely clear that data centres must … address them. We have seen the reports from Clondalkin on the impact on locals from noise but a hyper data centre right beside Herbata could cause havoc for residents in Naas and Kildare. Ireland has done more than its fair share in respect of data centres. This summer

written in the Deputy's question. He asked what mechanisms are in place that might protect against unintended or disproportionate impacts on the rights of other groups, particularly children, women and girls. I have clearly outlined to the Deputy that there are a number of mechanisms in place … impacts of whatever policies or strategies it is introducing, or the role played by the wider Dáil in the legislation going through the House

huge number of solar farms have been approved and more applications are coming in. It is important that we get that balance right. We all support the expansion of renewable energy. We know we need more of it given all of the discussion we have had this morning … Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is leading on this and he is working closely with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Department of housing. The intention from the Department of housing is to issue the national planning statement specifically on this, akin to guidance, and that work is under

Aughinish. The Deputy said many jobs are at stake and a solution must be found. Let all of us be honest in the House. We will work with the Commission. We are conscious that there are about1,000 people directly depending on it from a jobs perspective … sugar-coat it to say there is a magical way to find a solution to this, and everything will be all right on the other side. We are not in that space. We will engage with the European Commission because there was a view that Aughinish is important

years ago, the Taoiseach visited Oliver Bond Street in my constituency. I can tell him the anger right now is palpable. The residents have been lied to and let down, and they live in homes that you would not put an animal in. There is damp, there … antisocial behaviour that is not acceptable in any other part of the city. These families and the people who live in Oliver Bond House have been let down by the Government. I am very disappointed. It beggars belief that it has even stated in response to Sinn Féin

from a huge area because parents vote with their feet. They look to where there is a service. This service caters for babies right up to children going to school. People come from a radius of five to ten miles around. It is a massive service … begged the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, with regard to the great people out there who mind a couple of kids in their house and who have to go through such a rigmarole. I feel sorry about this. It is like anything; it is like being in business

quarter of paediatric neurosurgical admissions in Temple Street hospital. Families are burying their children. We need to band together on this in this House. Let us resolve to expedite the solution. The Taoiseach will have Labour’s full support in facilitating any necessary law or policy change … weapons. They are often unregistered and used illegally by inexperienced riders in public spaces, parks, estates and streets. They are sitting in storage right now around the country, being sold and loaned out by individuals who know they will be misused. Some are adapted to break speed limits

First, I thank Deputy Collins for his kind words and solidarity. I appreciate it. Second, he is right; anybody at the ploughing who did not hear very clearly about the tillage issue probably needs their ears cleaned out because the IFA and farmers have been very clear about … farmers attended, or at least several hundred of them. There was a very clear message. We often have debates in this House about climate versus agriculture. To be honest, I think they are silly debates, as we should not put them against each other. This is an area

including SMEs. That is a big project under way at the moment and I think it should get strong support from across the House. We are fourth in the world competitiveness rankings. Yes, we have difficulties and the Opposition outlines them all of the time … support jobs and growth at home; maintain strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health; and support better environmental and human rights standards around the world because it is at times like this that we are reminded of the importance of agreeing and strengthening

Without proper wastewater facilities, new developments are delayed or unviable. Planning permission is also another major issue. Many rural areas cannot approve new housing projects because of wastewater infrastructure, in that it is inadequate or at full capacity. In my own county, there are villages such as Craughwell … come in and develop their first home within that settlement area because of the lack of wastewater provision. That does not feel right. One of the things we have all advocated for, and continue to advocate for, is for rural communities and investment in rural villages, particularly when

Deputies have referred to the fact that this is going to be grossly unfair and will interfere with freedom of expression and the right to protest. I dispute that. It is not the case. I will contrast the language in the British terrorism Act with what is contained … again the content of that provision because it is alarmingly wide. It is a provision that would not be enacted by this House. It states: "A person in a public place commits an offence if he ... wears, carries or displays an article in such

ignore his resignation in disgrace as a Minister and member of Fine Gael; or ignore the all-party, uncontested motion passed by this House that he is not fit for office and should resign as a TD. Nor should we ignore the words of the Taoiseach, with whom … pragmatism. It is not lost on us that today is April Fools' Day, nor that yesterday saw the beginnings of a worldwide far right campaign to say Marine Le Pen should suffer no consequences for the finding of corruption against her. This Government is trying to take

something that I fundamentally believe is wrong. None of this happens on its own. I thank all the campaigners, the National Animal Rights Association, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports and the ISPCA for everything they do. I thank the National Parks and Wildlife Service, everyone … people are changing their outdated laws. We need to protect our wildlife. I urge everyone, at home and in this House, to look at what once was and what we can still protect. We still have a lot of the great species on Dollymount but I look forward

just discussed, is giving significant funding with over €15 million distributed last year through Coimisiún na Meán. We all agree in the House today that we can see the benefits of that in terms of media and communication at local and regional level. We will continue with … public in a neutral way and in a way that enhances the quality of communications, broadcasting and journalism at all levels from local right up to national but especially at local and regional level

Commercial drones are a new field of real innovation. They already have important uses. I have no doubt they will have more. However, right now Dublin 15 is in the middle of an experiment. Thousands of journeys that would take place on our roads are now being transferred … noise pollution, I look to seriously debate the issues around commercial drone deliveries in the Dáil. I commend the Bill to the House and look forward to the opportunity to go into its provisions in more detail on Second Stage and subsequently on Committee Stage

shocked that the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, would make such a commitment. Having seen his record and heard his words in this House, I am not shocked one bit. Is it not telling that as Fianna Fáil heads into its centenary year, it chooses the commercialisation … Irish unity and self-determination continues to grow, the Government continues to hide from the issue. The Proclamation stated: "We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible