The Government has utterly failed to tackle the energy rip-off through inaction, with the national energy affordability task force meeting only three times since Government formation and no action on cutting energy costs while this crisis continues unabated. A total of 360,000 households are at risk of being cut off due to stealth disconnections relating to pay-as-you-go meters while 300,000 people are in arrears and older people are afraid to turn on their lights to cook. Companies are hiking unit costs at contrac…

Every state requires a functioning internal protection system. Being fit for purpose requires such systems to fit a number of criteria. It is regrettable that the Minister is not only failing on every front in this regard but his approach in this Bill is, in effect, an abdication of his responsibility. Nothing is more indicative of this than his response to my party colleague Deputy Carthy in the earlier part of this debate two weeks ago. When speaking on the asylum and migration pact, the Minister said: "[I]t woul…

The actions taken in recent weeks by some individuals regarding Grok AI were deplorable and a response from this House is absolutely necessary. This Bill will address the lacuna that exists within current legislation to cover the generation of intimate images through the use of AI. Zero tolerance should mean that where new issues or threats arise or are identified, action is taken in a timely manner. This is straightforward legislation and I commend my party colleagues, Deputies Carthy and Devine, for bringing it f…

I want to ask the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to consider rural communities when making policies.

I must say that is an incredibly disappointing response. Let me tell the Minister what I heard. The last Government committed to developing a rural proofing model. The Minister took a look at it and said, "Hey, presto. It turns out we were doing it perfectly all along." The Minister then decided to make this a guide for rural proofing for policymakers. The Minister can do more. Where is rural proofing when it comes to free travel cards for kids effectively excluded in many rural communities? The Government did the …

A budget for rural transport does not cut it. I accept that the Minister inherited this poor, lacklustre approach to rural proofing from his predecessor. It comes across as a box-ticking exercise; a sop to those who care about it while the Minister ditches an idea his Government decided not to follow through on. I appeal to the Minister to review the Rural Needs Act 2016 that was introduced to the Assembly by the Sinn Féin deputy leader, Michelle O'Neill, in 2016. As the Minister will see, it is a much bigger body …

Irish roads are growing increasingly dangerous with 190 people losing their lives in 2025. There have been some truly horrific accidents on our roads in the north east in recent years. I have no doubt the Ministers of State have the same reaction as the rest of us when they see reports of collisions and loss of life and that they absolutely wish to meet the objective of achieving vision zero, that there would be no deaths on Irish roads. I will highlight a few areas where the Government has got it wrong and ask the…

Entire shifts of ambulances are operating in Monaghan without an advanced paramedic car. There are delays in handover and staff suffering from burnout. In 2023 and 2024 my party and constituency colleague, Matt Carthy, raised the cases of young boys seriously injured at football matches left waiting upwards of three hours for ambulances. In the latter case, the Taoiseach clapped himself on the back before acknowledging that the wait was too long. People know he does not have a magic wand but neither can he magic it…

Is there one in Monaghan?

He never answered my question as to whether there will be one for Monaghan.

I welcome the farmers who have come to see the real Government tonight. They are very welcome to the Dáil Chamber. Here we go again. Hot on the heels of the fake opposition to the Mercosur trade deal, the arrogance of the Government is palpable. The Government will hector and lecture Irish farmers about environmental standards while failing to meaningfully oppose European measures clearly designed to supplant their produce. Not content with that, the leader of the very organisation meant to champion Irish produce h…

Most of us are farmers-----

We are sticking up for the farmers.

That is right.

You are on social media all the time. Deal with the issue.

The Government-----

Stop your deflecting-----

If you-----

Go back to Bord Bia. We are discussing Bord Bia.

Actually, next week, we are-----