The lack of special educational needs places in schools for children in Dublin Bay North is as bad as anywhere in the State. I have been in contact with a number of parents in recent months who cannot secure a place for their child for the school year starting in September. They have applied to all the schools in the area but cannot access something that is their child's right. These parents face battles every day. They have to battle for their children and are now fighting a battle that they cannot win because of …

We must move on.

Before moving on, I appeal to speakers to stick to the time. There are Deputies in the Chamber hoping to get to their question. If everybody stays within the allocated time, we should get through as many questions as possible.

The Deputy really should not name people in the Chamber who are not present.

Sorry Deputy, your time is up. You came in twice.

I am watching the Deputy. I will be timing her when she speaks.

I ask the Deputies to keep it brief. There are others who have been sitting in the House since the start and who are still waiting to ask their questions.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I commend all stakeholders and advocates who kept it on the Government's agenda. I hope it finally ensures that basic human rights are upheld and respected by the legal systems and institutions that support it. Advocates have raised concerns with this Bill as it stands. Many are worried that the Bill is being rushed. It is important legislation which needs to be done right. The Government runs the risk of not properly considering all aspects of the Bill if it …

The cost of living crisis is getting worse by the day. People are being financially crippled by the rising costs of groceries, petrol, childcare, rent and heating for their homes. Food prices have increased by nearly 4% in the first three months of this year. We understand that the crisis is global but we need to do what we can to help the people now. Food banks are seeing more and more people turning up and looking for help every week. New research by Permanent TSB found that 62% of people feel they have to cut ba…

I am sharing time with Deputy Ó Murchú. I have lost count of the number of people who have come to my constituency office looking for support in trying to obtain their passport within the timeframe they were given by the Passport Office. They are being left in limbo because the service seems to be at breaking point. The staff in the Passport Office are doing their best in very challenging circumstances, but we need to look at an overhaul of the service. A campaign may be needed to show people how easy it is to use …

At the centre of any debate around climate change there needs to be a discussion on how ordinary workers are protected from the sharp edge of any new policies. The move towards a greener society is very doable but it is important that the Government brings everybody along with it and does not hammer those who cannot afford to switch to alternatives in the short term. One only has to look at the Government's new retrofitting scheme to find an example of policy that disadvantages those who have the least ability to p…

I fully support the calls for a new national maternity hospital to be publicly owned and to be built on public lands. Unfortunately, the Government is ploughing ahead. For decades, the women of Ireland have campaigned for healthcare that is free from outside influences. They need to have confidence in the type of healthcare that they get. Their concerns could have been addressed. Concerns around a complex legal deal could have been knocked on the head if the Government had kept its word and if it had bought the sit…

Out-of-control rents have been an issue for years. There does not seem to be an end in sight to this crisis. Since 2011, the cost of rent in Dublin has doubled. The average rent is now just under €2,000 according to the latest RTB report. This Government and previous Governments have failed people when it comes to affordable rents. Rent pressure zones have made little or no difference, with rents shooting up regardless. Last night I looked on daft.ie for properties available to rent in the Dublin Bay North constitu…

Before we move onto the next question, I welcome the members of the Longford branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association to the Gallery.

Through the Chair.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I hope it results in the proper regulation of guardian ad litem going forward. These reforms should be of real benefit and should bring Ireland in line with best practice. The work of the guardian ad litem is vital. They represent the voice of children in some very complex cases. The voice of children in these cases cannot be lost and it is important their views are front and centre when considering a case that could potentially impact the next few years of a child’s…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. For many years now, Sinn Féin has been a strong advocate of bringing in statutory sick leave. The Bill has generally been welcomed but it is not without flaws. It is good to see that the Government is finally moving on this issue. The pandemic of the past two years has shone a light on the need for statutory sick pay and highlighted the issue of having nothing set in stone. Workers on low incomes have been forced to go to work even if they do not feel well because th…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The establishment of a permanent electoral commission has been discussed in this Chamber for years. It comes up every time there is an election so I am glad we are finally getting around to putting something in place. In this Bill, a number of new powers are set out for the commission as well as better oversight of our electoral process, which will bring us in line with best international practice. It is important that funding for the commission remains independent a…

I broadly welcome this plan. It addresses many issues that Sinn Féin has been raising for years. Much will depend on how it is resourced. Words are all well and good, but real action is needed. I welcome the fact that €31 million has been ring-fenced for the plan. I hope that it is targeted towards service delivery so that women benefit from it. In Sinn Féin's "Advancing Women's Healthcare" document, we called for universal access to contraception. It is good to see that 17- to 25-year-olds are being catered for, b…

I commend my colleague, Deputy Tully, on tabling the motion and I welcome the opportunity to speak to it. Similar to all Deputies, my office has received countless contacts from parents of children with disabilities who have experienced serious issues in accessing the services they deserve. The lack of resources for services for these children amounts to neglect. The State has an obligation to these children. They are entitled to care under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and d…