She cannot interrupt like that, a Chathaoirligh. She cannot be talking like that.

I know the truth hurts. Sinn Féin has no track record at all in Northern Ireland in building houses. None at all. I am sure if they want to come down from Northern Ireland and talk to the Ministers and officials, we will give them all the help and assistance we can and try to kick-start house-building in Northern Ireland. It is non-existent up there, where Sinn Féin has control of the levers of power and is not able to build anything.

I will go on and talk about the 2005 sustainable housing guidelines. As many speakers have said, they are well overdue a revision. I do not think rural planning needs the big shake-up that some people say. The problem with rural planning is subjectivity. There is a planner in County Longford and a planner in Galway. If they are given the exact same planning application, they will not give the same answer. The problem with rural planning is subjectivity. Everyone has a different view. I do not envy anyone who is goi…

We meet the same people.

There is no need to be so condescending.

That is very condescending.

What if I said that to you? What if I spoke like that to you?

Sure I could not speak like that to Senator McCormack.

That is terrible language.

There is record house building in County Laois.

The Senator will probably tell us she cannot afford drink.

Recent days have unfortunately brought more disquiet and concern over governance issues at Horse Sport Ireland, a heavily funded organisation to support and grow the vibrant sport horse sector. Representatives for professional riders and equine veterinarians have resigned from senior positions saying their roles are no longer tenable. The Irish Equine Veterinary Association has withdrawn its representation from HSI and cited governance issues. Also resigning last week was Barry O'Connor, representing professional c…

We heard harrowing evidence at Longford Court last week as Garda Inspector Tom Quinn told how he feared for his life when a German shepherd was set upon him. He is a Garda of outstanding character, with an unblemished record, who has since endured an agonising eight years as a consequence of what happened that evening. Within minutes of the attack, which ultimately saw the garda produce and fire his service weapon in order to save his own life, a video went viral. It was widely shared on social media and caused Ins…

I welcome all of the MEPs. In particular, I welcome my former neighbour, Mr. Mullooly, MEP. He is a native of County Longford and he is following a long tradition in this House. The MEP could see the house of the late Paddy Belton across the fields from where he grew up. Mr. Belton was a Fianna Fáil Deputy in the First Dáil, an eminently intelligent man. Subsequently, he became a member of the Fine Gael Party but we cannot account for that. I am also delighted to welcome him and to see that the MEP's sisters, Rose …

------on school lunches. Parents are worried. Scaremongering has no place in the EU Parliament and no place in this House. We have more than 200 full-time and part-time jobs related to school lunches in Longford.

No, he tarred all those companies with the same brush and it was deeply unfair.

He effectively said that every school lunch is getting Brazilian beef.

Withdraw that remark.

He needs to withdraw that remark. He has absolutely no evidence------

We are not concerned with the structure of the debate. We are concerned that a scurrilous accusation has been made about school lunches. He does not want to stand over his remarks on Brazilian beef and he has no evidence to confirm that.