Ursula von der Leyen has been one of the staunchest defenders of the current Israeli regime. She has consistently provided cover for them, going for photo opportunities at every possible moment. She talks about human rights and international law but it is clear for all to see how unequally she applies this. She will talk about Russian war crimes but she will not talk about Israeli war crimes. She will talk about the need to defend Ukrainian lives but she is silent on the need to protect Palestinian lives. She is pr…

The Minister clearly does not know how budgets work. I have only two minutes of speaking time so I will not be able to go through it now but I have no problem sitting down with him at some other time to go through exactly how budgets work. Budgets are about political choices. The Minister says it is a policy decision. It is a policy decision the Government said it was going to take.

In the run-up to the general election, the Government parties made all of these promises about how they were going to get rid of student fees. The Tánaiste even said in November that he would return to genuinely free fees and that this would be done over the lifetime of the next Government if he was returned to power. What do we have instead? The first thing we hear is that promise being reneged upon. The Minister also said that he has spent his time listening to all of the students who are here, that he has listen…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cheann Comhairle agus leis an Aire Stáit. This is my third week in a row speaking on a Private Members' Bill from the Opposition which, on a Thursday afternoon, is being pushed back or declined by Government. This feeds in to a narrative and the opinion that this is a slow-moving do-nothing Government. First of all, I commend Deputy Bacik and the Labour Party on bringing forward this Bill. Most of us would be in agreement that, of anybody in the House, Deputy Bacik probably has the most und…

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta.

Your time is up.

Go raibh maith agat.

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta. Your time is up.

We have a domestic violence epidemic in this country, North and South. Every single week now in my weekly clinics, women disclose domestic violence to me. Reporting of domestic violence has increased everywhere, including in Domestic Violence Response Galway. It is clear that something needs to change. I understand and recognise that is an enormous task to undertake, as domestic violence is an epidemic. However, there are certain things we can help with, especially when it comes to housing being a particular barrie…

Where else in the world would a building from which a rebellion was led and from which the independence of a country in its entirety was proclaimed be the subject of an attempt by the government of the day to get rid of that historic tradition by having the commercialisation of the building as its mainstay? Would the French commercialise the Bastille? This is one of the proudest buildings in our history, our fight against colonialism and our Proclamation as a nation to the world. A building which bears such signifi…

I wanted to speak on this Bill specifically. One of reasons is that when we make new laws, change laws or look at legislation in this Chamber, it is not just about what I think this Minister, this Government or anybody in this Chamber would do. My concern always has to be what future Governments could do. That is an issue that needs to be thought about when we look at dismantling the triple lock. Even if someone at home believes this Government or this Minister would do one thing, we always need to look at what can…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This Bill comes at a timely moment, as I am sure the Minister of State will agree, when her Department has launched a review of the public procurement system. I hope this review will be constructive, that it is not just a box-ticking exercise and that we look at the nuts and bolts of this issue. How the Government deals with this Bill and the review will be really important. I have worked with a number of Ministers, depending on the Department in question. When I i…

First, I will mention the survey results. The Minister of State mentioned that she dealt with the Dublin local authorities. I cannot remember - I would not say it in this House anyway - exactly who responded in what way but there was a very clear lack of understanding. I am happy to meet with the Minister of State and share my results in a way that shows her how little information is out there, not in the sense of trying to land blame on any person. That is not what that is about. It is more about the fact that the…

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time this evening.

In the North, there is an incredible situation in which Irish citizens who live on the island of Ireland have a Head of State in the President of Ireland but are unable to vote for that Head of State. These citizens feel there is an othering of them, that they are somehow different and not equal as Irish citizens who live in Ireland and have an Irish Head of State for whom they cannot vote. That mad thing is they can be candidates for Head of State. They can grow up all their lives in the North, become a candidate …

This was talked about quite a bit during the election. What update does the Minister have? An féidir leis an plean atá aige le fáil réidh leis seo a leagan amach go cruinn dúinn?

The most important thing is clarity. The Minister said the Department will do a job of work to analyse how this will be achieved over the lifetime of this Government. Will the Minister be able to publish that as soon as job has been done? For carers, being able to predict exactly how it will impact them over the coming years will be important. Carers do a huge job and save the State vast sums of money every year but they do it for the love of the person for whom they care. That love is at the centre of all of this.…

Hear, hear.

Bogaimid ar aghaidh go dtí an Teachta Connolly agus, ina dhiaidh sin, an Teachta Stanley.

Go raibh maith agat. I say "Hi" to the sixth-class pupils from Kiltale National School who are here with Deputy Aisling Dempsey.