I wish to raise the ongoing industrial action or work to rule by the public service unions and the impact it is having on many aspects of our economy, especially in Cashel town, where two wonderful special schools, Scoil Aonghusa and Scoil Chormaic, provide outstanding support to children and young people with additional and complex needs. The staff in these schools are dedicated and hard working and they do their utmost. I fully support the right to industrial action and to try to be recognised, but I want the Tán…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for choosing this Topical Issue. It is an important issue. Deputy Murphy put the figures on the record. I will do it again. Some 2,300 people are waiting, 1,500 of whom are children. It is an appalling vista two years on from Dr. Hillary's retirement, who was an exceptionally wonderful practitioner. She gave a year's notice she was leaving so this has been going on for three years. Why is the HSE so incapable of filling this position? We are told Waterford is now holding extra clinics to…

To read out that statement is totally out of touch with the situation. The figures are stark. Many of us are directing elderly people to Belfast to get cataracts done - the Belfast or Blind bus. I have eye issues. I understand how difficult it is. We are not even talking about the 500 adults waiting. It is pathetic that three years on, with Dr. Hillary giving a year's notice and with plenty of time that this position is still not filled. Something else is going on. I demand that we use the private resources that ar…

They do not even take them out of the hatch. They have too many there themselves.

I too support the motion. Families across Ireland are at breaking point with the cost of fuel and all of the taxes. Households struggle to pay bills. There are higher energy costs and a carbon tax. It is an injustice. At a time when exceptional profits arise from extraordinary market conditions rather than increasing productivity or investment, it is reasonable that the State provides some kind of fair contribution to the ordinary people. I live in the lush land of south Tipperary where we make Bulmers cider. My la…

I want to express my condolences on the sad passing of a wonderful friend, Seamus Carroll. He was a true gentleman and there is a sense of gloom around the House this morning. I wish his wife and family all the very best. I also want to mention iarchomhairleoir Seamus O'Donnell from Contae Phort Láirge. The Chief Whip would have known him and worked with him for many years. He was a special, dedicated, hard-working county councillor for the ten years he spent on Waterford City and County Council. He was a community…

No farmers, no food. Irish forestry contractors will be in the audiovisual room this evening. People are at their wits' end. The Taoiseach does not seem to realise it. I mentioned the Taoiseach’s hand in the people’s pockets. The data centres and all these other companies have very deep pockets and the Taoiseach is saying to me he is very afraid to even go near their pockets or even ask them to take out their handkerchief. He will not touch them at all. Fair play is what is needed here. We need to finally get rid o…

-----and we need carbon tax not paused but ended.

It was passed in the convention centre.

By this House.

I know that.

You are taking part in the war in Ukraine.

You are giving money out of tax people are paying.

You are part of the war machine.

You are a part of the war machine.

You are of course.

Any time they come over here he gets pocket money going home-----

-----like snuff at a wake.

Sure, that is the facts of it.

I welcome the debate. It is great that we can debate this in a reasonable and calm manner. I was in the Chair for a lot of it and I have listened to all of the debate. It is three years ago that we should have had this debate, but we could not raise it here in the House. Any of us who raised serious issues were decried and bemoaned as far right and God knows what else. I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, to this job. They have made an effort to deal with elected pol…