Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. It is fundamental that families have certainty today. They need to know. We talk about forward planning and so on but in Mayo letters are coming from the Department and the NCSE and basically promising children a place in a special education school. Then the family goes to the school and is told it is oversubscribed. That is the type of planning I am talking about. The system is so disconnected. How do we have a scenario where the NCSE is delivering letters promising a special e…

Go raibh maith agat, Chair. I welcome the cross-party-----

Go raibh maith agat, Chair. I welcome the cross-party support for this motion and the fact that the Government will not oppose it. However, I do want to say very clearly, it is one thing not to oppose this motion but it is another thing to implement fully the practical measures we have proposed that will have a significant impact in so many thousands of families and businesses right across this country. I urge the Minister of State to really get to grips with this and drive on with this legislation because it is cl…

The Government's credibility and its relationship with farmers have been damaged significantly. In regard to its efforts on the Mercosur agreement, it only really opposed it when it was clear the deal would be passed. The Government failed to lobby any MEPs or member states-----

These are the facts. I appreciate that, as a backbencher, Deputy Cleere must be frustrated-----

-----with the direction of Government but the facts are the facts. In relation to Bord Bia, the Taoiseach's attitude can only be described as smug, lacking understanding and showing an unwillingness to engage with farmers. There is a significant impasse at the moment and the Government's attitude is one of "Hands off, there is nothing to see here" when the reality is that farmers are hurting because Bord Bia pushed them for standards and, meanwhile, its chair is importing beef. How many tonnes of Brazilian beef are…

Listen to your backbenchers.

There is not an increase in CAP. CAP is reducing.

The next CAP has a 20% reduction.

The Taoiseach is not listening to them.

They said it here a few weeks ago.

Mayo University Hospital is under immense difficulty at the moment, particularly the emergency department. A couple of weeks ago electives were cancelled in the hospital. Research I have done found that a safe staffing framework for which an audit was carried out in 2021 was only recently sanctioned, and those posts still have to be filled. Mayo has a unique patient cohort, and I ask the Taoiseach to come to Mayo to visit the hospital. We have a significant issue with step-down facilities and home care packages tha…

I have very serious concerns in relation to the legislation. If I could have the Minister of State's attention very briefly, I would greatly appreciate it because there are significant concerns. This legislation will not bring about stability or the balance the Minister of State has outlined. It is actually causing the flight of landlords. That is what is happening. It has accelerated the exodus of landlords from the market, which is causing immense difficulty for constituents and renters right across this country,…

I want to welcome the farmers who are here today. I thank all the farmers who raised their concerns with my office. The fact is that farmers are hurt by the fact that they are subjected to strict regulations and rules by Bord Bia and are paying it €6 million a year. The latter is in addition to the taxpayers' money that is going into Bord Bia. They then learn that the person driving the ship of an organisation that is driving regulation, that is continually pushing standards and that is contributing to the inflatio…

Did he step out of the meeting, given what was obviously a conflict of interest? That must be addressed here.

We need a full investigation into how many tonnes of Brazilian beef are coming in. I do not believe that Larry Murrin is the only individual or business bringing Brazilian beef into this country. We need to have a serious investigation into this matter, not just in the beef sector but right across the board in respect of the food that is coming into Ireland and Europe. What is being imported would never satisfy the regulations policed by Bord Bia or allowed under the organisation's quality assurance schemes. Farmer…

The number of houses in Mayo represents 3% of the overall national housing stock. Despite this, according to a recent GeoDirectory report, the proportion of dereliction in Mayo represents 14% of the national rate. That is extraordinary. Dereliction is a scourge on our towns and blight on our communities. Many homes have been abandoned for decades and have essentially been left to rodents and bats. That is what is happening. Mayo has had an average of two compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, over the past ten years. We…

I support the motion. Those with disabilities are the most vulnerable people in our society. That is a fact. Right across Mayo and the rest of Ireland, there are people with disabilities who are struggling. In many cases, they are struggling physically. They are struggling to overcome all of the barriers they encounter in daily life. Now, increasingly, they are struggling with an enormous burden financially as well. The financial burden on so many vulnerable people is incredible. The Indecon report of 2021 outlined…

I welcome some of the Minister's moves in this space over recent months. It must be said, however, that it is deeply regrettable that, as a sovereign nation or state, we tied ourselves to the EU migration pact. We signed up to EU fines, irrespective of the fact that we have a common travel area with Britain, of movements in relation to the BritCard and of the potential change of government in Britain and what that will mean for Ireland. Tying ourselves to the migration pact will result in devastating and potentiall…

First, this is reckless. This is €90 billion over a two-year period we are going to sign over without any financial oversight or any real guarantees in terms of who is going to spend or pay over this money. It is said the Russians will pay in terms of repatriation. I highly doubt that will ever happen. It will be the Irish taxpayer who will end up footing the bill for this loan. There is also the question of neutrality, which the Irish people support but this Government clearly does not. We know where it stands on …