I have listened carefully to the debate, the Minister's contribution, the other Deputies and my constituents and my conclusion is that this is a mess. The Minister said that there are people who are confused and frightened. That is certainly true. People have been in touch with my office and with those of other Deputies and they are genuinely concerned about this. People are struggling with bills and with the cost of living and they are really worried they are going to have to pay huge costs out of pocket. Whether …

I also welcome the Bill and commend Deputies Cullinane and Mark Ward and Sinn Féin on bringing it forward. I have to say that it is disappointing that the Government is once again opposing a Bill from the Opposition. This morning, I attended the working group of committee Chairs with the Taoiseach, who spoke very openly about how he is open to taking amendments from the Opposition, listening to different groups and engaging with people in a productive way to have a productive Parliament. I was surprised because it …

As a new TD, I find it deeply frustrating that Government Ministers say to us constantly that the Social Democrats have no solutions, policies or ideas and then, when we come to the Dáil with solutions, policies and ideas, they are dismissed and rejected. In his opening speech the Minister of State asked us to accept his bona fides about the 12-month delay. I would accept that if this did not happen every single time we put forward legislation. It happened the last time with our Bill to reduce the voting age to six…

The trial of Kerry man Seán Binder begins today in Greece. As perverse as it sounds, Seán is going on trial for saving people's lives. In 2017, while volunteering with a search and rescue organisation in Greece, Seán saw rubber boats in distress off the coast of Lesbos. Instead of watching people drown, he and other volunteers rushed into the water to help. Thanks to their swift and courageous actions, lives were saved. Instead of receiving a bravery award from the Greek Government, Seán ended up in jail. Serious c…

I thank the Labour Party for tabling the motion today and for giving us the time to debate this really important issue. I stand here today in defence of trans rights, trans equality and ultimately trans liberation. This is a crucial issue and one that we need to dedicate time and effort to during this Oireachtas term. As the Minister will know, this was one of the first issues I raised with her during my priority questions because for me this is a crucial issue and one that we need to work together on to deliver fo…

Ah, Peadar, no.

Jesus.

I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of Cork city library. In his last speech in the Dáil, the former Minister, Paschal Donohoe, asked the Government to keep in mind one public service, that is, libraries. I echo and support that call. In Cork, we have fantastic services and staff but we both know the building is not fit for purpose. Four years ago, the Taoiseach announced that €50 million would be spent transforming Grand Parade with a new public library, central plaza and boardwalk. Four years on, our pro…

As in previous years, the Social Democrats will be supporting the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill. Risk equalisation is necessary to ensure that older and sicker people do not face huge premiums because of their perceived risk. This modest measure also helps mitigate cherry-picking low-risk groups, such as younger and generally healthier people. In the context of our two-tier health service, where approximately 46% of the population have health insurance, the risk equalisation scheme is essential. Eight years on …

My question is about safe injection facilities. Last month I asked a parliamentary question about establishing a safe injection facility in Cork city. I was told it would not be considered until the 18-month pilot in Dublin was concluded. For the one in Dublin, it took nine years between Cabinet approval and setting it up. We cannot have the same level of delay in Cork city. We need a health-led approach to drugs and we need to start considering and planning a safe injection facility for Cork city. Failure to act h…

With respect, I asked about the facility in Cork. The facility in Dublin has been a success. That is why we want to see one rolled out for Cork. We know from research published by UCC that there are 859 problem drug users in Cork city. Thirty-five people die every single year in my city from problem drug use. This is a crisis, it is urgent and it needs interventions. We cannot wait for pilots and reviews. We need to act now on this. A mobile unit will not be effective. We know from the centre in Dublin that people …

Yesterday at the committee, we talked about the integrated health hub for homeless people in Cork city. This hub needs to be established and we need the capital investment for it. This is the prime location to have a safe injection facility in Cork city. What we need here now is not to miss an opportunity. We are establishing a new centre there. We can co-locate these services but the Department needs to do the planning and design now and needs to get this right. We need to think beyond just injection. Right across…

I too wish Deputy Donohoe the best and echo his call for investments in libraries. I have raised the issue of Cork city library. We have been waiting four years for a new-build library. Perhaps that is one the Tánaiste could invest in. It would be crucial and would be part of Deputy Donohoe's legacy. The issue I want to raise relates to the census. I welcome the decision to include questions on sexual orientation and gender in the next census. For the first time, a hidden part of our population will become visible …

I too welcome the establishment of a statutory public inquiry and the decision by Cabinet to appoint a facilitator on the matter. This public inquiry must have the power of compellability to establish facts. It must be independent and the voices of the children, their parents and families must be at the centre of this. Crucially, these families must get the answers to the long list of questions they have. Public interest must be at the heart of this and nothing else. It must not be rushed, but it cannot go on forev…

I support those calls in relation to the voluntary hospitals and the requirement the right information systems are put in place and that we have robust systems and the same systems across all of our hospitals and all of our health services. We are dealing with very large sums of public money. I believe €5 billion goes into voluntary hospitals. We need to ensure there are levels of accountability and transparency there. That is required so I support the calls from others around that and support the Minister's work i…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “Review of data protection compliance 7. The Minister shall, within 18 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas evaluating compliance with relevant data protection legislation and regulations in the collection, usage, and storage of patient health data.”. This is long overdue and much needed legislation that will provide for a legal basis for electronic health records and pati…

I move amendment No. 5: “Review of accessibility of health data 7. The Minister shall, within two years of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining - (a) the steps taken to assist persons with lower digital literacy or connectivity issues to access their health data and exercise their right to restrict access to information, in accordance with the legislation, and (b) the specific supports made available to vulnerable populations to address barriers to underst…

First, I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Farrelly, on bringing forward this proposal, leading on it, setting this out and being a champion on this issue. I am very disappointed by the Government's response of kicking this issue down the road. We have young people who really want to engage with the democratic process and have their say. People who are aged 16 and 17 now will be aged 17 and 18 a year from now. By the time the Government finally gets its act together, they will be aged 18 and over, so this matter is…

I wish to ask the Minister of State about the future of Cork City Library. We have a fantastic library service in Cork city but the building is not fit for purpose. The roof leaks and parts of the library have been closed off to the public. It is not acceptable in this day and age. Even more disappointing is that four years ago, the Taoiseach announced that €50 million would be spent transforming Grand Parade with a new public library, a new central plaza and boardwalk to facilitate cultural and recreational activi…

I thank the Minister of State very much. I am concerned at the response because what we see is a passing of the buck. It goes from the Government to the council. The council says it does not have enough money to complete the project, so it goes back to the Government. We never get a full answer about when the library is going to be built. Is it going to be a new-build library? Are we going to get the construction of a new building and not have this shoved into an existing building that does not meet the needs of a …