Give us an answer to the question. Will a new library be built or not?

At today's health committee, the Irish Cancer Society said there is a complacent notion that we are doing well in cancer but we are not. The reality is that the State's cancer services are deteriorating. A prime example of this is radiation therapy, which is beset with antiquated machinery and staff shortages. Radiation therapy machines need to be changed every ten years. That is their internationally accepted lifespan. In Ireland, 35% of machines are already 15 years old, while a further 40% will need replacement …

As the Minister of State and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will know, every time we have health statements, I question their value, particularly given the backlog of legislation we have relating to the right to home care, legislation relating to CHI and much other legislation, but I see real value in this. It has been great to hear the consistent messages across the House about particular parts of our communities that are affected and the need for an intersectional approach, particularly relating to Traveller men, LGBT…

Like Deputy Bacik, I wish to express my concerns about the scenes we are seeing in Dublin tonight and I ask Members to think twice before inflaming tensions even further. It is something we should all be mindful of. On the motion at hand, I believe in a new and united Ireland, one with a thriving all-island economy, with universal public services and inclusive politics. We have a real opportunity here to create a new and better Ireland, one that enshrines rights in a new Constitution, including a right to housing, …

We all know that budgets are about choices. This Government has made its choice. It has chosen big developers and multinationals. Ordinary workers and households be damned, because there is nothing here for them. In fact, middle-income earners will be worse off. What happened to all the pre-election promises? It is quite clear that the Government was just paying lip service in order to win an election. Where is its ambition? The budget lacks vision. It will not deliver transformative change. Yesterday, the Minister…

I wish to ask the Minister about cancer services. Over 50% of cancer patients require radiation therapy at some point in their care. It is routinely used to treat the most common types of cancer such as breast, cervical and lung cancers. It is the cornerstone of modern cancer treatment and yet, it is neglected. We have ageing machines. In other areas, newer machines have no staff to operate them. Qualified radiation therapists cannot get jobs and there are shocking levels of outsourcing to the private sector. As of…

First, on machinery, I accept there is a replacement programme under way for St. Luke's but why are machines breaking down before action is taken? The internationally accepted lifespan for a treatment machine is ten years but in St. Luke's, Rathgar, they have two machines that are 15 years old and another two that are almost 17 years old. They are limited to using three machines at a time. This means that a quarter of the capacity in Rathgar is being lost. Why? It is to mitigate breakdowns. These machines need to b…

Regarding staffing, Cork and Galway both have new builds and new machines, but not enough staff. St. Luke's network has a CT scanner with no staff, a skin cancer treatment service operating at reduced capacity because it has insufficient staff, and at the same time, we had 30 graduates in radiation therapy from Trinity College last year. Only ten of them secured posts in Ireland, a further ten left the profession, and ten more have no employment. Radiation therapy graduates need a guarantee of employment from the H…

Graduates are looking for jobs, Minister.

Before I start, I would like to put on the record again my concerns about the amount of Dáil time that is given over to statements. Since the Government was formed, we have dealt with only two pieces of health legislation on the floor of the Dáil, and only one of those was new legislation. The other Bill, the Mental Health Bill, was restored from the previous Dáil. This is not good enough. We need law reform in a host of areas and I would like to see some of those progressed. In fact, only last week I published a P…

Absolutely. We talk a lot about productivity in healthcare. We also need productivity in Parliament. Returning to the topic at hand, the community pharmacy agreement, first I want to say that I welcome the investment in community pharmacies. In recent years, we have seen a real and tangible expansion of the services on offer in community pharmacies and that should be acknowledged. The Minister and her predecessor are to be commended on their work to date in progressing the recommendations of the expert task force, …

I, too, welcome the visitors in the Gallery. I congratulate my colleague Deputy Hearne on introducing his first of legislation in the House. It is a significant achievement and great to see. As we all know, housing is the biggest challenge facing the country. We need to consider all measures possible to address this challenge. Part of that involves increased transparency and accountability, better data and more information. That is what we are try to achieve here. I am disappointed but not surprised that the Govern…

My question relates to tuberculosis, otherwise known as TB. Last year, TB rates increased by 30%, which is really concerning. In 2024, TB cases in children under 12 months equalled the number recorded in the previous decade combined. This year, TB cases are expected to hit 300, yet this growing health crisis has been largely ignored by the Government. The sharp end of this crisis is experienced by some of the most marginalised people in our country. Professor Anne Marie McLaughlin has highlighted that a significant…

The genocide in Gaza is, without a doubt, the issue I am contacted most about by people from Cork. I am frustrated by the lack of action we have seen and that I have nothing of substance to say to the people who contact me. I cannot answer their questions as to why the Government has not passed the occupied territories Bill or why it is allegedly allowing the use of Shannon and Irish airspace to facilitate the transport of weapons. The Government has the power to act on these issues and I urge it to use that power.…

I am seeking leave to introduce a Bill.

I move That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 by restricting the advertising of alcohol-free and low-alcohol products bearing any statement of any trade description or designation, or a display or other publication of a trademark, emblem, marketing image or logo, of an alcohol product with the aim or direct or indirect effect of promoting an alcohol product. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 was landmark legislation designed to reduce alcohol use i…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

The Minister of State and her predecessors have shown a shocking lack of urgency when it comes to vapes. Under the watch of successive Ministers, youth vaping rates have skyrocketed. Is this any wonder with flavours like cotton candy, cherry cola and bubblegum readily available in any corner shop or indeed with stores showcasing vapes like pick and mix rather than the display of highly addictive products? The numbers speak for themselves. In June, a study by The Lancet into Irish nicotine use found that, between 20…

The problems with school transport are not new. If anything, this has become an annual fiasco. My colleagues Deputies Whitmore and Cummins have been raising this matter and calling for a restructuring of the scheme for a long period. In the time afforded to me, I want to refer to the consequences for some of the families in my constituency of Cork South-Central. Several families in Cork have contacted me and described their real frustration about the fact that they are continuously being advised to contact the loca…

I welcome Second Stage of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2025, which regrettably is the first health legislation to be taken on Second Stage since the general election last November. This is one of only two health Bills listed for priority publication yet it was only published last Friday, just shy of the summer recess. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile and modest legislation. To pick up on some comments by the previous speaker, we hear two different narratives constantly. There is a narrative from the Government that th…