Connolly, Catherine

Budget Statement 2021 (Continued)

There are five Deputies to speak in the Rural Independent Group slot, beginning with Deputy Mattie McGrath, who will have ten minutes.

I beg your pardon.

I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate. I wish I could say the Government has embraced the challenge to give a transformative budget but I am afraid it has failed miserably.

There are good parts of the budget, which I welcome. As my time is limited, I will not itemise them but I welcome the contributions to TG4 and Údarás na Gaeltachta. I welcome the changes to dis...

The language used throughout this Covid-19 pandemic is we will never go back because we have learned. Equally, we declared a climate emergency and biodiversity crisis on 9 May last year. The Go...

I looked to see what we have done. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, told us his Department is publishing an analysis of the budget for 2021, which provides clear evidence of its progressive nature ...

I call him the Minister of the briathar saor - the Minister of the passive tense - Deputy Michael McGrath. He stated that for years, supply has failed to keep pace with demand, and rising rent a...

In the strongest possible terms I say that government after government have led to this housing crisis with their policies. The Labour Party was also part of that with Fine Gael when it brought ...

I am on record as saying we need landlords and I am not against them. We need landlords in the market but the Government must be i lár an aonach, in the middle of the fair. It has never done th...

There is sleight of hand all the time when we speak of social housing. It seems that benefiting the private market under the various schemes is what social housing is now about. If we have lear...

There was talk of an extra €28 million for mental health but we were not told that for years, it has been the poor relation in health. We have not been told where the independent monitoring bod...

There is the question of disability. Earlier this year I received a letter, like all Deputies, on this matter. In this case it was from Ability West, where the training allowance was taken from...

I live in a city where large numbers of people receive no respite, so people struggle with husbands with dementia and children with disability with absolutely no respite. The latest letter from ...

There is an increase in the carer's support grant of €150 per year but the Government has not thought about looking at the majority of Ireland's carers who keep the country going. Without them w...

There was mention of 5 million additional home care hours and it is hard to deal in millions, although we are getting used to it now with the monopoly money. Translating that, somebody with a hu...

I tried in vain to see one mention of domestic violence. Could this be explained to me? Many reporters over the past few days have said it is easy for the Opposition to put forward budgets with...

In a truly transformative budget, we would not divide people or put in a carbon tax as the main climate action element. Climate action would underpin all our actions in bringing people together....

  Sitting suspended at 8.10 p.m. and resumed at 8.30 p.m.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise - Mineral Oil Tax: Motion

There is a limited amount of time and ten speakers have indicated, so I ask Deputies to be brief.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise - Mineral Oil Tax: Motion (Continued)

I do not mean to interrupt but there are nine speakers and I want to make sure that everyone gets in. The time is down to a minute if Deputies can manage.

Deputy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. With Deputies' co-operation everyone will get in to speak but I would like to leave the Minister a little time. Otherwise I will have to bring down the guillotine for the vote at the e...

I thank the Deputy.

There are a number of Deputies remaining. In fairness to the Minister, we need to allow him a few minutes, but we will run out of time. I ask that Deputies only make quick contributions. I canno...

I thank the Deputy.

With the House's permission, I will give the Minister two minutes to respond. I was going to give him four. There are no rules. There are three Deputies remaining and only three minutes left. I...

I call the final two Deputies for a brief comment each.

I am afraid so.

The time allowed for this part of the debate has expired.

Financial Resolution No. 3 - Value Added Tax: Motion (Continued)

Thank you Deputy.

I cannot stop the Deputy but am just asking for his co-operation because there are two more speakers indicating.

State Examinations

Asked the Minister for Education: if an organisation (details supplied) or another independent body will carry out a full audit of the coding provided by a company for the leaving certificate 2020 calculated grades process followin...

Third Level Institutions

Asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: the cost to date of all National University of Ireland Galway legal fees in relation to court cases involving a number of staff (details supplied); the estimated final cost of all legal fees in res...

Period Poverty

Asked the Minister for Health: when the report of the sub-committee on period poverty will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.