Mr. Mark Darmody:

Let us imagine if the Government knocked on the doors of those 37 and said that this is the type of emergency we need them for.

How many would they make available? As I said to them, they have never asked somebody to work a Saturday or Sunday. In a time of emergency like Covid, people came out of the woodwork to do so many different things. They are not doing that. That is why it is so important to declare an emergency mode. Right now, we are sleepwalking into a disaster. There is no other word for this.

Cara talks about the breaking of the law. Let us be honest. Parking on double yellow lines does not permanently damage somebody. Unfortunately, the Cabinet’s present position and course are leading to the undisputed permanent damage of children. It is just not acceptable. Like Cara said, what number do we have to reach before the Taoiseach wakes up and activates this as some type of emergency? What will it take?

I saw something different. It might be just an unofficial policy. Cara protested last year and not one single Government TD or Senator came out. This time, 55 was the number I counted who came out to not just issue support but to tell us that they agreed with the fundamental argument she was making. Unfortunately, however, when we went into the Taoiseach’s office, he had a slightly different opinion as to what even his own Members seemed to have.