Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to show solidarity with the thousands of nurses on picket lines all over this State and the thousands of patients and vulnerable people who have had their operations, procedures and appointments postponed. In particular, I wish to show solidarity with and voice my support for those on the picket lines in places like Castlebar and Ballina in my home county of Mayo. We must remember that many of these patients have waited months and years for these operations, procedures and appointments. I know the nurses on the picket lines today are really mindful of this.I call on the Government to intervene and solve this crisis so that the nurses can get back to what they are desperate and trained to do, that is, provide the highest standard of healthcare in a safe environment, and that patients can get the treatment they desperately need.

We heard about the elderly woman who was duped by a rogue trader into handing over money for tools that she had no need for whatsoever. As someone who lives in rural Ireland, I am appalled and angered by the rising level of crime. Every week, people tell me their stories of being threatened, robbed and assaulted. They range from people like this woman being robbed in her own home to businesses being repeatedly robbed, sometimes by the same individuals, families or gangs. These crimes are being carried out, often during the day, by criminals who are sticking their two fingers up at their victims, including shop owners. At around 5 p.m. outside a funeral home in Castlebar last Friday, I witnessed a taxi driver trying to escape injury while his attacker, accompanied by another man and a woman, kicked and smashed his vehicle while trying to punch and drag him out of the car.

I have two questions. Where are the gardaí and why do we not have enough of them to walk the streets and prevent such crimes? Above all, why do we have a judicial system that enables and facilitates these crimes by letting off repeat criminals?