Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery.

I want to raise the issue of the 206 Irish women who travelled to the UK in 2021 to receive basic healthcare. A total of 50% received it under ground C, which is the 12-week limit, and 50% received it under ground D, which deals with terminations for medical reasons. It is clear that the legislation is failing some people. It is important in the review of the abortion legislation that we bear this in mind and we do not simply focus on narrow issues. We should consider and take into account people who do not count in the Irish statistics. These are the women who travel to the UK to access basic healthcare.

I want to raise the issue of construction defects. The group was meant to report on this last Friday. I understand this deadline has been extended until July. I understand there might be issues to be worked through but this will have an unintended consequence as the budget negotiations are ongoing. Tens of thousands of people are living in apartments throughout this city and elsewhere with fire defects. They are in danger. Unlike mica, it is very difficult for people in this situation to speak out because it will have an effect on properties in urban areas. It is important that provision is made in the budget and it is flagged with the Minister not to drag this on but to provide redress for these people. They are not in the public mindset in the same way as other campaign groups. This is for good reason. They feel afraid and unable to speak out. They are living in fire defective apartments through no fault of their own. It is important that they get 100% redress and not the loans that have been suggested. This should also be retrospective. People need to be able to take action now to make their homes safe. The longer this drags on, the more people will be afraid to take action because they will not be sure whether they will be able to get the money back. It is important that the Minister makes provision in budget negotiations now to have redress for people suffering from construction defects in apartments throughout the country.