Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)

First, I would like to mention the shocking attacks on the aid flotilla to Gaza today, which is yet another disgraceful breach of international law.This is a humanitarian fleet of over 500 civilian volunteers and it was subjected to co-ordinated attacks in European waters off Crete. Aid is so desperately needed for the starving people in Gaza and everything that can be done must be done to ensure the aid safely reaches its destination. Drones, explosives and chemical dispersals targeted unarmed vessels, damaging the ships and endangering lives. The crew on board The Spectre, including our colleague, Senator Andrews, said they believe they were struck four times by drones. I hope all personnel on board are safe, but the world is watching now. We must not turn a blind eye to the illegal attacks on these flotillas.

The second item I want to raise is to call for a debate in this House on the cost of living and energy prices in particular. As families are struggling having just got kids back to school and the costs that go with that, they are now facing a winter of even higher energy bills. I hear from people in my area in Laois how they are really struggling. It is not just families but also single-income households that are struggling to pay bills and missing out on meals because they run out of money halfway through the week. We heard that four separate energy companies are raising their prices despite the fact that Ireland already has the highest electricity prices in Europe. This Government needs to start holding these companies to account. I would like a debate in this House not just on energy prices but also on the general cost of living.