Laura Harmon (Labour)

Tá fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. Tá sé an-tábhachtach a chloisteáil go bhfuil an Rialtas ag tacú leis an nGaeilge. In relation to housing, as the Taoiseach knows, more than 16,000 people are homeless in Ireland, with 5,000 children homeless. I believe housing is a huge threat to our economy. It is affecting how people progress in their lives. In Cork alone, there are over 700 derelict and vacant properties within 2 km of the city centre. While it was welcome to see the new dereliction levy in the budget, which will be collected by Revenue, I believe this needs to be fast-tracked as a priority.

Turning to children in this country, we know from a new ESRI report that one in five children is living below the poverty line when housing costs are taken into account. I believe every child deserves a fair start in this country. We need appropriate school places for all children and we absolutely need to ensure that we tackle child poverty and that the public childcare model is a priority for this Government. As Labour Party spokesperson on further and higher education, I am of the view that we really need to see the commitment in the programme for Government in terms of the reduction in student fees over the lifetime of this Government honoured. We also need to ensure that apprentices are paid a living wage. We have a crisis in terms of student accommodation, and that is certainly true in Cork.

In the context of disability, the new unit is welcome. There is a lot of work to do. We have one of the lowest employment rates for people with disabilities in Europe. Not introducing a cost-of-disability payment in this budget was a missed opportunity.

The genocide that has occurred in Gaza is a stain of shame on our humanity. In that context, services need to be included in the occupied territories Bill.

I campaigned in favour of reforming the Seanad. It is disgraceful that it has been almost half a century and we have not implemented the result of the 1979 referendum to extend the franchise to all graduates. Someone had to take a case against the State in relation to this. It absolutely needs to happen. The Seanad is a powerful Chamber in terms of legislation. I am glad to have introduced two items of legislation to date. I could talk forever in terms of Cork, but I am out of time.