In 2008, the then Minister Phil Hogan announced a local government fund allocation in budget 2009 of €1.6 billion. In budget 2026, €670 million was allocated to the same fund. That is almost €1 billion less. Has the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, considered asking the European Union how member states fund local authorities and how European local authorities have more democracy and autonomy and are not in constant crisis? Local authorities around this State are in crisis at the moment for funding because of cuts to the block grant. How can they be getting it right in European countries and the Government is making a bags of it here? In Dublin, we have seen increases in rents, rates and local property tax. It will be coming to Cork and to every local authority. Local authorities are using funding collected in rents for parks, playgrounds and footpaths because they are not getting the support of this Government and have not been since the financial crash. I have a situation today where a man will be coming home from hospital after major heart surgery. When his family checked his house last week to get it ready for him to come home, a broken pipe had flooded the house. Cork City Council officials told the family they do not have the staff to get the house ready. They have to dump the carpets and floors. There is a smell of damp and mould in the house now. That man is after having open-heart surgery and he is going home to that because the Government will not fund local authorities. I will give the Minister of State one last figure. Last year, local authorities had a combined deficit of €470,000. Local authorities are not allowed to run a deficit, so that tells the Minister of State the level of cuts and slashes there has been to services. This Government has to step up and look at a European model of funding and investment and at democracy for local authorities. In 1990, as part of German reunification, 18 members of the East German Parliament attended the EU Parliament as non-voting observers. I speak to young people today and they want to see a united Ireland. They want a new vision. I spoke to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs in the Dáil last week who told me they would support the vote tonight on Sinn Féin's Bill, which will bring about the beginning of dialogue, debate and consultation around a united Ireland. Instead, the Taoiseach has come out and blocked it, and he will be whipping every Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TD to oppose our Bill tonight. It is unbelievable. The party that calls itself the republican party will vote against a discussion on Irish unity. What is even worse is that Fine Gael members, who have a plan, to be fair to them, will be whipped into line tonight. Fine Gael members believe their party is descended from Michael Collins. What would Michael Collins think when they come in tonight to vote against a discussion on Irish unity? One man, Micheál Martin, is blocking the way. It is an absolute disgrace that he will whip this Government into line because of his own prejudice. Shame on him.

Sentiment score: -0.03

An issue that has rightly got a lot of coverage over the last few months is the disease called Friedreich's ataxia. There is a drug out there called Skyclarys. Citizens of a number of European countries are able to access that medicine. We have come here and families have come here and spoken about it. I appeal to the Minister of State. I know a meeting is to take place this month. I have been dealing with Craig Coady in relation to his son Paudie, who is dying. They lost another son to the same illness. It is an horrendous situation. Is there any way possible? I have pleaded with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health on humanitarian grounds, under exceptional circumstances, because Paudie's position is so vulnerable now. This will not save his life but it will extend it and give him a better quality of life. How can it happen in other European countries but not here? There are great things being done in Europe, and then we look at this. People are talking about the disconnect with Europe. I appeal to the Minister of State on that. Deputy Ó Murchú touched on my next point. We want to have the conversation about preparing for Irish unity now because Europe could play a really important part in supporting it, coming up with solutions and funding as part of it. There is an open door in Europe when it comes to Irish unity and peace in this island. If we are going to convince people in the Six Counties - unionists, loyalists and others - that a united Ireland would be better for them, we should have the conversation in Europe now and show them that this is what Europe will bring to the table. One of the questions that really affected the Scottish referendum was what the currency would be. It was a huge issue in the last week of the debate. That is what we need to be able to talk about now. I assume it will be the euro, but that is not for me to assume. It is part of the debate, and that is why we need Europe at the heart of this conversation. I cannot say this often enough. Every night on social media we see the genocide that is taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, how people are being driven from their homes and their land stolen. There are nearly 1 million settlers now in the West Bank. Where is Europe? It is a mark of shame on the European Union that it is standing idly by while genocide is being committed. At the same time, it is allowing weapons to be shipped to Israel and bonds to be sold in Europe. The EU at this moment is complicit in genocide for not stopping, or doing everything it can to prevent, the genocide.

Sentiment score: 0.03

Sorry. Can the Minister of State also look at if it is passed in Europe, that it is in each individual country then? It is the bureaucracy, red tape and time. It is not about this specific drug. I ask the Minister of State to look at it from a European point of view-----

Sentiment score: -0.02