It was in the programme for Government.

I thank the Members of the House for the opportunity to attend today to discuss the important work programme of the Department. I will speak about a matter of profound importance to our economy, communities and national resilience, which is the future of Ireland's small businesses and the retail sector. I will apprise the House of the work undertaken to ensure maximum possible resilience is afforded to Ireland's small businesses and the retail sector. As many Members already know, small and medium businesses are th…

I thank Senators Scahill, Crowe and Ryan for their valuable contributions. It is great for me to be here in the Seanad to discuss our departmental work across government but also to outline how we can continue to support and build resilience within our SMEs and retail sector. I appreciate the valuable contributions and the matters raised. Our Department plays a crucial role along with other Government agencies in supporting our SMEs, our retail sector and local trade enterprises. As many have said, they are the bac…

I thank Senator Higgins for raising this important matter at a critical junction of EU external trade policy and international law. While it is a complex and sensitive issue, I appreciate the opportunity to outline Ireland's position. On 4 October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld the ruling of the General Court of 29 September 2021 annulling the Council decision on the conclusion of the 2018 agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco.…

I must note that the negotiations on the replacement agreement have not yet fully concluded in Brussels and any further comment would be inappropriate at this stage. However, I will say that Ireland's approach has been guided by two principles, namely, respect for the rule of law and support for the United Nations-led process on Western Sahara. I reiterate that Ireland continues to keep all aspects of the negotiation process under review to ensure that any proposed arrangements will respect the conditions establish…

On behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, I thank the Senator for raising this very important matter on behalf of the families he represents in Wexford. I know myself how important school transport is. It is the lifeline of many communities. I fully appreciate the urgency of the matter. As the Senator will know, the school transport scheme is a significant operation that is managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. School transport i…

No.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this really important matter and for her continued interest in the transformation of our Defence Forces. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be here due to prior commitments. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond and I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the forefront today. The Tánaiste is deeply committed to the transformation of our Defence Forces into a modern, fit-for-purpose organisation to …

I again thank the Senator for raising these important matters. The Commencement matter submitted by the Senator did not reference anything regarding the conservation or preservation plan for the Curragh Camp. However, I will raise that with officials to try to get a detailed briefing note to the Senator. I know how important it is to her. The Tánaiste assured me that he will provide an updated implementation plan. It will be published imminently. I will seek to ensure that the House is kept informed. In regard to t…

As we conclude the debate, I want to acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and his officials who have been listening throughout this debate. I want to bring us all back to the essentials we are discussing here today which is that insurance is not abstract. It is a daily reality for every motorist, every small business and every household. It is the guarantee that if the worst happens - a car crash, a workplace accident or a flood - there will be compensation and life can move forward. When the cost of tha…

I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this important issue. Ireland's healthcare system is changing with the introduction and implementation of Sláintecare, the first cross-party plan for major health reform in Ireland which was introduced in 2017. The Sláintecare vision is to provide universal, accessible, affordable, person-centred, safe and high-quality health and social care for all the people of Ireland. As the Deputy said, it should be based on need, not on the ability to pay. The Path to Universal Healthcare:…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I certainly agree on the necessity around an early access programme. We are making significant progress in regards to the treatment of cancer. However, I would agree that access to medicines should not become a barrier; it should become part of the normal process. I will report what the Deputy has said here to the Minister. In regards to the Government's continued work to support the model of care through its Sláintecare programme, we are very much committed to …

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for the timely opportunity to address the House on capacity at University Hospital Limerick. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who sends her apologies that she cannot be here to provide an update on the measures that are being taken to alleviate overcrowding. Since the Deputy last raised a Topical Issue on this matter in July, the work to increase capacity and alleviate overcrowding at UHL has continued at pace. In May 2024, HIQA was requ…

We are all in agreement that the people of the mid-west rightly deserve access to responsive urgent and emergency care. The HIQA review was published today. It has an extensive range of findings across the healthcare service in the mid-west. I would be interested to hear what the Deputy disagrees with in the HIQA report.

I would be interested to hear if there is anything in the report that he disagrees with. It will be given full consideration and all the findings-----

-----are under way to determine the future direction of the services in the region. It is important to also highlight UHL's annual budget spend has increased from €265 million in 2019 to over €507 million in 2024. A package of wide-ranging reform support measures also is being implemented. It is important these measures are aimed at both capacity and reform of the healthcare system in the region. Increased staffing levels are also being prioritised. Staffing at UHL has grown by 32%, an increase of 1,465 whole time …

I thank both Deputies for raising this important matter around concerns relating to the delivery of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is unavoidably absent today. The safety and quality of our maternity services are of critical importance to the women and families who use them, as well as to the Government. I understand recent developments at Portiuncula may undoubtedly cause concern and worry for many women and families w…

Again, I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. I am sure they will understand that the Government and the Minister for Health are very much committed to ensuring that all women and families receive the highest standard of care, both at Portiuncula and across all maternity services nationally. The Minister and her Department officials will continue to work closely with the HSE, the clinical leads and families to ensure that the necessary improvements are delivered and sustained. Pregnancy in Ireland …

I thank Deputy Farrelly for raising this important matter. I take his point. I was a backbencher too so I understand the frustration when you put in a Topical Issue and the relevant Minister or Minister of State is not present. I will relay that back to the Chief Whip. The Government is very much committed to supporting children with additional needs to reach their full potential, and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. On the ground, an important way to support …

I thank the Deputy for articulating the case for Scoil Mochua and the challenges it faces. It is no different than any other constituency. Indeed, I have faced many challenges regarding families and children deserving and demanding access to resources. There is a challenging environment. I acknowledge the particular circumstances the Deputy mentioned. When one engages with the NCSE, it is responsive. It is being considered as part of the review process. On Tailte Éireann, I will work with the Deputy on how we can e…