My question relates to the progression of the Town Centre First policy, which I know the Minister announced recently. I understand she has significantly increased the funding.

I really appreciate the Minister's response. Looking at every rural town and village across the State, particularly against the backdrop of the recovery from the economic crisis, there is a great deal of dereliction and vacancy. It is clear that this particular policy, as originally envisaged and now as an improved scheme, is really the foundation for co-ordinating the various funding streams that are available through various Departments, including the Minister's Department. It is really important to highlight the…

We have a couple of minutes left. I could allow Deputy Connolly's question to be answered briefly.

The privileges of the Chair.

Deputy Connolly may give a very brief response.

Deputy McNamara should speak to the question.

Thank you, Minister. We are over time.

Thank you, Minister.

The Minister is reading the wrong reply. This is Question No. 125 in the name of Deputy Tóibín.

I have the correct reply here, if it is helpful to the Minister.

I will add to Deputy Connolly's excellent questions and follow-up points. The Minister outlined that if anything urgent arose from the body it would be brought to his attention and action taken. Is there an opportunity, with the provision of the interim report at the end of July he mentioned, for that document to be made available to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence for review? Is that his intent? Will he outline any follow-up changes that might arise if that interim report is provided to the comm…

It is important that we set aside the debate that has arisen as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the context of the Commission on the Defence Forces report and the course of action that the Minister and the Cabinet takes and that this House will then endorse by way of majority, which I assume it will. That is primarily because the conversation about neutrality is completely different from the conversation about ensuring that we have a Defence Force that is capable of meeting the responsibilities that …

I firmly echo Deputy Durkan's remarks. After the Cabinet comes to its decision on the course of action to take implementation will be crucial. Our ability to detect and dissuade are two of the most important aspects of the commission's report outside of the personnel, force strength etc. On that I re-emphasise a point I have made in this House on a number of occasions around primary radar and our ability to detect aircraft which may or may not have their transponder operational. From a civilian perspective, never m…

If I may, I wish to be as constructive if I can. I appreciate that the Ceann Comhairle has little to do with this but the groupings this morning on the Defence questions were most peculiar. A number of questions were totally separate to the Commission on the Defence Forces but the vast majority of the questions that were inter-related were not grouped. Some were grouped and some were not. It was a most peculiar set up. I have been watching and present since 10.30 a.m. I ask the Department of Defence public servants…

The Bill offers the opportunity to bring our consumer rights legislation into the 21st century and, in so doing, make it fit for the increasingly digitised world. The vast majority of the population daily streams or downloads goods or services from the Internet or the cloud. This practice is a clear divergence from the way we lived our lives just a decade ago, or even more recently. Through the past two years of the pandemic, we had no better example of how digital goods and services provide a major factor in consu…

It is 72 years since work first began on building a closer, more peaceful, more successful European Continent. The aftermath of two world wars left deep scars across Europe and fostered a resolve never again to repeat the failures of the past. It is also 50 years since 83% of the Irish people supported joining that Union and began a journey of transformation and development. Accession did indeed unlock the potential of our nation. As Deputy McAuliffe mentioned, it also freed us from the oppression of an empire. It …

Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence rates have seen a significant increase in recent years, particularly, and regrettably, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government is due to publish the third iteration of national policy developed by the Department of Justice shortly. Is the Taoiseach aware of the New Zealand Government's approach to supporting victims of domestic violence by the introduction of domestic violence leave? Would the Government consider the introduction of such a provision here and would it …

I completely agree with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh, particularly his opening remarks. To me this is about empowering communities to feel ownership of such projects, particularly with regard to the benefit that communities can gain. In the context of Deputy Matthews's question, ensuring citizen engagement in these processes is paramount. I echo what Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said on the benefits and how we can instil it in communities during the planning process for these projects.

My question relates to the climate stakeholder forum which the Minister has already referenced. I ask him to go into further detail on the work of the forum.

I thank the Minister. He will agree the forum is a critical component of establishing policy in this area. I certainly believe it will be very beneficial to the House, particularly to Members of the Oireachtas who have an interest in being invited. I am very pleased the Minister mentioned that at the next opportunity, this will occur. My desire is that the report the Minister mentioned, which will be created on foot of the meeting last month, would be made public. I am not sure if this is something the Minister int…