It is not a Government decision.

The 2011 decision still stands and the Minister is driving without permission.

In relation to the Government's decisions on ministerial pay, I note what the Taoiseach has just said but we need clarity as regards actual decisions. In relation to the ministerial pay cut, is this a cut or a waiver? The Taoiseach stated he is "gifting back". That means his pension will be the full amount. Correct me if I am wrong. It will not be the reduced amount. Second, when was the Government decision made to give the Minister, Deputy Coveney, two Garda drivers and a Garda car worth €200,000? In 2011, a decis…

In that scenario, because I have checked it up through parliamentary questions, the way in which ------

The way in which this decision was recorded is not reflected properly.

No, that is not what I am saying.

The Taoiseach's pension is not affected.

I thank the Taoiseach. It is quite surprising the first meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee is only taking place on 30 July. This is probably one of the most critical Cabinet committees at any time, but particularly now. The Taoiseach might explain why it has taken this long for the committee to come together, given the discussions we have had today and in recent weeks regarding housing. During this economic crisis, I would like to have seen much more from the July stimulus that would have had direct impact on hou…

I am concluding. I have some questions for the Taoiseach. When will we have the full timetable regarding how often the Government's Cabinet committee on housing will meet? When will the cost of housing, including the cost of building a house, be treated as a priority? Finally, what is the Government going to do in the short term regarding those who have rent debt, which is going to crystallise in the coming weeks and months? How is that situation going to be dealt with, because in some cases the cost will be thousa…

The programme for Government states that climate change is the single greatest threat facing humanity. The Taoiseach obviously takes an interest in this matter, as do his coalition colleagues, particularly those in the Green Party. The Government has committed to halving carbon emissions by 2032 although, incredibly, the plan expects the next Government to do more of the heavy lifting than the current one. That is kind of ironic. It is polite and decent of the Taoiseach to lump most of the work onto his successors.…

I asked the Taoiseach a question on transport and rail infrastructure which he did not answer. I would appreciate if he would answer it. As a highly capital intensive area, planning in this area takes a number of years. The Government's interests in this area and the signal it will give as to what it plans to do in the area - whether on rolling stock, track improvements, improving the services in Dublin - will have to be flagged early if they are to be achieved in the lifetime of the Government. What are the plans …

The announcement yesterday was welcome. Seven eighths of it could have been announced in June. However, the funding amount of €375 million is welcome; there is no doubt about that. I have a number of questions. I raised this issue with the Tánaiste last Thursday. In the month remaining, principals and boards of management are expected to advertise, interview and recruit all the staff in four weeks. They are being asked to commission minor building works in four weeks, which is impossible because there are not enoug…

They are barely mentioned. The roadmap mentions some training for SNAs. They work in close proximity with children who need an awful lot of help. What is the plan for SNAs? Will more of them be taken on? I have been asked this direct question in the past two hours. What training will be put in place and what number of SNAs will be in place? SNAs are important for students who need to catch up on their education. How are principals and boards of management meant to hire all these staff and have all the minor capital…

Yesterday evening, as I do on most evenings I am in Dublin, I FaceTime my kids, Aoibhe and Senan, who always have a number of questions for me. They asked me last night - genuinely they flummoxed me when they said: "Will you find out if we're going back to school?" Their mum, Regina, is a teacher. The Tánaiste knows her as straight talking. She had told them that she did not know and said to them to ask their dad on FaceTime. It is critically important that we get this right. The decision is the fulcrum around whic…

They are getting big.

Ten and eight.

I will take it that the Tánaiste's comments about the Minister coming into the House to answer questions are not the oral parliamentary questions she is due to take on Thursday, and that this will be a separate questions and answers slot on the reopening of schools. In fairness, I believe that everyone in the House feels this is necessary. Will the Tánaiste please verify that? The precedent set by the Minister, Deputy Harris, with regard to 2 m and classroom sizes has been set. Workers, teachers and people who work…

A couple of weeks ago I raised a sensitive issue with the Tánaiste in regard to adults with intellectual disabilities. I understand that next week the families will protest outside this venue because nothing has changed. The most vulnerable people in our communities and society, those with intellectual disabilities, are losing the will. I spoke to a mother this morning at 7.30 a.m. whose son is 29 years of age and had been up early. They are at their last tether. What has happened in the last two weeks? I have a li…

I want sincerely to wish the Minister the best. I have done so in a private capacity but I want to do so publicly also. We need him to do well, so I ask him, please, to do as well as he physically can. He has inherited a very tough job but he was a spokesperson representing Fianna Fáil for a number of years. I sat with him for many hours in committees and in the Dáil and I heard him speak with great analysis. He studied his subject matters and often put forward solutions, some of which I agreed with and some of whi…

Ruth Morrissey was a national hero. She fought the State not once but twice. I received news of her passing from Vicky Phelan on Sunday morning. My condolences go to Paul, Libby and all of her family and friends. The Taoiseach's predecessor, the current Tánaiste, said on "Six One News" after Ms Phelan came forward that no woman would have to go through this again. It has never happened. He should never have said that. He could not deliver it. Ruth Morrissey subsequently spent 36 days in the High Court while termina…