There is a famous song by Mike and the Mechanics called "The Living Years". I think we all know the lyrics and can apply them to our own lives in many ways. We need to apply a little bit of them to politics and what happened to Ruth Morrissey. There is no use in apologising now. Her family has made that clear. They do not want an apology. What they want - I know it is what Ruth wanted, as she told me so - is the Civil Liability Act to be amended to do as I just said and as the Chief Justice himself outlined. The La…

The detail is there.

I will take the Taoiseach's word on that.

The issue of travel advice is becoming a joke. While the Taoiseach is in here answering questions on it, outside the Tánaiste has basically asked what is the point publishing a green list at all if the continuous advice is to refrain from non-essential travel. The mixed messages on this issue have been pointed out by my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith. For a significant period of time now we have pointed out that people should be tested when they arrive and again within 14 days. I am beginning to wonder who is Taois…

Will the decision be made by the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste?

That is the reason for testing twice.

Will the green list be published this evening? Will there be a green list, or not?

I do not wish the former Minister, Deputy Cowen, any ill will. It is a very difficult day for him and his family but the Taoiseach has set a record as regards firing a Minister in the quickest time ever - 17 days. It is quite confusing listening to the Taoiseach's contribution now and what he has said over the past week or two because not an awful lot has changed since 3 July when the story broke and the Taoiseach's awareness of "issues". He should not mind the semantics. The issues surrounding what was in the publ…

-----is going to be presentable to a Minister at some future date.

I never said that.

I agree.

The Taoiseach has not given us much clarity on anything. I accept there are data protection issues at play. I also accept that the Data Protection Commission and GSOC will have to undertake serious investigations and there are wider issues concerning a citizen of the State, in this case, Deputy Cowen, but there is a process by which anyone gets information and it takes time. The Taoiseach never answered the question on whether it is an actual printout of a PULSE file. Is there information about An Garda Síochána be…

-----the Department of Justice and Equality, and how justice is administered, but we have not heard a peep out of the Minister. In fairness to the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Flanagan, with whom I had many run-ins, he would certainly-----

-----have been out making it very clear that he was the Minister for Justice and Equality, that some of the actions here-----

-----were not acceptable and that members of An Garda Síochána should be protected in their actions.

Has the Taoiseach seen the PULSE file?

Has the Taoiseach seen the PULSE file?

Is it a PULSE file or a report?

I wish the new appointees well, particularly the new Minister, Deputy Calleary, who has served a long apprenticeship in Leinster House and in politics. I truly wish him well in his brief. There is a bit of ground to make up now. This was in many ways a delayed appointment. I am sure his disappointment has now been assuaged. I wish him the best of luck. I also wish the Ministers of State, Deputies Chambers and Fleming, well. I served with Deputy Fleming on the Committee of Public Accounts. He was the Chairman of the…

There is a concern out there about the leadership of the new version of Government in issues relating to Covid, such as masks, testing, quarantine, the green list and so on. We also have real issues coming down the line regarding trolley numbers in acute hospitals. The numbers released today by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation in relation to trolley numbers are scary. The total number is 166. In relation to University Hospital Limerick, the number is 56. The Minister is now silent on this issue despite ma…