I will articulate everything the Senator has said here today following his meeting with the seven individuals only yesterday. When in opposition, during the previous Government I spoke ad nauseam on illegal births. We cannot shy away from this. What has happened is wrong and now it is time to tell the truth, lay it bare and give people back their identity.

That seems to be the case, given what has been said about an ambulance going from Donegal to Tipperary. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion this evening. I am glad to say we are not opposing it. No differently from anybody else in the Chamber, I have listened to the debate on the motion in its entirety. I have a record of answering debates on ambulance services in Connemara, and I am glad to say that ambulance service has been put in place. I am also glad to hear Deputy Kerrane's experience in Roscom…

I will come to that next. A number of elements need to be there. There is a different hierarchy within the EMTs, the paramedics, the advanced medical practitioners, and a broader advance of other groups like the community first responders, CFRs. We have 275 CFRs. They were stood down during the Covid period, but 125 of them are working again. I hope that will come to bear when there is an Echo or a Delta response, because they are closest to the person and give the support at the start while he or she is waiting on…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to update the House on the work being carried out by the commission of investigation into certain matters relevant to disability services in the south east, and related matters, also known as the Farrelly commission. At the outset, it is important to note that I am mindful this is an active commission of investigation and that the commission is entirely independent in the conduct of its investigations, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the substance…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and all Members for their contributions. I acknowledge that my opening statement was scant. I do acknowledge that. Perhaps it gives me the opportunity to address all of the issues that were raised. I have to remind myself because sometimes I sail a little bit close to the wind in my commentary. Today it is about the commission. At the outset, it is important - and this is for my benefit as much as it is for anybody else’s, I remind the House - to say that I am mindful that this is an act…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I like how he said he wishes to discuss this issue, and that is exactly how he laid it out this evening. The response I have is totally different from the answer needed to how the Deputy has presented this topic. He is right: we do not do enough transition planning for where young people transition from second level education, whether it be in a special class, special school or special unit, to adult day services. They are coming from a space where they are well supported…

I again thank the Deputy. Under the national disability inclusion strategy, issues facing people with disabilities such as transport issues must be addressed on a cross-Government basis. These issues do not, and should not, fit into the Department of Health alone. There should also be conversations with the Department of Transport to ensure that, when a national transport policy is being rolled out, inclusion is part of it. It should criss-cross right across the country to ensure that people can use it. The Deputy …

I thank the Senators for their invitation to discuss one of the most fundamental reforms in the health services in recent memory, which is the implementation of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People, PDS, programme. It would be disingenuous of me not to acknowledge that the HSE has had considerable challenges in implementing the PDS programme in parts of the country. We would only be codding ourselves to say otherwise. It is important as well to say that I am here as the Minister of Stat…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and everybody who took the time to contribute to this debate. The contributions were fantastic and spread right across the country. Every CHO was represented and I was just checking that aspect as we were going along through the debate. It is important to recognise we are all on the one page in that we all want to ensure we assist families, we do not want the fight to continue, and we need to ensure families have fair and equitable access to services. That is exactly what Progressing…

I will take that question.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He is right that we have 554 outstanding assessments of needs that need completion at this time. He is also right that some of them were outsourced because we did not have the skill set. That was done with part of the allocation of €7.8 million in Sláintecare funding. In regard to Jake's care, if the Deputy wants to take the matter up with me afterwards, I have no problem speaking to him.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders – (1) the Joint Committee on European Affairs, the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU may hold a joint meeting to consider the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community; (2) the quorum of the joi…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those next set down to the Minister for Social Protection, shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Justice Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whereupon the sequence…

I thank Deputy Niamh Smyth. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris. The Deputy and I both know if there was good news the Minister, Deputy Harris, would be here. It would not be wee Anne from Galway delivering it. I am taking the Topical Issue all the same nonetheless. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to Cavan Institute and further education provision for Cavan town. Cavan Institute was established, as the …

I will take on board everything Deputy Niamh Smyth has asked. I recognise, as the Deputy said, the commitment of the principal, the teaching staff and the parents of the students who are attending there. In relation to the Deputy's ask about the development of the greenfield site which she has clearly articulated, needless to say the Deputy has her work done there in relation to where the leases are at, etc. I will present that to the Minister, Deputy Harris, and perhaps he might be able to meet with the Deputy to …

I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to the House and taking the time to read in to the record exactly what the consultants wrote to him. It was hard to listen to. They were obviously pained that they felt they had to go to this extreme. I sense the Deputy's annoyance with the Minister not being here this evening to take this response. I have a response but I feel it falls far short of what it should be. I thank the Deputy for raising this and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on Un…

I will take on board everything the Deputy has said. I want to acknowledge that things are at a critical stage, whether due to the Covid numbers or absenteeism. Absenteeism can include those with long-Covid but people are also absolutely exhausted working in horrific conditions, trying to support patient care and patient safety. It is unbelievable to think that the IT system in an emergency department is not up to standard. That will be conveyed directly back to the Minister. The lack of single rooms is one of the …

As I said, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. Like my colleagues, I wish him well. I thank Deputies Lahart, Murphy, Crowe, Duffy and Ward for raising this issue. I welcome this opportunity to update the House on the issue of crack cocaine in Tallaght, as highlighted in the report published by the Tallaght Drug and Alcohol Task Force. In response to Deputy Murphy, I have listened to the report on "Morning Ireland". I listened to it again this morning and I also have sight of …

I will read the Minister's script and I hope I will get 30 seconds to respond myself. I have listened carefully to the views of the Deputies. I reiterate the commitment of this Government to ensuring appropriate supports and resources are in place to tackle drug addiction, including crack cocaine. A strategic priority under the national drugs strategy for the next four years will be to address the social consequences of drug use in disadvantaged communities. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, looks forward to w…

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2021, copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 20th October, 2021, be referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which,not later than 30th November, 2021, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 101, and Standing Order 100(2) shall accordingly apply.