I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. However, notwithstanding best efforts, there are ongoing developments and family law cases where the children's rights are deemed not to be observed to the extent intended in the referendum to which the Minister referred, and further legislation. In those circumstances, is it intended to enhance the powers of Tusla to intervene regardless on the side of child, which is the important issue in this case, to ensure those rights are preserved in accordance with the bes…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me the privilege of raising this matter again. At the risk of boring the House, the people of Kildare North and those outside the constituency, I seek to bring attention to this issue because it needs to be addressed. The local people who have protested at the way the Office of Public Works, OPW, has handled Castletown House have been constantly blamed and accosted regarding their responsibility for bringing this impasse about. This was not done by the local people; it…

I realise the Minister of State had a difficult job to deliver because several people have previously delivered or failed to deliver on that, as the case may be. I cannot but comment on the fact that the emphasis is put on how little impact the extra traffic will have when, in fact, the OPW knows it has plans to extend and expand - and rightly so - the use of Castletown House as a national and international centre and protect what is known as the Castletown collection. All of that is strongly supported by the local…

Today I again bring up the issue of the Castletown estate, Celbridge, where there is a stand-off between the local people and the OPW. I make a special appeal to the senior Minister at that Department, who is taking the Order of Business today, to listen please to what the local people are saying. They have no reason at all to prolong any engagement that might be seen to benefit them. Every person I spoke to over the weekend was of the same opinion. They are at variance with the action that was taken by the OPW wit…

I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Bruton. Will the Minister outline the extent to which he plans to develop Skillnet Ireland in its capacity to accelerate adaptation to the challenges of sustainability and the digital transformation of business models?

I thank the Minister. To what extent has he been in a position to identify weaknesses within the system and specific areas where business and enterprise might be under pressure to meet the challenges of the future? Does the Minister believe sufficient resources are available to those businesses and to Skillnet Ireland to meet those challenges?

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. What advice would he give to industry and businesses of all sizes in the face of the challenges that lie ahead, given the supports that are available through Skillnet?

This question is similar to the previous one. Is the Minister satisfied that graduates are coming on stream in sufficient numbers to be able to fill the vacancies in the workforce at all levels and to be able to expand and grow their own interest and knowledge as well?

Is the Minister satisfied that the general uptake in the areas of academic and technical skills is sufficient to fill the jobs vacancies that are likely to appear in the future? Given the level of foreign direct investment in this country, what skills are likely to be required for the foreseeable future?

To what extent is the Minister satisfied with the supply of students to third and fourth level from secondary schools in view of the accommodation difficulties that have arisen in some parts of the country? Our population is growing and demand in that area will continue to be high. In that context, is the Minister satisfied that enough is being done to meet the accommodation requirements of the students who will be the graduates of tomorrow?

This is an interesting question in that it proposes to utilise the skills and experience of those previously in the workforce who have learnt through the long road how to deal with the issues that arise. It asks the Minister if he proposes to utilise their skills and abilities in the way that is suggested to empower them possibly for a third age, but for a second age anyway.

I believe it was John Kenneth Galbraith, the famous American economist, who first thought up this idea. He proved the point that utilising the skills and experience that were already available could reap benefit to the economy tenfold. He did not expect those who were retired to carry out a long day’s work, as they had previously experienced, and he suggested that they should take longer holidays and so on, but keep themselves refreshed and renewed in what they knew best, so they were in a position to hand on to th…

I thank the Minister for his refreshing and informed attitude to the question and the concept. When advanced in years, being almost 100 at the time - he was almost 100 when he died - a student asked Professor Galbraith when he stopped learning. His immediate answer was that he was still learning.

This question seeks to ascertain and acknowledge the expenditure on this sector of education over the past number of years, how it is progressing and how the expenditure is succeeding in addressing the issues that need to be addressed in that particular area. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Minister for his continued support of this particular concept and the ability it has to deliver to a wider range of students with wider skills, wider potential and needing wider opportunities. Thus far, is the programme having the results the Minister had expected or anticipated? To what extent can that be furthered?

I welcome the progressive nature by which the Minister is proceeding. Does the Minister remain satisfied that the progress to date in investment and in outcomes is likely to continue into the future and that the resources will be available?

I seek to ascertain the timescale for the family law reform the Minister has been working hard on, for which there is considerable appreciation. In view of the fact that current procedures are going on at pace as if no reform were in the offing, we and the operators of family law need to know something decisive is happening.

I thank the Minister for her very comprehensive reply. I agree entirely with the extent to which she is proposing to change matters. In particular, the issue whereby parental alienation is becoming established in this country as part of our family law system is worrying. Under the radar, it is being imported from other jurisdictions for use here. It is clearly in violation of the Constitution. The degree to which parents, women and children in particular but some men, are subject to trauma, anguish and anxiety abov…

I accept what the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has said, but I point out that we cannot change anything unless we direct our attention at the subject matter. I do not wish to disobey the Chair. I do not ever wish to do so, but it is very important we are clear in what we are about. If, at the end of the day-----

I will do.