I appreciate the Minister of State's candour. However, I get suspicious at times like this because hidden within the answer is a potential code to the effect that it will be decided in the interest of public spending, inflation etc. Some of those issues can also impact on inflation in a positive way from the point of view of the Government. There might be a possibility of identifying them with a view to picking out the ones that are most fundamental and necessary in the shortest possible time and ensuring there are…

Inquisitor.

Today I propose to defer to another time the Castletown gate access to allow negotiations take place. Instead, I will raise another issue which affects the Defence Forces. Specifically it relates to former members of the Defence Forces who may have incurred injury in the course of their duty and who have retired on pension only to find at a later stage there is a monthly deduction from their pension on foot of the award they may have received on a personal injury basis in the courts. I have raised this with the Tán…

I will bring it back to the Tánaiste.

Thank you.

Deputy Joan Collins has 20 minutes.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Steven Matthews - To discuss the lack of grant funding options and policy direction for private urban septic tanks to connect to public urban wastewater networks. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the progress in delivering emergency relief and supports to those affected by flooding in east Cork. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan - To discuss Alzheimer's dis…

Tá Roghchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge tar éis a bhreithniú ar na Meastachán seo a leanas i gcomhair seirbhísí poiblí le haghaidh na bliana dár gcríoch an 31 Nollaig 2023 a chríochnú: Vóta 33 - Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán.

The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the Electoral (Amendment Bill) 2023 and has made no amendments thereto.

The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2023: Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for Public Services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2023: Votes 2, 5, 7 and 9.

I call on the Cathaoirleach the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, Deputy McGuinness, to move the motion. He has 15 minutes.

I sympathise with the Opposition. There comes an occasion when Opposition gets desperate in the face of a response from the Government to a pressing issue. There have been many pressing issues and many of them were attended to in the course of the recent budget in a progressive way and consciously on the basis that people needed a little assistance. It did not all come in one go. It came in a series of responses. It was well meant. What is disingenuous though is when speakers on the Opposition side of the House - I…

I assure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle that this is part the amendment.

The point I will make is that it is disingenuous to pretend that all these things happened because the Government came into office. That is what the Opposition has said. It has suggested to the public that it is because of the Government that rents went up. Covid-19 came and it was not because the Government was in power. It had nothing to do with it. These things happen in the normal course of events and we have to do what we can to address the issues. That is what the Government is doing. While I am a critic of a…

-----when looking at a situation, some people see things as they are and ask "Why?", and others see things as they could be and ask "Why not?".

I was responding to the comments.

Amendment No. 15 is ruled out of order because of a potential charge on Revenue.

Go raibh míle maith agat a Theachta.

Amendment No. 37 is out of order.

This question seeks to ascertain the extent of the progress to date in the implementation of the recommendations of the commission; to what extent that progress is converging on eventual resolution of the issues; and if the Minister will make a statement on the matter.