Are we still on Question No. 71?

Yes, we can take that question now.

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 Joan Collins - To discuss a delay by the HSE in completing three-month and ten-month child health development assessments at Old County Road primary care centre in Crumlin. Deputy Pauline Tully - To discuss pensions for long-term family carers. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor - To discuss the publication of the report into mishandling of abuse at St. …

This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister can continue to assist in the delivery of the national development plan, in particular by identifying the possible stoppages or barriers to the progression thereof.

To what extent will the Minister be able to reach out to the various major players who are in the course of delivering the NDP, or have a realistic contribution to make, with a view to identifying the problems they are facing? Is it possible for the Minister's Department to address the problems directly in such a way as to accelerate the rate of progress, which most commentators will readily say needs acceleration, particularly in view of the rapid increase in population?

I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. Can I further inquire whether, following the liaison with the various groups, he might be in a position to give instructions or to encourage an acceleration of the various aspects of the plan with a view to ensuring the targets are met within cost and on time?

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I have listened attentively to the speeches made by colleagues. It is a timely intervention by the Minister to introduce this legislation. I am not sure it will do the job that we expect it to do. This is an indigenous industry that is self-sufficient. It kept this country going at times when there was nothing else going for it. There is a tendency in recent times to believe that there are alternatives. There are alternatives, but we do not l…

I plead with the Minister to bí cúramach and watch out for what is happening because there is a move towards a financial takeover by some interested people who see this as a viable target. Of course it is viable from their point of view, but we cannot eat viability. We have to produce food. Whatever else happens, there will be offers made to the food producing sector to do X, Y or Z and be different. We cannot live on or eat that. We cannot eat timber. We would love to eat timber, but we cannot. I want to finish by…

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 25 January 2023.

I thank the Minister of State for being available in the House, as usual. I am a bit concerned about this because it is a question of emergency medical cards. These occur in situations where a particular life-threatening or life-changing illness has affected a family and the concerns of the family are and continue to be such that they feel they are entitled to an emergency medical card. In the case of a terminal or life-threatening illness, the families in question have enough worries and problems on their agenda w…

The Minister of State has a clear understanding, as I have, of the regulations as they apply. They should be applied in a humane manner to take account of situations that may arise out of the ordinary run-of-the-mill circumstances. The HSE has to take account of a situation that may affect a family who are traumatised enough by virtue of the challenges facing them. If a person is seriously ill, the last thing he or she wants to be told is that this is the end. Who wants to tell somebody that, for God's sake? The th…

One voice, please.

Please do not interrupt the Deputy.

Go raibh maith agat, a Theachta.

I agree with the Minister on the need to meet targets and to ensure that the targets are met insofar as is possible. However, this is not simply about replacement of income for landowners and farmers, etc. It is also about food production. In a world where there is a scarcity of food where millions of people are dying of starvation, we may well find ourselves in the not-too-distant future facing a serious food shortage. It is not only about one issue of replacement of income. It is about a number of issues. We need…

I wish to raise with the Tánaiste again the issue of the continued persecution and prosecution of Irish mothers and their children in the family law courts, the degree to which an alien resolution is attempting to be imposed on the law here, for which there is no basis, and the urgent need for an inquiry into the effects of this on women and children and to make an interim arrangement whereby the persecution and prosecution is discontinued. This has resulted, in many cases, in arrests and imprisonment.

The courts are crossing the border.

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 Paul McAuliffe - to discuss the current condition of the building occupied by Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan - to discuss the need for Irish Water action on Ballingeary wastewater. Deputy Dessie Ellis - to discuss incorporating the suitability test in the national car test, NCT, for SPSVs. Deputy Colm Burke - to discuss why a large perc…

Perhaps it might be possible for the Deputy to talk to the Department and the Minister and work out a system to resolve the problem.

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire Stáit.