I compliment the Minister on his efforts in this area. I wish to inquire further as to the degree to which the Minister's Department continues to identify the particular weaknesses now showing up in almost every category of employment, including the teaching, medical, nursing and building professions. The technical and academic requirements are many and varied now. I am inquiring as to whether the Minister thinks there is a need for an augmentation of contact with those who have these vacancies available to bring t…

I bring to the attention of the Minister that many refugees coming into the country have particular skills that are in short supply in the home market. These people are ready and willing to work. Every effort should be made to ensure they have this opportunity and that they are not diverted in any way by those who seek to protest, for one reason or another, on the basis of their right to protest. The right to protest should never undermine the right of people to go about their business. I refer especially to the ri…

The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimates for Public Services for the service of the year ending on 31 December 2022: Votes 5, 12, 13, 14 and 17.

I compliment all of those involved in the proposals to modernise the Defence Forces. In view of the urgency to bring forward the recommendations, has specific responsibility been allocated with a specific timescale for each of the recommendations? To what extent has this been progressed so far and is in progress thereto?

On my Question No. 26, and the associated written questions, I have been pursuing an issue for approximately 25 years with regard to the need in the Defence Forces for ongoing provision in an area that is facing increases in demand, responsibilities, and modernisation. Will the Minister indicate if it would be possible to extend the cadet scheme to plan for the continuity of the increase in the strength and the anticipated dropout and provide for this before it happens? Perhaps military entrants could avail of cont…

I wish to record my appreciation for the efforts made by the Minister to improve the school transport system and the measures she took during the course of the year to do so. A number of places are still available throughout the system on existing coach services. If those were replaced by larger buses, many more children could be accommodated. Would it be possible for the Minister to have a look at that, with a view to meeting, insofar as possible, the existing voids that can be addressed, including in some cases f…

I acknowledge the Minister of State's work in this area and thank her for it. This applies to a number of schools throughout the country, including in my constituency of Kildare North. I tabled separate questions about them. I refer in particular to schools that are affected by increased demand due to population increases. Even new schools are not in a position to take the students. There is a necessity to accommodate such students, on foot of a previous agreement. I emphasise the importance of making that special …

I propose to suspend the Dáil for five minutes while we prepare for the Topical Issue debate. Is that agreed? Agreed.

This relates to emergency medical cards and emergency relief where patients are suffering from a particular life-threatening situation and the need to issue a medical card quickly. It is true to say that a patient who has a life-threatening illness has enough worries but some are forced to wait again and again and are told they must apply again. The last thing that should be on the mind of the patient should be the delay in applying again. They do not want very much. All they want is a bit of consideration, compass…

In fact, it is not happening as it should. The people involved know that full well. Where there is a terminal illness or life-threatening illness that may become terminal, what does the section want? Does it want somebody to say the patient is going to die? That is essentially what it is coming down to. That is not something I or anybody else should decide. In order to deal with the situation that presents itself, in which the patient is under stress owing to illness and thoughts of how things might pan out, there …

The Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media has completed its consideration of the National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022 and has made no amendments thereto.

The Select Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimates for public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2022: Votes 37 and 42. The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Supplementary Estimate for public services for the service of the year ending 31 December 2022: Vote 34.

I thank the Minister for her response to the demanding and challenging situation we have faced over the last couple of years. Many issues were in need of attention and they received it. This was because the Minister clearly understood the issues being faced and was determined to respond to them in good time. We therefore owe her congratulations for this and we wish her well in future. We have limited time and I wish to touch on a couple of things. I like the Opposition. I enjoy the Opposition. John B. Keane once sa…

I would not be comfortable over there. There are certain things that Deputy Gould can do over on that side of the House.

I want to point out something that we do not consider very much in this House. An income of €100,000 may seem like an awful lot of money but we must also remember that anybody with an income of €80,000, €90,000 or €100,000 does not collect that. They get approximately 60% of it if they are lucky. When Deputies are thinking about these things, they must remember how it might backfire on themselves. The reality is that you do not collect it because it is already taxed. When you increase taxation and put an extra burd…

I strongly welcome the proposal from the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to reform the family law courts. There is an outstanding issue whereby a mechanism is applied, allegedly to prevent parental alienation, to such an extent that women who are mothers of children are being excluded from due process and natural justice. I ask the Taoiseach to consider the possibility of a public inquiry into the prevailing situation.

From the Taoiseach's observations at the EU Council and COP27 meetings, does he detect an urgency on providing alternative energy in such a way as to make it possible in the short term rather than way off into the future? Has he observed whether there is a cohesive approach in the European Union to the aggression of Russia and the possibility that it might spread elsewhere? What action is likely to follow?

Any accolade going his way is well deserved. He was a really nice man, which is the best thing that can be said about a politician in the modern era. He took his job seriously and generated respect. That was the hallmark of his membership of the Houses of the Oireachtas on which he left an indelible mark. He was able to speak frequently, well and strongly in support of the views he held but at the same time, he was able to listen to what the other side had to say and respond in an amicable fashion when so required.…

This question relates to the extent to which children's rights, interests and safety are protected in all circumstances regardless of from where a threat may come and the ability of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla to intervene on their behalf as was originally intended through legislation passed by this House.

I thank the Minister who I know to be a caring and conscientious Minister, as I would expect. However, there are circumstances at the moment where the interests of children are not being protected. The Minister referred to the courts and the need for the influence of Tusla there. In some cases throughout the country, Tusla has been prevented from giving evidence or influencing anything that might happen and has been disallowed in the context of its right and obligation to protect the interests of children where chi…