To what extent is foreign direct investment being encouraged towards the regions in order to ensure a balance in the population and the workforce? That has obvious economic benefits for the working population and investment generally in the economy.

On the general move to the regions, I would strongly support the concept. However, not only to the major towns, but to the smaller villages as well, in order to draw the intense population away from the major centres and bring them into the rural heartland, ensuring the future growth of a rural economy and rural stability.

I will not delay the Acting Chairman. In support of the Tánaiste, I would say I was a Member of this House when it was a great struggle to achieve 1 million people at work in the workforce. The next goal is 3 million. Everybody is to be congratulated on that. The important capability is to be able to identify and take action on the issue, which is a shortage of employees at present, and take it quickly.

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak to this legislation because it is at least 15 years since I first raised the necessity for it in the House. Many moons have gone by since, as they say, but the necessity remained constant. My concern arises from meeting members of An Garda Síochána over the years, many of whom had ongoing and outstanding issues in this regard and were concerned that there seemed to be no resolution. I thank in particular the current Minister for bringing forward the current legislation, re…

One speaker at a time, please.

Nahid Bashardost is an Afghan woman journalist who has highlighted human rights abuses widely in recent years and is now in fear of her life from the Taliban. I ask the Taoiseach to use his good offices to facilitate an early application for asylum here, given her record and given the existence of humanitarian grounds.

I congratulate the Taoiseach on his initiatives under this particular heading. This has obviously become difficult in light of the fact that a co-signatory to an international agreement has withdrawn and has decided unilaterally to disregard and tear up the agreement. To what extent is it possible at this stage to inveigle UK authorities of the urgent need to restore an international agreement to what it implies, which is an international agreement?

I thank the Taoiseach for his initial reply. I ask the extent to which the extra risks have been identified, isolated and are being pursued at present with particular reference to the supply of imported goods and racing inflation affecting almost every sector at the moment. I ask the Taoiseach to what extent a positive intervention can be made on the one hand to avert and on the other hand to identify the precise causes.

My question seeks to ascertain the availability of accommodation, special needs classes, special needs teachers, SNAs, etc. in all schools throughout the country at both primary and secondary levels.

I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply. By way of a supplementary question, will she outline the extent to which there is an awareness of the increased demands arising from increases in the population, both natural and indigenous increases as well as increases in the number of refugees who have to be accommodated in the country. Are sufficient resources readily available to ensure there is a smooth transition between the demand and the requirements in terms of the availability of the necessary ac…

I wish to ascertain the relationship between the upcoming need at all levels and the response. To what degree are the efforts co-ordinated between the two to make the provision available on time, to ensure there are no delays and thus avoid any negative consequences?

I appreciate the Minister's interest in this particular issue as it affects all schools, or most schools, throughout the country. There are particular sensitive issues in many cases where parents, including the parents of children with special needs, are forced to drive their children to school even though the relevant bus already passes their door. They must drive their children to school and travel the same road on which the approved school bus travels, behind the school bus, and enter the school premises at the …

As I have said here before, I strongly support the recommendations of the review. It should have taken place many years ago. I welcome the Minister's response. I support my colleague. Things are happening quickly now. It is much more quickly than in the past. They are likely to happen equally quickly in the future. One thing we need to do now is to recognise the pivotal role that will likely be played by our Defence Forces in the medium- and medium-to-long-term and the necessity to protect the State and its interes…

I have two questions in the group. We cannot overemphasise the urgency and necessity to implement the commission's recommendations. I know that when the time comes at Cabinet everything gets pushed to one side. The Ceann Comhairle will know about this because we have seen it in our respective constituencies in the past. I ask the Minister to become really aggressive at the Cabinet table in dealing with the needs of the Defence Forces to ensure that they are adequately equipped, in personnel and equipment, to carry …

Hepatitis C has always been regarded as a serious issue in Ireland. In the past few days, it would appear that a new form of the disease has been identified. Tragically, this has resulted in the death of at least one child. Will the Tánaiste indicate the extent to which the health services in general have been made aware of this particular issue and how best to combat it in the near future?

This question seeks to ascertain the extent to which Ireland can focus attention on worldwide hunger at various locations, some in war zones, some not, and lead that campaign in such a way as to make it embarrassing for all who cause it.

To what extent can Ireland, as a non-aligned country, focus such attention on the powers that be in whatever location abuses of human rights, hunger and starvation are taking place and seem to take place with impunity? The number of incidents are growing with the number of years instead of the reverse. There used be a time when the United Nations was revered and highly respected. That is no longer the case. It needs to be born again. To what extent can Ireland influence that rebirth of the United Nations with a vie…

I thank the Minister of State for mentioning Myanmar, where the Head of State is currently in prison and will be in prison for the foreseeable future. Despite the fact that she was revered once upon a time, she has been condemned to everlasting darkness as far as is visible at this stage. There are numerous other countries - I do not propose to go through them now. There are numerous other cases, including cases where young girls are forced to travel long distances for a basic need - water. A simple thing, it does …

Yes. There is a need to ensure every opportunity for recovery in the tourism sector, which is willing and anxious to proceed in the way already mentioned but needs that little bit extra.

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this important issue. It goes without saying that all present condemn the atrocities that have led to this situation and the aggression by a country that professes to be an international model of some sort. The pattern of events that is taking place is the same as that which took place in a different time and a different country when the Sudetenland was gradually encroached upon by an aggressor who pursued by using threats that if interfered with, there would be a major…