I thank the Minister of State. I compliment her good self and her colleague, the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, for the work they continue to do in the whole area for which they have responsibilities. I note that they, and several others, are busy Ministers. That is what one has to be. It is also worth mentioning that the struggle does not stop just there. It continues. There is a domiciliary care allowance on which a different Department adjudicates. There is usually a battle. First, it gets refused on the basis that …

Today I wish to bring to the attention of the House the bullying and aggression adopted by vulture funds in pursuit of homeowners who have had their mortgages sold on to those funds for reasons I will not go into now. The funds are totally impervious to the attitudes of third-party representatives, including public representatives, and are interested in only one thing, namely pursuing their objective to the extent of getting the homeowners out on the road, perhaps making them homeless. This is deplorable in the pre…

I am sorry. I strongly support the sentiments expressed by my colleague. I compliment the Minister and Ministers of State for the progress to date in what was a difficult and tall task in relation to housing generally. The policies are working. However, there is a need for a fast kick forward at this time because a large number of people who have been renting for a long period and now find themselves, through no fault of their own, being issued with notices to quit are coming on the market. At this stage, we need t…

I am sorry about that.

After the summer break, the Castletown issue remains, unfortunately. The OPW was somewhat distracted by other things in the interim. Several attempts have been made to achieve an interim solution or compromise solution. I am aware that the Minister is familiar with this situation. I ask that a permanent resolution be found because it was the interim solution that brought us to where we are now. The time has come for all heads to come together and ensure this issue will be resolved.

I thank the Minister.

I wish to bring to the attention of the House the increased use of and dependency on illegal drugs, the damage being done to our society, urban and rural, throughout the entire country, and the urgent need for an enhanced programme of drug treatment and, at the same time, renewed efforts to cut off the supply with the intention of reducing dependency, recognising that all secondary schools throughout the country have a problem and that most of our primary schools are trying to face the same problem. I ask that this…

At the European Council and across Europe, to what extent is there development or growth of cohesiveness as opposed to divisiveness in the knowledge that if separatism is pursued by one or all member states, there will be no Union? While it might seem like a good idea at the time Europe's history will tell us very clearly that this particular policy was not well received in the past and had a huge cost across Europe. Are we working on the need to provide that cohesiveness as opposed to fragmentation? Are we alert t…

As a point of order, I bring to the attention of the House that my question is No. 39, not No. 40, and deserved to be taken first in ordinary questions. A precedent has obviously been set whereby somebody can convert from ordinary questions to priority questions. No disrespect to Deputy Pringle at all but I will not let it pass again. That should be brought to the attention of those officials responsible.

That is with no disrespect to the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach because she had nothing to do with it. The question is one I have raised before. It concerns the importance of ensuring all Government expenditure targets remain within their projected arena, that Departments have a good chance of achieving their targets and that the targets will not cause a problem for the economy. I will develop that further.

What is the extent to which the Minister - obviously continuously - monitors the performance of each Department, with particular reference to the areas he mentioned, in regard to infrastructure such as health services, schools, children and the disability sector? Is he satisfied, given the expansion of the population and ongoing demands, that targets are being met or will be met? Are further corrective measures needed?

This country depends to a very considerable extent on corporation tax, which has been referred to many times in the House over the years. Given that some multinational corporations have slowed down in terms of profits, has that been included in the continuous evaluation that goes on? Deputies on the other side of the House want a wealth tax but I do not think that would do anything other than scare companies that may already be suffering an internal or marketing problem. To what extent is the Minister building that…

I will make a quick intervention in support of my colleague, Deputy Smith. It is important to recognise that strategic flood alleviation has to be undertaken on an ongoing basis. The emphasis has been on flood plains and so forth but the whole country should not have to become a flood plain. When roads become flooded, they disintegrate. Their foundations become soft and they cannot carry traffic without potholing. In County Roscommon, in the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's own constituency, flooding has threatened people…

It is ongoing.

Austerity.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to bring this matter up. I also thanks the Ceann Comhairle once again. I know it may sound boring at this stage. It is ten months since the origin of the problem. Since then, all representatives of County Kildare have had to bring the matter before the House. We are becoming impatient and understandably so. The situation continues, with no movement towards resolution. Resolution is in the hands of the OPW in the minds of the local people and the public representativ…

I realise, appreciate and acknowledge that the Minister of State is an honest broker. I would not like to think that I might be observed as a dishonest broker. I am an elected public representative for the area. I convey the views to the House that people have conveyed to me. That is the position that any public representative has. I specifically ask if the Minister of State will meet with a group who see themselves as protectors of the house, with justification, and the county council, all together, so at least al…

I acknowledge your bona fides.

Most people believe the working group is a contradiction; it is not working.

This question was tabled when the scene was not so clear in relation to negotiations in the Aer Lingus dispute. I understand and appreciate the fact that those negotiations have progressed in the meantime and I hope, at this stage, that positive progress can continue. Anything the Minister can do to facilitate and encourage that would be appreciated.