I congratulate Deputy Lawless on his accession to the august role that he now finds himself in and I wish him well in the future. Naturally, I will be keeping a close eye on his activities, encouraging the positive and pointing out anything that might be going wrong. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on his contribution to politics in this country and to this and previous Governments. I wish him well in whatever role he sees for himself in the future. I also welcome the developments that have taken pla…

I thank the Minister of State. We would all echo the hope that the discussions now taking place are satisfactory and resolve the issues in hand in the shortest possible time. This is not just about a particular sector but also about discommoding the general public and the impact on the wider economy. Lessons can be learned from this in the sense of how to deal with a dispute as time passes. We may have situations in the future that are more challenging and require more urgent attention at an earlier stage. As a res…

I warmly support the proposals to reopen the western corridor and to extend it, as Deputy Kenny has said, to Sligo. I remember the time when Irish emigrants returning home after the summer holidays trailed their handkerchiefs out the windows of the trains on that same route as they returned to their jobs in Birmingham, London and various other places across the water. The scene is different now. The demand is here at home. We have an increasing population which we need to serve, and this corridor, if revitalised or…

Yes, indeed, I was a smoker for a long time. Thankfully, I am glad to be able to say that I no longer consume. I welcome the regulation of tobacco sales because the regulation element is important, from all sides. We all received correspondence from various people alleging various omissions from legislation in the past and possible abuses. Generally, however, people welcome the proposals, and I hope the legislation works. It is alleged that some vapes are not really vapes as they still exceed the harm threshold for…

I call Deputy Fitzmaurice. The Deputy has four minutes.

Parental alienation is where children are kept for long periods from meeting one or other of their parents, during which time it is suggested that they may be subjected to immersion therapy, a practice that is illegal and banned everywhere except where prisoners of war have been victims of it. Will the Taoiseach confirm that no such acts have taken place and no children have been subjected to this so-called corrective therapy or, if there have been, that those instances will be publicised?

I thank the Taoiseach.

As the previous speaker stated, this is about the fear generated by some of the activities that have gone on unknown to the public. It is the fear of women who are obviously in constant fear of being attacked, and unfortunately these attacks have happened horrendously. Some of the cases are so bad that to allow anything even remotely associated to continue indefinitely is wrong. I know the Tánaiste is committed to this. I ask that everything possible be done in the shortest possible time to ensure we do not have th…

This question seeks to ascertain and to encourage the European Union to make a solid contribution to the defence of the Irish coastline, which is a very long and vulnerable coastline particularly during the time in which we live. Given we have the power and willingness to do so ourselves we may need assistance because of the threat being presented from outside of the European Union.

I welcome the Tánaiste's response to what is a very important issue but also from the point of view of the vulnerability of the State from drug-running, a possible outbreak of hostilities along vulnerable sections of our coastline, and the possibility of our forces being stretched beyond capacity at any given time. What is the extent to which recognition is given that the strength of the defence of our coastline depends on the weakest link? Whatever it is, that is where we are at. Are our European colleagues fully …

I welcome that extra information. It is very reassuring. We should also be aware that while our defences are improving, and rightly so, the threat is also increasing as time goes by. The Tánaiste said so himself and identified what had to be done, even though there are some discordant voices whenever that issue is raised. The Tánaiste is to be congratulated on taking the stand he has taken and on recognising the responsibilities that are on the Irish defence and security forces in respect of not only this country b…

This question, similarly to those we have already dealt with, seeks reassurance regarding issues that have caused so much concern, hurt and anguish in this country at the hands of people who should know more and who should have set an example themselves but did not. The means to deal with it, as the Tánaiste set out, need to be continued and forceful.

Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Has the invasion by Russia of Ukraine in any way impacted the talks for the other countries in the western Balkans that have been scheduled for EU accession? Similarly, has the progress towards extending potential membership to Ukraine been in any way affected by the same invasion?

Before the Minister of State replies, perhaps he will also respond to Deputy Carthy's query.

It is important to remember that we need progress in this area. We also need co-ordinated progress. We need to have regard to the extent to which we address the issues in a meaningful way without impacting negatively on another community. The danger is having a Dublin solution to a nationwide problem. It does not work that way. It has to be a case of bringing all the people of the country together. There are now people who are worried about having to pay the largest price, which will ultimately affect their livelih…

Hear, hear.

I hate to introduce rancour into any debate, particularly this one, but, as regards reference to the reserves that everybody has their eye on at present, let me remind the House that we had reserves in the recent past. They lasted two days when the run came on the banks. That is how much we can rely on reserves. They are there for a purpose and have to be kept for - if we intend to go on-----

No, it was not to bail out the banks; it was to live up to our commitments. We, as a country, had borrowed beyond our capacity. I am sorry; the Deputies opposite can run away from it anytime they wish.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I reiterate that everybody has their eye on the reserves. That is how long the reserves last. They are reserves because there is a need for them in an emergency. In this situation, we need a service - that is correct - but there is a vast difference between the service in the 1950s and the service now and what it entails. In the 1950s, we had large-scale unemployment, many people working in their homes, families working from home and so on. There were many more people available to help …

The next speaker is Deputy Boyd Barrett who will have ten minutes