I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and the Deputies for their co-operation.

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this important subject. At the outset I congratulate An Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the tremendous work they have done and continue to do. I include past Taoisigh and Ministers for Foreign Affairs in that as well. It is no harm to take stock. Politics has many challenges around every corner. Brexit was one such challenge and Covid was another. Those two challenges came together and it was not to the advantage of anybody that this happened. I want t…

I thank the Ministers of State for coming to the House to speak on this important issue. I speak as a former member of a ministerial drugs task force. I empathise with some of the points raised by people who are directly involved on the ground in dealing with the addiction issues. Very often they have a different perspective than that which we as legislators have. I always saw methadone as a means to an end, not an end in itself. Unfortunately, over the years, the aim of its use has become vague. We need to go back…

The national and international communities are rightly concerned about Covid. Long may that level of concern continue. However, another issue is emerging across the globe, that of the suppression of human rights. All over Africa, the activities of Boko Haram have become evident. There have been instances of genocide and ethnic cleansing. In Russia, there has been the imprisonment of a main opposition leader. This morning, we heard about the imprisonment of an Irish businessman in China. Lastly, Princess Latifa has …

I thank the Tánaiste.

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this particularly important debate and I congratulate the Tánaiste and his fellow Ministers on the work they have done in addressing the issues that have arisen in the context of Covid. A number of issues have been raised by others, which I do not intend to go through in detail, whereby some of the employment sectors have fallen between the cracks and will require another look. The important time that will come in this will be later. This will be when we see the possibil…

Congratulations and commendations are due to the agrifood sector for doing almost the impossible. While being hit with Brexit and Covid at the same time it has managed to keep the food supply chain going in an admirable fashion. Ministers should take responsibility for doing a good job in that particular area which I hope can continue. I agree with the points raised by Members on the horse racing industry. It has likewise been beset by Brexit on the one hand and Covid on the other. There is a need to attend to the …

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I will comment on the extent to which technology is moving ahead and making it easier for authorities to counter money laundering and criminal gang activity. However, technology is also available to those who do not obey the law. There is ample evidence to tell us that these criminal gangs use updated technology to progress their organisations and that they do so effectively. We have all had experiences of attempted infiltration of our mobile …

I thank the Minister of State for being here to reply to the debate. The area of mental health services has traditionally been neglected. That has been acknowledged over the last 20 years, particularly since the decongregation of the mental institutions. That was a good thing in itself but alternatives had to be put in place and were not put in place. They need to be put in place now as a matter of serious urgency. In particular, there is a need for access for children, adolescents and adults to emergency treatment…

Traditionally, Ireland has rejected racism in all shapes and forms, and rightly so. However, in recent times there appears to have been a sneaking back into the system and a tacit acceptance of racism. I ask the Tánaiste whether it might be expedient now to introduce legislation to address this issue.

I am happy to have the opportunity to say a few words on this important legislation on the basis that I once learned to fly aeroplanes and also flew in them. I learned to ride motorbikes as well, but I have to confess I did not fly on a motorbike. It is important legislation. Regulation and health and safety are issues we need to be aware of and have been aware of since the foundation of the State. There was a reason for that. We were there at the beginning of aviation, and we have a right and a duty to continue on…

On this issue, there is a case that needs to be addressed and that is to reassure the horticultural sector that it is not intended to close it down. If alternatives are available, we need to know about them. I support the points raised by the previous speakers in that regard on the basis that the horticultural area is effectively and essentially carbon neutral.

I congratulate the Minister and the Minister of State for their response to the Covid threat. Those congratulations apply to the Government in general. I also congratulate the previous Government. This pandemic is an unprecedented attack on our society that still continues. I echo the words of a number of other people when I say that in the event that some of the support schemes terminate on a specific date, it would be helpful if those availing of the schemes could be given advice well in advance as to the prospec…

I am glad to have an opportunity to say a few words on this important subject. The Ceann Comhairle knows that there is a serious housing problem in our county that is not going away. We all have to combine to do something about it. It affects young people and families. There must be 100,000 young families all over the country who have been directly affected and cannot house themselves. A recent report showed that a two-person family on average incomes needs €96,000 in order to qualify for a house, never mind to buy…

I am particularly thankful to you, a Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this issue. It arose before Christmas, but due to issues outside everybody's control it was not possible to reach it until now. This situation arose with the reconstruction of Maynooth Boys' National School, which is on a dangerous junction with heavy traffic. It is adjacent to Maynooth Post Primary School, which has recently been vacated and moved to a new site about half a mile away. That leaves the future of the existing premises to …

I thank the Minister of State and the Minister for the work they have done and for taking an interest in this issue in the past few weeks. Incidentally, the recreational demands of the area are considerable. Maynooth University borders the site and there are proposals to increase its student mass to 17,000 from where it stands currently at around 15,000. The recreational and outdoor space available there would be very useful in dealing with the recreational requirements of the area. It is of great importance that t…

My question is about the affordable housing Bill, which was promised legislation. Given the importance of the subject, might it be possible to bring it before the House as a matter of urgency?

I congratulate the Minister, the Minister of State and the Government for the way they have handled the negotiations so far and the cool and calm manner in which they have dealt with the issues that have arisen. To respond briefly to others' remarks, I think I was the first person in the country to promote the idea of an all-island economy and a single market for the entire island of Ireland. I think that is the best route and I think it will eventually come down to that. It is important that in this State we show …

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy.