The Deputies have a slot tomorrow morning and they are not using it. They have two hours tomorrow morning and they are not using them.

The Deputies have a two-hour slot themselves. They do not have to ask anyone-----

I am grateful to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. It has been an important matter over many years, but over the past six days it has become even more important in the context of the geopolitical issues occurring in Ukraine. I wish to take this opportunity to express my complete revulsion and outrage at what has been done by Russian forces to the people of Ukraine over the past six days and express my solidarity with every man, woman and child in Ukraine. I hope that the glo…

The Minister of State has been sent in here to take this Topical Issue matter. I do not know why we have Topical Issue matters if the Ministers responsible do not show up. There is not really much point. I have been in the situation previously where I have had to answer for other Ministers in the Chamber. There is no point in me having a go at the Minister of State today. I would like to have had a decent discussion with the Minister to try to get to the bones of the issue, but unfortunately that has not happened. …

I ask the Taoiseach about the appalling situation in Ukraine. Will the Government and our EU partners give consideration to how best we can assist with Russian soldiers who are conscientious objectors to what is happening? Many are fighting a war they do not want to fight and are involved in situations where they are killing men, women and children that they do not want to kill. Could this concept be explored by our Government and our EU partners to see whether there is something we can do to help?

What is the outlook for domestic tourism for 2022? I had tabled another question on international tourism as well but I ask the Minister to give the House an update on the plans.

It is very important that there should be strong marketing funding. There will be strong demand among people for going overseas. That is attractive after having had two years at home and, therefore, it is really important that we try to keep as much money in our economy as possible. It is really important that there be good interaction between the Minister and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science around addressing the skills shortages. That will be a critical challenge for…

There are thousands upon thousands of properties around the country that are currently short-term rentals. Many of them would be far better used if they were available on the long-term rental market or, better still, available for purchase by first-time buyers. I want to ask the Taoiseach three things specifically. First, will the Government better resource local authorities to enforce the existing rules around short-term rentals? Right now, the local authorities seem to be toothless when it comes to enforcing the …

These are all related, a Cheann Comhairle. Second, will the Government introduce a package of supports for first-time buyers to purchase such properties? Third, will the Government introduce an incentive package for owners of such properties to make them available for purchase by first-time buyers? This could literally bring thousands of new units onto the market for first-time buyers.

It has been a great week for Kerry so far. First of all, on Monday the Taoiseach came to see us for a jobs announcement. Yesterday Jessie Buckley received her Oscar nomination. Then the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the south Kerry greenway. This week has been up there with any of our 37 all-Irelands.

On top of that really positive news, we need the funding to build the greenway. It has the potential to be one of the iconic greenways of the world. I believe it is of national importance and warrants a national response from the Government. It will pay for itself many times over. It will be a massive game changer for the economy of the entirety of Kerry, not just the south and mid-Kerry area. As the Taoiseach knows, when Kerry is doing well the benefits will spill over to Cork too. I would be very grateful if the …

It is only February.

I thank the Minister for his visit to Tralee, which was very productive and helpful. I invite him to come to Killarney in the near future to meet representatives of the tourism and hospitality industry because there is a particular difficulty there with regard to obtaining and retaining skilled staff. That will be one of the great challenges for the tourism and hospitality sector as we emerge from the pandemic. It deserves really close focus and attention. It would be marvellous if the Minister could come to Killar…

I am grateful for being given the opportunity to discuss this matter and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for being present. I had the opportunity to raise this matter on Questions on Promised Legislation last Thursday when I referred to the report on south Kerry CAMHS as devastating reading, which it is. At the time, I called for a full Garda investigation into the matter. I am hopeful that progress is being made in that regard. I also made the point that this failure in regard to south Kerry CAMHS ha…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I acknowledge, in particular, her reference to the non-adversarial process for trying to address the matter and support some of the families. That is absolutely crucial. There must be a review of recruitment. I have put in a very detailed parliamentary question this week on the matter but there must be a review of what background checks were made. Is this something that will happen again or can we be sure it will never happen again? There must have been a failure somewhe…

The review of south Kerry child and adolescent mental health services, CAHMS, makes for devastating reading. This failure by CAHMS has caused enormous pain and suffering for children and their families in south Kerry. It has had a catastrophic impact on some children. I believe this case warrants a full Garda investigation and I hope that happens. Will the State issue a formal apology to the children and the families involved in this case? Will the Government ensure that every child and family affected by this situ…

I want to ask about the issue of derelict housing. It is an issue I have raised time and again over the years. There is an opportunity to bring thousands of units throughout the country in every community back into use as homes for people and to do so in a relatively short period of time. What action is being taken? It is something that is very urgent.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. This is an area in which I have a great interest. It is very frustrating to see in my community and while travelling in County Kerry and throughout the country so many vacant units in the middle of a housing crisis. It is critical that we provide incentives to get these derelict properties on to the market, as is the stick which is coming in the vacant property tax. It is vital that we are imaginative in the types of incentives we can provide to people who are currently …

As I have been getting different figures, I would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide me with definitive figures on how many derelict properties there are in my County Kerry. I am sure he does not have them with him now. I also emphasise that in our messaging we should not refer only to towns and villages but also to the thousands of derelict cottages and old farmhouses throughout the countryside. That is critically important. People who grew up in the countryside sometimes cannot get planning permis…

This question concerns the landing facility - or the lack of an adequate one - for An Blascaod Mór. It is a very important and popular heritage location and tourist attraction. I ask the OPW prioritises improving the landing facility on that important island.