I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I know he is no stranger to that part of the world and spent time there learning the Irish language many years ago. More recently, he was with me in Dún Chaoin and helped resolve a matter relating to the local playground site. The island is not far from where we were in September 2021. I invite the Minister of State to come down and take the trip across later this year if he can and ideally stay the night on the island, which is a wonderful experience. It is important to…

I thank the Minister of State. It is a very important part of our heritage. Unfortunately, the State failed to keep island life alive but we want to keep the stories and traditions and the brilliant heritage there alive. To do so, we need to be able to make the island accessible to people. One of the first books I read, when I was eight or nine years of age, was the English translation of Fiche Bliain ag Fás . Marvellous literature has come from the island. People such as the great Micheál de Mórdha have done great…

I commend both the Minister and the Minister of State, in particular, on their work in the sports capital and equipment programme. It is really important that more funding is provided and I acknowledge the significant work the Minister of State has done in it. Quite simply, a bigger budget means more funding for a larger number of clubs. In the context of Covid, we know that over the past two years these clubs were unable to do the types of fundraising activity they normally do to supplement the capital grants they…

I wish the Taoiseach and everybody in the House a happy new year. I want to ask the Taoiseach about a matter I have been raising here on a very regular basis over the years, namely, derelict housing and the opportunities there to bring thousands and thousands of housing units back into use in a relatively short period. I am asking that renewed focus be put on putting in place the proper conditions and incentives to ensure first-time buyers can avail of these properties and to ensure people who are currently hoardin…

As Fine Gael Whip, I wish everyone a very happy Christmas. I hope everyone gets time with their families and loved ones over the Christmas period. I also thank the Ceann Comhairle for being a very fair referee in here. He does not have goal-line technology but he always gets the calls right - most of the time anyway. I thank him and all the staff in the Houses who do a fantastic job. Hopefully, we will get the call to see Darren Brady and co. this evening for a short while. This is the final question on promised le…

Questions on Promised Legislation have kind of become like "Angela Scanlon's Ask Me Anything" over the last while but this question is on the payment of wages (amendment) (tips and gratuities) Bill. Further to the changes he is bringing about in government, what are the Tánaiste's plans in 2022 in that regard to protect front-line workers in the hospitality sector?

This question is about the rising cost of utility bills. I want to know what engagement the Minister of State and his Department have had with utility companies on the situation faced by consumers throughout the country. I refer to the rising costs and the massive difficulty they are placing on householders. What can we do about it?

I welcome all of the measures that have been introduced. Anything that helps, is a help. The social welfare adjustments and the announcement today in respect of the €100 credit for account holders are important. It is not a perfect scheme. It is quite crude, but the credit is for €100. Those who need the credit will welcome it. I wish there was a quicker and more targeted way of doing it. Perhaps that can be worked on in the long term. The measure is welcome, but I still feel that a lot more needs to be done. From …

I agree with the principle of carbon taxation. I think it is something that we have to do, unfortunately. I do not like any taxes, but it is something that we have to do for the sake of the planet. There are times when there are peaks in global oil prices like those we are seeing now. We are experiencing a really high peak at present. There has to be a flexible approach from the Government. We control things like excise. The State and the coffers do very well when there are high prices because a percentage of those…

This question follows on from the previous question. It is on the role that liquefied natural gas, LNG, can play in energy security for this country. Will the Minister of State outline the approach he intends to take on the role of LNG.

I thank the Minister of State. The review is very important and it is also important that it is completed on time. Time is of the essence with regard to the concerns and fears of householders and industry about energy security. We know that with what is quite a volatile geopolitical situation in eastern Europe we cannot just rely on Russia and pipelines for our natural gas. There is an alternative here. There is an option for us to avail of LNG. I emphasised in the question that it is non-fracked LNG and this is ve…

I thank the Minister of State. I emphasise again that we are not talking about fracked gas. The question clearly and specifically refers to non-fracked LNG. I emphasise that point. Sometimes we feel as though we are not being listened to. Fracking keeps coming into the discussion. We are speaking about non-fracked gas. We have to be realistic because 2030 is a long time from now. I have a vision for north Kerry. It has a massive future in hydrogen and many other renewable sources of energy. In the meantime, somethi…

I agree with Deputy Burke. It is very important that we prioritise this area. All one has to do is to go on any property website, including daft.ie , to see the amount of stock there which are BER C, BER D, BER E, BER F or BER G. I refer to many of the houses I would have called to, although not many in the last two years but prior to that, particularly the older housing stock of older people who are living in very poorly insulated houses. This has to be a priority and we have to give people an option to avail of g…

I concur with Deputy Burke on the need for speed which is really crucial. This has been talked about for so long and the current mechanisms that are there are just not going far enough or doing enough for people. With the indulgence of the Chair, I wish to flag a matter that has come to my attention tonight. In my constituency, John and Fidelus Foley are well-known pillars in the community in Inch, County Kerry. In a matter related to the Minister of State’s portfolio, a monstrosity of a telecommunications mast has…

Táim fíorbhuíoch as ucht an seans chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé sa Dáil anocht. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo chomh déanach anocht. Ocht lá ó shin, bogadh bean 90 bliain d'aois ó Ospidéal Pobail Chorca Dhuibhne i nDaingean Uí Chúis go saoráid chónaithe i gCill Airne. Tá Cill Airne os cionn 70 ciliméadar óna baile féin i mBaile na nGall agus beagnach trí huaire an chloig de thuras fillte dá clann. Is é Máire Bean Uí Bheaglaíoch an t-ainm atá uirthi. Tá sé dochreidte go bhfuil sé seo …

I thank the Aire Stáit for coming in tonight and the energy which she has brought to her role. She really puts her heart into her job. It is refreshing to see and I am grateful for that. I will emphasise my concerns about the crude system the HSE seems to have for long-stay beds. It seems to be based purely on chronological factors alone. Yet, in this case I have highlighted, which is just one case, age is a particular issue. Máire Bean Uí Bheaglaíoch is 96 years of age. We have an teanga, which is a very important…

I welcome the Tánaiste's recent announcement that a second advance facility will be made proceeding in Tralee. The location of Central Pharma, in what was originally an advance facility in Kerry Technology Park, is very good news for Tralee and will bring many jobs to the town. The second facility will also potentially provide hundreds of jobs. It is crucial, therefore, that we drive this project forward as quickly as possible. I ask that the Tánaiste provide an update on the matter.

I thank the Tánaiste for that update. This is a very positive development and I welcome it. I wish to emphasise that we have no shortage of space in Kerry for these types of facilities. Kerry Technology Park is full of sites that would be very suitable for a second facility. Central Pharma will begin operations in the first quarter of next year. The likelihood is that this company would not have come to Tralee if it were not for the advance facility. I was delighted that the Minister of State, Deputy English, visit…

That is welcome news for the entire economy of Kerry. That money circulates in the economy. Money goes around. When one person suffers, everyone suffers; when one person does well, everyone does well. I remember during my time as a publican, when agriculture was going well and farmers had money in their pockets, money circulated around the village and everyone did well. That is why the restoration of the EWSS is really important. It will be meaningful for many people this Christmas and it will lift all boats in the…

What level of collaboration is there between sporting organisations and Sport Ireland and youth services? What benefits can be leveraged from the footprints that sporting organisations have throughout the country in terms of communities? What benefits could that have for youth services?