That is British Tory Party thinking.

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this really important motion on this really important issue that unites this House. There is no division across the House regarding the need. We need, however, to reflect on exactly what we are talking about. We have a very unusual health system in this country. It grew up through voluntary provision, often by religious orders. The State has been struggling for the past 50 years to build parts and bolt on bits, but we do not have a unified, comprehensive health system, which is availab…

I take it we have ten minutes.

I welcome the fact that the Government is not opposing this comprehensive motion that deals with one of the most pressing health and child development issues facing the country. I welcome the presence of the Minister and Minister of State for the duration of the debate and the frankness and directness of the Minister of State in responding. There is not a single Deputy in this House who has not struggled with the most difficult and harrowing cases of children whose life chances are ebbing away for want of a timely …

And the south east.

I strongly support the Minister's ambition in regard to offshore wind. I welcome the result of the offshore wind auctions of three weeks ago, which was very positive for us. Nevertheless, there are two issues. We need the maritime area regulatory authority, MARA, to be established. It was to be established in April and it is now going to be July. Will it definitely be established on 17 July and will it be properly resourced from the get-go? I would like a clear and unambiguous statement in respect of that. Second, …

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. I think it is a well overdue debate. We, certainly, are delighted as a party that there will be an in-depth consultative process with the people of Ireland, with all views on Ireland's security policy and our place in the world. We would have preferred a citizens' assembly. It was the construct that was devised by former Deputy Eamon Gilmore so successfully on major issues of contention that divided our peoples in the past. I think it has been a marvellous forum to…

Níl. Tá sé aontaithe.

The road to the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998 was long and difficult. Success was not certain. Right up to the final hours, it was unclear that an agreement could be reached. In the end, led by the chairperson of the talks, Senator George Mitchell, an historic settlement was reached. It mapped out a peaceful route to addressing the issues of divided sovereignty, policing, paramilitarism, discrimination and shared government - issues that had, up to that point, cost 3,500 lives and caused untold misery. I reme…

Deputy Bacik did not say that.

The Labour Party accepts that it is important for the Naval Service to have the same opportunity to have overseas experience as the Army has enjoyed for a very long time. However, I have a couple of concerns about this particular motion. I would ask the Tánaiste to address some of them. Obviously, one of these relates to the capacity of the Naval Service to deploy one of our four seagoing vessels that are operational at this moment and its personnel to the Mediterranean. We have, as the Tánaiste will be aware, six …

The Tánaiste might just-----

Would the Tánaiste like to provide clarity?

Will the Tánaiste not simply say that it is prohibited?

On the face of it, this is a perfectly acceptable proposal to opt into a regulation on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information. As the Minister of State set out in his presentation, that is information on a passenger's passport, such as date of birth, gender and citizenship, together with flight details. Again it is a justice regulation that comes before the House. We have until 6 May to opt in. We are always just in time with regulations coming here, although I note that the European Commissio…

I also welcome Deputy Carthy to his new role and wish him well. I join with him in conveying our good wishes for a speedy recovery to the EU ambassador to Sudan, Aidan O'Hara. The ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine dominated the EU Council agenda of 23 and 24 March. The improving spring weather brings with it the expectation of both a Ukrainian counteroffensive and perhaps further Russian aggression. Today, El País newspaper published a report that sets out the horrific situation on the ground in Ukraine wit…

I raised a number of questions in my contribution earlier but I want to focus on one now. I am referring to the relaxation in the European Union of state aid rules, which has been taken advantage of overwhelmingly by Germany and France. Some 66% of all the applications approved by the Commission for relaxation of state aid rules were from those two countries. We do not want those with the deepest pockets to be able to distort the level playing field of European free trade. One area where we desperately need signifi…

First, I agree with that. There may be a need for a particular debate on the Palestinian issue because of the nature of the new Israeli Government, which is the most right-wing in Israel's history with the ensuing consequences. On the impact of the issue of grain exports, I raised its impact on Africa in my contribution. It is absolutely vital that grain is exported from Ukraine. I am a bit intrigued by the decisions of Poland, Slovakia and Czechia to halt imports of Ukrainian grain because of the impact it is havi…

Over the years, we have been required to read several reports of abuse, wrongdoing, harassment and worse. It does not become easier when a report like this, from an independent review group, comes before us. From the glossary of terms on page 7 which explains words that are new to all of us, namely, "beasting", "mobbing" and "tubbing", through to the final recommendations on page 96, it makes for difficult but essential reading. Throughout my career, I have interacted with and held in the highest regard the men and…

It is about confidence in the Government.