While I appreciate that this Bill is largely technical in nature, in that it deals specifically with the need to facilitate the integration of Ervia and Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, and to provide for the transfer of functions and assets from Ervia to GNI, it also raises very serious issues that merit our scrutiny here today, including relating to the delivery of strategic national infrastructure in the areas of water and gas. I would also like to know the reason for its delay given that the Minister, Deputy O’Brien,…

This issue is about as serious as it gets. It represents a fundamental failure of professional care for spina bifida patients. It has been an absolute nightmare for the children involved and their parents. One can only imagine what they are all going through. It is a betrayal of trust on a scale that is hard to imagine or, indeed, quantify. Of the 16 case files reviewed, 13 patients, or 81.2%, required further unplanned surgery. One of these patients, who had multiple procedures, unfortunately passed away. My thoug…

I welcome the introduction of this Bill. It is coming before us late in the day but it will help in clawing back some of the massive profits the energy providers have made. I understand that the estimated proceeds from the temporary solidarity contribution are in the range of €200 million to €450 million and that these proceeds can be put towards financial supports for households and businesses affected by high energy prices. As I have said, this is welcome but many small businesses have already closed. I know that…

Will the Minister outline the discussions and engagements he has had with farming organisations with respect to proposed changes to nitrates limits for derogation farmers from the period 1 January 2023 to date? There are concerns this will inevitably lead to a reduction in herd numbers. At least 6,900 derogation farmers are affected. Assurances to date from the Government have not alleviated the serious concerns and anxieties of these derogation farmers.

I thank the Minister. I see little point in being deliberately adversarial on this point. I acknowledge the Minister has agreed with the European Commission to an interim review of the nitrates action programme 2023. This still means we would default to a maximum limit under the derogation, as the Minister pointed out, of 220 kg, and that is down from 250 kg, from January 2024. We know from the research conducted by Teagasc that one of the reasons Ireland's nitrates derogation is in the firing line is because of re…

I thank the Minister. Engagement is one thing but it has to be made clear to the European Commission by the Minister, as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and by the Irish MEPs that farmers need more time and more flexibility. There has to be fairness. In regard to water quality, I notice that the finger is always pointed at farmers. In my constituency I have seen instances where there has been no farming activity and where it has been down to poor sewerage systems and where Irish Water has actually be…

I raise the appalling way my constituents and applicants in this State are being treated when it comes to making an application for a permit through the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. As the Tánaiste is aware, the scheme provides relief from vehicle registration tax and VAT on an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant, open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or passenger. It is also open to certain charitable organisations. However, to qu…

I thank the Tánaiste. I completely concur with his comment that the criteria are too narrow. That could be part of the problem why the recruitment of five people for the board is proving to be, and has proved to be, so difficult over the past two years. That could be the kernel of the issue. We also need to look at the massive workload it entails. If five people are recruited to roles on the board, I believe it takes a quorum of three for the appeal hearing. That needs to be looked at and some sort of efficient mec…

The Taoiseach will recall that on Wednesday, 14 June, during Leaders' Questions, I raised a number of issues with him on the emergency situation the nursing home sector is facing, especially the private and voluntary nursing home sector. During his response, he claimed there was a net increase in the number of nursing home beds available in this State in 2022. I believe this statement to be factually incorrect. HIQA’s report for 2022 states clearly there was an overall net reduction of 168 in the number of register…

The abortion-supporting groups which campaigned for the Bill before the House today know that no harassment is taking place outside GP surgeries or hospitals where abortions are happening. They know that if any harassment were to happen, gardaí already have sufficient powers to deal with such a situation. There is a skyrocketing abortion rate in Ireland and that is a fact, yet the Government spends its time caving in to the demands of the most extreme elements of the abortion-supporting lobby. On the Minister’s wat…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. It is, however, Groundhog Day. How much longer must people wait before they can see any tangible progress on the delivery of social and affordable housing? How much longer are young people to be excluded from living in their rural areas thanks to the frankly stupid planning system which operates in this country? How much longer are rents going to take an absolutely disgraceful amount from the salaries and wages of ordinary people who are already hard pressed? In th…

Tá áthas orm an deis a fháil labhairt ar na ráitis a bhaineann le RTÉ. Tá sé an-soiléir gur scannal ollmhór é seo, agus tá sé soiléir chomh maith go bhfuil muinín na ndaoine ar fud an oileáin seo briste. Yesterday, I wrote to the Corporate Enforcement Authority, CEA, requesting it to clarify whether the authority possessed sufficient statutory powers to investigate breaches of company law at RTÉ. I have received the response, and I want to thank the CEO of the CEA, Mr. Ian Drennan, for his prompt and comprehensive …

I am also very happy to support the Sinn Féin motion on road infrastructure and the A5, given the clear need that exists for this project linking the North to the South as well as other projects like it, which support regional growth in areas and counties that have been historically underrepresented as regards levels of investment and job creation. Any Minister who holds back road infrastructure is holding back jobs and regions from attaining regional balance, which is unfair. Many areas are being held back, includ…

Last week, while we were all distracted by the farce at RTÉ, Dr. Mary Canning and Ruth Breslin of UCD published their report, Protecting Against Predators: A Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland. As the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, outlined to me in response to a parliamentary question, the findings in the report are alarming. I would go so far as to say they are terrifying, deeply disturbing and sickening. Clearly, …

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo ar maidin. Tá sé an-soiléir go bhfuil na feirmeoirí faoi fhód. Tá siad faoi fhód ag an gComhaontas Glas, Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael. Ba chóir d'Fhianna Fáil agus Fine Gael seasamh suas do na feirmeoirí agus tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh chun iad a chosaint agus chun an eacnamaíocht áitiúil agus náisiúnta a chosaint chomh maith. There are many sectors that experience occasional instability and fluctuations around pricing and controls but most of the time, those sectors settle back d…

As the Taoiseach will be aware, while the Minister for Transport is not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport and public transport companies such as Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus, he has statutory responsibility for public transport policy. In this context, will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister to revise the unfair policy of mandatory retirement for drivers who reach the age of 70 years despite being in possession of full public service vehicle licences and driver licences and w…

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar na ráitis seo. I acknowledge the fact that there is tremendous work taking place with respect to apprenticeships and further education. The fact that we are slowly but surely graduating away from a model of further education focused almost entirely on third level is welcome. We need to continue that work of developing a broader vision in that regard. I will raise one specific issue with the Minister of State, and it relates to concerns brought to me by the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade A…

Tá áthas orm labhairt ar an mBille seo. Labhair mé ar an topic seo cheana féin agus ag an bpointe seo níl ach cúpla pointe breise le déanamh agam mar sin ní bheidh mé ag tógáil mo chuid ama go léir. All of us in the House agree that taking action to protect the lives and health of our young people is important, and that efforts to reduce the prevalence rate of smoking should be encouraged. Smoking is very harmful to health and generates hundreds of millions in health service costs each and every year. We would also…

Writing in The Irish Times this week, Tadhg Daly, the chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland stated his clear view that nursing homes face an existential threat and a crisis that is putting the viability of the entire sector at risk. We know from data collected by NHI that in the past three years, an astonishing 31 private and voluntary nursing homes have closed. This equates to a loss of 915 beds in the sector. In 2022 alone, 18 nursing homes closed and just four new homes opened. Unfortunately, that trend is no…

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. Not enough new nursing homes are opening to meet the capacity demands that are coming down the tracks. We are all aware that Ireland has an ageing population. That is a fact and a reality we need to plan for and be prepared for. However, people have serious, genuine and well-founded concerns. The fact is that Government policy, the policy decision to lift the ban, has pitted one vulnerable group against another vulnerable group in society, which is wrong. These beds must be s…