Tá áthas orm deis a fháil labhairt ar an mBille seo agus ar na fadhbanna a bhaineann leis a chur in iúl. Whether this Bill turns out to be significant in the good or bad sense is one thing but it is clear that the powers it will confer on the LDA are enormous: the regulation of relevant public land to develop and regenerate the delivery of housing and to develop and manage housing on that and other land; to enable the agency to provide services to local authorities in order to assist in the performance of their fun…

As the Minister is aware, the beef and suckler sector is in chaos again, with a drop in prices of up to 20 cent per kilogram in the past two weeks. It has led to a serious situation. I am calling on the Minister to commit to the setting up of an independent regulator for this sector, separate to the ombudsman. I know that when he was in opposition, the Minister called for an independent regulator and I stress to him that there is a need for it. Many of the agreements that were made on the beef task force are now be…

I commend the Minister of State for all of her work so far. She is doing great work and it is greatly appreciated. Mental health is an issue that I and my rural colleagues raised in our Private Members' motion in December, when we noted that Covid-19 was having a huge impact on people. We know that mental health is a serious issue in this State, without ever looking at any pandemic and the effects that is having. We have always grappled with getting to grips with mental health. We also know that a significant amoun…

I will be brief but this is the same matter of the vaccine roll-out. I was contacted by the concerned parent of a vulnerable adult with cystic fibrosis who was almost hospitalised last week with a seizure. This parent is most concerned that vulnerable adults, and particularly those with underlying conditions such as cystic fibrosis, receive the vaccine as soon as possible. What is the plan for those adults who need the vaccine?

The Minister will accept that finding solutions to the problem of childcare in the midst of a pandemic is no easy task. That difficulty was compounded by the fact the early years sector in particular, prior to the pandemic, felt it was unheard and disrespected, and that its solutions were only nominally accepted. Recently, I participated in a Zoom call with SIPTU and the early years sector. The message was very clear. This is a sector full of hope but it is being continually let down. The Minister will be aware SIP…

I fully support this motion on fuel poverty and am delighted to speak on the matter. It is particularly relevant to the midlands region from which I come. The Government does not seem to know or care about that region. That is the truth and that is the message that is coming through to my offices from constituents. If we want to talk about poverty, then this Government needs to get real sooner rather than later. It needs to demand a total and complete reassessment of the so-called just transition process which is a…

I also want to say that it is an insult to the people of Offaly-----

-----who are now going into shops and workers and families of workers-----

In the brief time I have, I will highlight two categories of people facing challenges, namely, musicians and small business people. I am aware that in December, it was announced that self-employed people, including artists and musicians, in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment looking to restart their businesses can earn up to €960 over eight weeks, without their PUP being affected. The Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland, MEAI, however, which represents many musicians and entertainers, has state…

Last year the Minister for Finance rightly acknowledged that midland communities felt threatened by the wind-down of Bord na Móna and the closure of ESB power stations in the region. He also stated at that time that it was the duty of Government to ensure that no cohort of citizens, workers, communities or enterprises were left behind by this disruption, a disruption that would hit midland counties like Offaly very hard. Unfortunately, however, following the decision taken by Bord na Móna last week to end peat harv…

The Tánaiste did not answer my question. The just transition plan is falling apart. There is a meeting this week in the county council in Offaly with the just transition commissioner. It is falling apart and it is not delivering for communities. The Tánaiste is reneging on his Government's duty to ensure communities are not left behind. Instead, this Government is pursuing and prioritising vague, aspirational biodiversity priorities in place of those that are important, such as employment. We have a situation where…

There has been a serious problem with beef farmers not receiving a fair price for a long time. Although the prices have improved, it is not before time. There is an issue in terms of how business is done. We need this looked at. I posed a question to know why transfer pricing was not included in the Grant Thornton report and I asked the Minister to deal with that matter. I hope we will have more transparency and, indeed, that farmers, particularly beef farmers, will be rewarded for producing high-quality produce. T…

The programme for Government commits to legislative changes to the fair deal scheme. The Tánaiste committed to these changes this month. It did not happen. Farmers have been led up the garden path. It was promised two years ago and did not happen then. Has a date now been set for these legislative changes? Farming families that are contacting me are under significant financial strain. We need to be fair and honest with these families. If the Tánaiste commits to legislative changes, it has to be done. It cannot be d…

I move: “That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — that the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession have negatively affected many peoples' mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders; — that many mental health organisations have reported significant increases in the use of their online and telephone services due to a broad range of issues impacting young people, which include anxiety and depression; — the share of health funding allocated…

I too congratulate the Minister on her good news. It is lovely to hear some positive news for a change during this pandemic. It is great news. What strategic measures is the Department taking to tackle and prevent crime in rural Ireland, particularly burglaries?

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I accept that Operation Thor has certainly led to a decrease. My question relates to other preventative aspects of the problem. I and many others believe that one of the key deficits is the lack of community policing. That has been raised in the Chamber on several occasions. The Minister of State referred to extra recruits but is community policing in particular being considered? Are there plans to increase the number of community gardaí? For example, community policing …

I acknowledge that the number has increased. An increase is an increase but there were 44 community gardaí in the division in 2009 and there are currently 14. There is a need for more gardaí. There have been more instances of anti-social behaviour in estates. The issue was discussed by Offaly county councillors during the week. There is a desperate and urgent need for more community gardaí. I would like to see the number triple by next year because for the number to decrease from 44 in 2009 to seven currently is ju…

I have raised this issue already in the Dáil and many Deputies have been contacted by different soccer leagues. I was contacted by the midlands schoolboys and schoolgirls soccer league. Its members are very concerned and the children are finding it very difficult because they cannot play their matches. This restriction is completely unfair because, as has been pointed out, it is not affecting the GAA. I support all sports and believe this restriction should be lifted. There is much talk about children’s mental heal…

I too wish to raise my concern at the way student nurses are treated. Is it any wonder we cannot retain or recruit enough nurses? Who would want to take up the job given the way they are being disrespected and treated very badly? I call on the Government to try to redeem itself by making sure student nurses and midwives are awarded a pay increase and that the retention fee of €100 is waived. Clapping them one minute and cutting them down the next is just outrageous. I ask for that issue to be considered. On the iss…

I will speak briefly on this amendment. Again, any tax or measure that the Government brings in discriminates against the people of rural Ireland. It talks about taxes all of the time and lowering CO2 emissions from vehicles. It did not think, however, that rural Ireland is not getting the same chances. There is regional imbalance. The Government is not addressing those issues. Instead, it is loading and hammering us with taxes all the time because it has bowed to a meaningless, empty Green Party rhetoric which has…