Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire agus guím gach rath ar an mbeirt Airí sna róil nua atá acu. I will be very brief. I want to focus on why the Revised Estimates do not include provision for school staff numbers despite the fact that we are here to make provision for an unchanged net allocation of over €10.1 billion. The gross allocation sought is €10.6 billion. As the Secretary General of the Department has acknowledged, there will be a need to employ additional staff and it has recently been acc…

I want to ask the Minister what measures his Department is taking to support the retention and protection of jobs in the midlands, with specific reference to Bord na Móna workers and those working in the horticultural sector. This question is being asked in the context of a just transition process that is being escalated. It is an unfair transition - it is not just. This question is also being asked in the context of Bord na Móna's decision to suspend all peat harvesting for 2020. There is significant concern aroun…

I thank the Minister for that response but I want to take up one point with him straight away. The Minister has not answered my question on whether he will support Bord na Móna in its appeal process to try to recommence peat harvesting in order to safeguard many jobs for as long as possible. We know that bog rehabilitation is spoken about but that will only provide handfuls of jobs in comparison to what we have now. I want to remind the Minister that this is an important employment source for many workers in the mi…

I thank the Minister for that response and I understand the courts system but we need more than goodwill from the Government. We need strong assurances that the Government will support the retention of jobs for as long as possible, bearing in mind that this just transition was to last until 2030 and everyone was to be given a fair chance to adjust. We have not been given that fair chance. I want to ask the Minister, out of decency to the people of Offaly and the wider midlands area, to be fair about this. I want to…

We need those urgent changes regarding the fair deal scheme legislation. Farmers are still being discriminated against, especially small family farms. There is a duty on us here to ensure that we are helping these family farms to survive in every way we can. When will those changes take place? The last Government led farmers up the garden path on this issue and I believe the legislation needs to change urgently.

Guím gach rath ar an Aire ina ról nua. Tá mé ag tnúth le bheith ag obair leis. Níl ach am gearr agam agus ba mhaith liom béim a chur ar gheallúintí i gclár an Rialtais maidir le dul chun cinn na Gaeilge. Mar Ghaeilgeoir agus mar iar-mhúinteoir, tá sé seo fíorthábhachtach dom. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeidh dul chun cinn maidir leis an nGaeilge mar phríomhchuspóir ag an Rialtas nua. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil Conradh na Gaeilge agus TG4 ag déanamh sár-obair chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar an oileán seo. Tá geall…

I am happy to speak briefly on this important issue. Ireland's reputation as a leader in international co-operation is historic and globally recognised. Indeed, if international assistance is counted as a vital part of international co-operation, our reputation as a leader predates even this Republic given the medical and educational work carried out by the vast network of members in the Irish missionary tradition. That work continues to this very day. It is a testament to our generosity that Ireland, through its i…

I begin by wishing the Minister and the Minister of State the best of luck. I look forward to engaging with the Minister constructively. I will raise some points relating to Laois Offaly. Members of the public in the constituency complain that there is not enough Garda visibility. This is not the fault of gardaí, it is a matter of resources. The recruits are not to be seen on the ground. During the lockdown, my offices received reports of anti-social behaviour in many towns. The community policing model must be imp…

I want to begin by wishing the Minister of State every success in his new role, particularly as, now more than ever, it is very important to get businesses back up and running. I ask him to ensure that as many of our SMEs as possible survive. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. As we know, microenterprises are the beating heart of the local economy. To get that heart pumping again, we must ensure that the Government and local authorities get back to basics. They must remember that well over 9…

Page 40 of the programme for Government is entitled "Just Transition". It has come to my attention that the funding for bog rehabilitation has not yet been signed off on. This is of great concern as work on bog rehabilitation in the midlands was due to commence in October. Will the Taoiseach ensure that this funding is signed off on urgently?

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I wish all of the businesses which opened their doors this week the very best of luck. No doubt they will face many challenges, but I am hopeful this new Government will step up to the mark and realise how important our businesses are in terms of driving the local and national economies. I also point out that the pandemic, and we continue to see the effects of it every day on our lives, brought home how bleak our towns and villages would have been without these business. They a…

I wish the Minister well in his role and every success. It is a challenging portfolio, but I do not doubt that he will be successful and effective. I look forward to engaging with him in a constructive manner and, I hope, finding solutions for some of our ongoing problems. The Revised Estimate being presented to us indicates the staggering levels of funding that are going into the Department of Health and the management of the HSE. This is of major concern to many, including me. Can this issue be examined? We must …

I will be more than happy to receive written responses to any questions if there is insufficient time. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. It is significant and concerning for many midland counties, including County Offaly where we wait for the job losses to occur at the end of this year. It is not a good prospect, especially as we are currently in the middle of a pandemic. It is already difficult for many communities. To add to this we in the midlands also have job losses coming. I acknowledge and we…

I am happy to speak briefly on the July education programme. As we know, the scheme provides funding for an extended school year for children with a severe or profound general learning disability or children with autism. Where school-based provision is not feasible, 40 hours of home-based provision may be granted. I was shocked to read reports earlier this week that many disability organisations and parent representatives have expressed alarm at proposals outlined to them at two separate briefings with officials fr…

As the Minister is aware, Irish farms and the Irish agriculture sector more generally have been making major strides in reducing their carbon footprint over recent years. This is not recognised very often. Indeed, the agri-sector has become something of a scapegoat for all the environmental ills that afflict our society. Farmers and their way of life have been demonised for too long. When farmers work to introduce biodiversity initiatives, they are told they have to do more. Rarely is credit given. The fact of the …

One of the key areas of contention in the move to strike a proportionate balance in the just transition and decarbonisation process relates to planning. As the Minister of State is aware, the High Court action taken by Friends of the Irish Environment and the appalling delays in issuing planning judgments by An Bord Pleanála have contributed to bringing about chronic levels of uncertainty for many workers and contractors involved in peat harvesting. These workers are not just in Bord na Móna and the ESB; they are a…

Táim ag roinnt ama leis an Teachta O'Donoghue. Tá áthas orm deis a fháil anocht chun labhairt ar an topaic fhíorthábhachtach seo agus na fadhbanna a mbaineann léi. I am very happy to speak briefly on this important issue this evening. Addressing how all sectors, including transport, can reduce emissions is vitally important, not least because it reminds us that there are obligations on areas other than that of agriculture. In the short time I have, I will raise a matter that has been brought to my attention by memb…

I want to begin by thanking the Minister of State's office for the constructive engagement it had with myself and my staff on Lebanon and the UNIFIL soldiers returning home. I was contacted by many constituents who were left struggling with everyday issues such as childcare and work duties. The decision made by the Secretary General of the United Nations to suspend the rotations was extremely unfair and it had a negative impact on the families of the soldiers concerned. I welcome that the rotations have been put ba…

Absolutely. I just wanted the matter on the record of the House.

Yes, it has done superb work.