The advent of Brexit has had a very negative effect on Ireland overall but it is certainly felt more in some of the regions. In County Clare, we very much look to Europe yet our backs are to the Atlantic Ocean. Since the advent of Brexit, we find ourselves very much cut off from continental Europe. We no longer have air connectivity into continental Europe, our only hub connectivity being to London Heathrow. An request was made by the Shannon Airport Group last autumn vis-à-vis a public service obligation, PSO, app…

I wish to speak in support of this very important Bill. I hope it progresses through the Houses without too much ado. There are a number of policing issues I wish to raise in the context of the Bill. An issue I keep coming back to is that of gardaí who have been suspended. At present, 87 members of An Garda Síochána stand suspended. I have raised this repeatedly in the Dáil. I do not have the power to determine whether they are guilty or innocent. I do not think the Minister has that power, and the Commissioner cer…

I hope the Taoiseach will give some positive indication that the Government will retain the 9% VAT rate on tourism and hospitality. This sector is a major employer in our country. While budget 2023 went down really well and was a very positive budget, this was the one unanswered question. People are looking for certainty. The 12,500 people in County Clare working in this sector contribute €250 million per annum. Certainty would be appreciated. Is it true the Taoiseach will visit University Hospital Limerick, UHL, o…

I heard it on the grapevine.

I wish I had Deputy Berry's military training. I am after running a few laps of the building. I join others in welcoming this legislation. It is very positive. It is very interesting historically that this combines the old Air-Raid Precautions Acts 1939 to 1946. That was very old legislation when we were in a very different historic period. I had a grand-uncle who served in the Local Defence Force, LDF, at the time. A point of interest is that one of the last surviving air-raid sirens in the country still operates …

Hear, hear.

Since March last year County Clare has welcomed thousands of Ukrainian and international protection refugees. It is important to note that these refugees have been warmly welcomed and provided for in County Clare. Frustratingly, the high level of stakeholder engagement and boots-on-the-ground co-ordination we saw in March last year has all but disappeared and evaporated. The oversight and co-ordination from the Minister's Department in towns such as Ennistymon and Shannon is utterly insufficient at this time. I ask…

In December I was contacted by a number of Shannon residents asking whether stories they had heard on the rumour mill about an accommodation facility in a factory were true. I asked a parliamentary question because I did not know anything about it. In early January I received a reply from the Minister stating it was commercially sensitive. There was not a scintilla of information after that. I am now getting a litany of information. It is not good enough. That information vacuum has led many people to ask legitimat…

There is a steady flow of information here today, but this was information the Minister could not give me three or four weeks ago. I and other politicians in the county have been left firefighting. We are trying to give accurate information to people who have genuine concerns. Beyond that, there is huge exploitation coming from the far right. The Minister needs to give us information. I cannot fathom why he could not give me, as a colleague in government, information in the House three weeks ago, yet his office was…

I want to speak to the point my colleague, Deputy Smith, made. Soldiers, men and women, are very much willing to rough it and tough it but they want to come home to a home environment as well. Accommodation is something that needs to be addressed. In Meelick, County Clare, which is my home village, a housing scheme was built in the 1980s in partnership with Father Harry Bohan. It was affordable housing for its time. To this day, more than half of the families in Elton Court, which is a fabulous housing estate, are …

The Government Learjet, LJ, 45 was bought for €8 million in 2004. I understand it is now in a pretty poor state of repair and that officials in the Department have recommended that it be replaced. I would like an update on where that situation is at.

I thank the Minister for the update. The Government is taking a sensible approach. In November 2008, the Mexican Government, which also flies LJ45s, had a major crash above Mexico City. The very same plane the Government uses-----

If I can continue the point, please.

That plane crashed that night. All nine passengers on board, including Mexico's interior minister, were killed, as well as seven people on the ground, which was 16 people killed in total. It is very important that technology is kept up to date and kept safe. Many years ago I used to pilot planes myself. Pilots do not like taking to a plane that is unsafe or may not be fully up to spec in its equipment or maintenance. It is important not just for government purposes, although that is what everyone will hone in on he…

It is very important in projecting Ireland to the world but also getting Irish people back home safely when required. It is a sensible decision and I am glad the Government is moving on it. I will ask one question in my final few seconds. Now that we are in the decade of centenaries and the Civil War is being commemorated, I am seeing photographs pop up every weekend. There was one of Youghal, County Cork the other day where Sinn Féin Deputies were walking down the street with people in paramilitary uniforms. Does …

I thank the Minister.

I commend the Minister. Last year's free school transport scheme was fantastic. It had its teething problems but the very concept of it was one of the most positive we have had in years. Our colleague in the Government, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, believes in public transport, as we all do. While it takes years to build railway networks, which are very linear and do not go everywhere, a school bus is transformative in a rural community. It takes 50 passengers and keeps 50 cars at home, which allo…

I welcome Councillor Shane Curley from Loughrea, a fine public representative from the west, who is in the Public Gallery. This is positive legislation. It is something I spoke about 18 months ago in the House. Not a week goes by that we do not see on social media gardaí being harangued, pushed, jeered at and, in some instances, punched and cars being driven at them by absolute thugs, scum. It is right that gardaí should be given every personal defence possible when uniformed, on the beat or driving their cars. A b…

I am hoping the Minister for Finance can answer this question. There are a lot of smart people in this House but I think the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister, Deputy McGrath are two of the smartest. Their combined efforts in the financial ministries have us in a strong position as a country. My question is about vehicle registration tax, VRT, for people with disabilities. Before conversion of vans, VRT averages around €22,000 to €40,000. On top of that, it typically costs €22,000 plus VAT to kit out the v…

I am sorry. That was a slip. I apologise.