Tá mé ag díriú isteach arís ar An gCeathrú Rua i gcroílár na Gaeltachta agus an easpa infreastruchtúr bunúsach atá ann go háirid maidir le hionad séarachais. Níl aon ionad séarachais ann. Tá an scéal seo ag dul ar aghaidh le breis is 25 bliain anois agus tá sé ag cur isteach go tromchúiseach agus go hollmhór ar chúrsaí tithíochta. Bhí cathaoirleach na scoile speisialta i dteagmháil leis na Teachtaí Dála uilig sa cheantar toisc nach féidir leis an scoil leanúint ar aghaidh le dhá sheomra breise atá ag teastáil go gé…

Easpa córas séarachais - sewage treatment plant.

I am very disappointed with the Minister's response. It was termed "glib" and another word was used. It certainly was. I listened to it carefully in my office. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this Bill. It is being proposed that we repeal Part 2 of the 2017 Act. I read the Second Stage speech made by then Minister, Eoghan Murphy. It was to undo the charges brought in under a previous Act in 2013, but unfortunately, Part 2 was left in this, which gives complete openness in terms of introducing charges. I am g…

My two colleagues are standing together with me on this issue because it is so important. It is the provision of an ambulance service base in Recess, Connemara. Tonight, we have had confirmation on paper that tender documents are ready to issue in April. Are they ready? Have they issued? The construction date is July, to be finished within six months. In a nutshell, is that what the Minister of State is going to tell us tonight? This issue has spanned three elections with different colleagues. The former deputy, Éa…

I thank the Minister of State for taking a hands-on approach. There are 11 sentences, two of which refer to the issue we raised. It goes back three and possibly four elections but I do not wish to exaggerate. We have confirmation from the former assistant national director that tender documents were to issue in April and building was to start in July and finish by the end of the year. We have a tiny bit more information into a stage 2 report - fire certificates. When will the tender documents issue and when will bu…

As the Minister knows, for more than eight years, the UN has maintained a database of businesses involved in specific activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. I followed my original question up with a number of questions. What is the timeline for the NTMA to fully divest from all of Ireland's strategic investment and global portfolio investments on that UN list and the details of ISIF's direct and indirect investments into the companies on same?

I thank the Minister. I will look at those figures and I appreciate his answer. I respect the NTMA and the subgroup. I was on the public accounts committee and remember the NTMA's proactive approach to divestment from fossil fuels and to former Deputy Thomas Pringle's Bill. I welcome that, and the NTMA grasped the nettle when the time came. The Minister listed several Israeli banks and a retail chain. It is welcome that we have divested from them, but we are still investing. In the overall scheme, it is a small sum…

In a previous answer, I was told by the former Minister for Finance: "My officials are in contact with the NTMA on an ongoing basis across a range of issues, including those arising from the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023." I fully understand ISIF is independent but there is a policy issue in respect of illegal occupation. The Minister admits and accepts there is a country committing genocide and that we are investing in its trading companies. We still have a sizable proportion, albeit not in the …

I do not think I can agree with Deputy Geoghegan on Europe being a shining light of the application of the rule of law but that is not for now. I understand there is uncertainty. I have read the ESRI report on how it will affect our exports and jobs. It is all being debated here this morning. I have listened to the debate and I have heard what the Minister has said. Long term we absolutely need to diversify. Obviously we need diplomatic efforts now, and we need various steps, but in the medium to long term we need …

My question relates to the urgent need for flood defences in Galway and specifically an update on the Coirib go Cósta project. Have the design options been developed? I understand from a previous question that they are now out, but the Minister of State might just clarify that, and the status of the project given the appalling delays that have taken place up to now.

I wish the Minister of State the best in his job. Forgive my frustration. Maybe I should not use the phrase "appalling delays", but rather the absolutely unacceptable delay. I sat on the council. Like many people here, I was very familiar with the CFRAM programme and the necessity then following that to have flood defences. I think I am on my fourth Minister; it could be the fifth. Everyone took a hands-on approach. Planning originally was to be September 2023. Then it changed to July 2025. Then it became July 2027…

I hope the Minister takes a hands-on approach like his previous colleagues. I live in the Claddagh. I know the area; I have a vested interest. Besides that, however, it is a very important project. From day one there was a misunderstanding with regard to a once in 100 years event. That is what they were planning for when it was quite clear, and we witnessed the recent storm, that this was going to be a frequent event. Of course it is complex and I understand all that. We need to bring the public with us. If there i…

They helped to---

That figure was from 2021.

No, no, just the-----

Could the Minister give me an update on the plans to review and strengthen the ethics in public office legislation? The review of the need to change it was done and we are into our third year now since December 2022. Could the Minister give us an update on the specific plans of the Government?

I am glad it is in the programme for Government. However, the Minister did not provide any dates whatsoever. There are very serious issues here. These are being raised not just by me but also by SIPO, year after year, in its annual report. SIPO has highlighted the gaps that exist and its lack of power. Will the Minister display some sense of urgency in relation to the issues that have arisen regarding insider information? Examples in this regard relate to the disclosure requirements, on which nothing has happened, …

I thank the Minister. I appreciate that he is making this a priority. I also appreciate he cannot give me a date, but there has to be recognition that the existing legislation is totally inadequate and that SIPO has repeatedly pointed out a range of difficulties in terms of its lack of power in the context of ensuring that the highest standards in public office obtain. We know that. I am not going to go into individual issues, but there has to be a sense of urgency. The review of the framework was completed in Dece…

I want to raise the issue of the report from Sheila Noonan, the negotiator, which is now in the possession of the Minister, Deputy Foley. When she was appointed almost two years ago, she was to report within six months. The report is completed and with the Minister. I have two issues that concern me. The first is the question of what the next steps will be. We need a clear outline of what is going to happen and the consequences of the negotiation that has taken such a long time. The second issue is that we are read…

Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomhghleacaí an Teachta Healy. I was elected in 2016 and since then, with all my colleagues here, we have begged, implored and appealed to the Government to declare a housing emergency to recognise that we have crisis but it has utterly failed to do that. Once again, it keeps turning language on its head, even in relation to social housing, as it called HAP provision social housing. I am here to support this motion. The Housing Commission report has been quoted many times. It is really worth…