I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022, which took place on Thursday, 14 June 2023. On the question, "That the amendment to the motion be made", a division was claimed, and in accordance with Standing Order 80(2), that division must be taken now.

Once again, I raise the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act that was passed by the House six years ago and that came into operation in March 2017. The Government is legally obliged to carry out a review of section 4 of that legislation. It was legally obliged to carry out that review within three years, which would have been March 2020. Three years and three months later, there is no sign of it. I have raised this matter more than once in the Dáil. Where is the review? I ask because research carried out by the Unive…

Roimh a bogfaimid ar aghaidh, I ask Members to join me in extending a céad míle fáilte to our colleagues from South Africa who have joined us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Ms Pemmy Majodina MP is leading the delegation of members of the chief whips’ forum on a benchmarking study visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas. We welcome the group and hope their visit will be a fruitful one. They are accompanied by H.E. Ms Yolisa Maya, ambassador of South Africa.

Táimid ag bogadh ar aghaidh. Fáilte roimh na daltaí óga thuas staighre atá san Áiléar Poiblí.

I thank Sinn Féin for the motion, which I support. Perhaps the inconsistency in the Minister’s speech and in his countermotion might capture why we have a problem here because he describes the retained firefighters as “an elite front-line service staffed by [very] dedicated, selfless people serving their communities around the clock”. That is lovely and I agree with him totally. In his amendment, the Minister then goes on to blame them for creating a risk environment by their action where he states “the current dis…

Events have overtaken us. My question relates to the publication of the policy document for the islands. Well done and congratulations to the Minister because that document has finally been published. However, it was not initially available in Irish, although it is at this stage. For some 64% of the population of the islands, Irish is their first language but the document was not initially available in Irish. I note that for the record. I have since got an Irish translation. For the action plan, I will zone in on t…

The action plan was in Irish but the policy document was not in Irish on the day of the launch. The Irish version came much later. We got access to the action plan on the day. In respect of implementation, will the Minister confirm when the monitoring body will be set up? She has confirmed there will be island representatives on that body. I have already said, "Well done". The Minister kept her word in relation to the publication of the document. However, she will forgive me for my scepticism. I tabled a motion in …

I thank the Minister. It is difficult to reply to questions within one minute. I will ask again about the monitoring committee. When will it be set up? Who will be on it? I also ask about the Irish language. There is only one page on the Irish language in an 80-page document and that page refers to implementing the Official Languages Act. There is nothing else about the Irish language. Some 79% of the Gaeltacht islands, which form the vast majority of the islands, are Irish speaking. There is absolutely no strategy…

Legislation.

Before the Minister responds, Deputy Bruton wanted to come in.

Are we going forward or going back? Deputy Bruton was not here but I will allow him in.

I am going to go back to Deputy Alan Farrell, but I ask Members for their co-operation generally. People are running in, in fairness to them, to take questions. I am just making a general point.

Before the Minister responds, Deputy Durkan wants to come in briefly.

Before the Minister comes in, Deputy Durkan wanted to come in briefly.

The Deputy's time is up. The Minister of State may give a final response.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan - to discuss funding for the N71 road between Bandon and Clonakilty. Deputy Frankie Feighan - to discuss the recent decision to shelve the further development of the N17 road. Deputy Colm Burke - to discuss the establishment of a national strategy for haemochromatosis. Deputy Emer Higgins - to discuss the ongoing shortage of publ…

There is confusion as to whether the Minister of State is taking this Topical Issue matter. He does not have a reply. Is Deputy Feighan happy to proceed? Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will facilitate him on another day.

Seanad Éireann has passed the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022, without amendment.

Baineann mo cheist le Gaillimh agus go háirid leis an tascfhórsa tithíochta a bhunaigh an Rialtas deireanach chun dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta ar an talamh a bhí go dona ag an am agus atá i bhfad níos measa anois. Tá breis is 248 duine gan dídean i nGaillimh - sin cuid den fhigiúr ollmhór de 12,259 - ach níl tásc ná tuairisc ar an tuarascáil ón tascfhórsa sin. In the few seconds I have left, I am raising the issue of Galway and the housing emergency that has existed there for many years. In view of th…

On the task force report, please