Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

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: (1) Deputy Pat Buckley - to discuss the conditions for refugees, particularly from Ukraine in the east Cork area; (2) Deputy Darren O'Rourke - to discuss with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the need to expand the An Bord Pleanála review to decisions made relating to a development at Millbourne estate, Ashbourne, County Meath; (3) Depu…

Ba mhaith liom filleadh ar an ábhar athrú aeráide, go háirid i gcomhthéacs na tuarascála damanta a d’fhoilsigh an áisíneacht EPA inniu agus an teachtaireacht láidir nach bhfuilimid chun ár spriocanna a chomhlíonadh. An teachtaireacht ba láidre ón tuarascáil sin ná go bhfuil sé thar am beart a dhéanamh de réir ár mbriathar. I am returning to the issue of climate change in the context of Galway city and today's report from the EPA. The strong message from the EPA is that we need to stop talking and take action. This …

There comes a point when language has to mean something. I appreciate the Taoiseach's positive comments. Galway city is a golden opportunity for the Government to make its commitment to climate change a reality. The park-and-ride element of the 2005 development plan has not been acted on. Something is wrong. The NTA has no sense of urgency. There are no park-and-ride facilities. There is no comprehensive programme to lift traffic for schools. There is no feasibility study even though 22,500 people asked for one in …

No. The NTA.

The NTA-----

Seventeen years.

Good. I thank the Taoiseach.

Significantly, this day a year ago, I was obliged, along with my colleagues, to bring a motion to implement the national maternity strategy, which the Government accepted on the day. That motion arose from the concerns of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, at the failure to implement the national maternity strategy, notwithstanding that we were halfway through the strategy. Imagine my horror when learning this week that in the local maternity hospital in Galway city, St. Monica's ward is closed and…

Did the maternity team bring the ward closure to the Minister's attention?

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and welcome the fact that I have time to do so. It is the first time there has been time to consider the Bill. It was published on Monday and we are discussing it today. The note we got from the Oireachtas Library today points out that its staff did not have enough time to devote to the Bill. Let us place this in perspective. The 2015 Bill represented a seismic change, in theory. We are talking about two Acts from the 19th century. One is the Marriage of Lunatics Act 1…

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the second reading motion on the Property Services (Land Price Register) Bill 2021. Last Thursday, 26 May, on the question, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time", a division was claimed, and that division must be taken now.

They will have to vote in time too.

I was looking ahead at statements on transport where the Government is allowed to reply, but in this instance it is not. I made the mistake so the Minister of State can make a comment.

I will be accused of not being fair if I let the Minister go on.

The Deputy's point is made and there should be no more interaction.

The Deputy's time is running.

I have just three and a half minutes so I will focus on a number of points if the Minister of State does not mind. The fact that the number of people on public transport has substantially and significantly increased because of the reduced fares proves exactly what some of us on this side of the House have been saying for a very long time. In fact, we have asked for free public transport. I repeat what colleagues have already said in that regard. I would love to know what we are paying in fines if the Minister of St…

The Business Committee of Dáil Éireann has completed its consideration under Standing Order 30 of the request by Deputy Jennifer Whitmore to waive the requirement for scrutiny of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2021 by the relevant committee and has agreed thereto.

This question also applies to Galway so I am happy to take it on behalf of Deputy Pringle. It specifically relates to whether the Minister intends to increase local improvement scheme funding significantly to ensure it has a real impact. This goes back to a previous reply that indicated there were no reliable data relating to the actual demand and the number of roads. I ask the Minister to factor that into her answer, even though it is not specifically asked. The rationale behind that is that data are missing on ho…