The next Topical Issue matter is the ongoing strike action by medical scientists.

The medical scientists will forgive me if I do not waste my four minutes thanking them. I stand in solidarity with them. I thank People Before Profit-Solidarity for tabling this motion. I am not sure how the Minister could not agree with it. It is the most basic motion that I have ever seen and makes three calls: — ensure that DPER and the HSE agree to the long-standing pay parity award… — begin a recruitment campaign... — publish a plan. Instead, we have a response from the Minister about hidden heroes. Medical sc…

Almost three and a half years ago, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine made an announcement that vessels over 18 m would no longer be able to trawl within the six-mile limit. That followed a consultation period during which 900 submissions were received. All of the important State and non-governmental organisations were in agreement that trawling within six miles of the coast was unsustainable on every level - in terms of biodiversity, the destruction of sprat and sustainable fishing. Unfortunately, o…

The Select Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in relation to the Education (Admissions to School) Bill 2020 and in accordance with Standing Order 178(3), confirms that scrutiny has been completed and reported on and recommends that the Bill may proceed to Committee Stage.

The time permitted for the debate having expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an Order of the Dáil of 24 May: "That Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed."

The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad.

I must now deal with a postponed division in respect of amendment No. 1 in the name of the Minister for Health to the motion regarding strike action by the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association. Today, on the question, "That the amendment be made", a division was claimed, and that division must be taken now.

I appreciate the opportunity to take part in this discussion on journalists in conflict zones around the world. I thank the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for his detailed speech and confirmation that the promotion and protection of all human rights remains a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. We will hold him to account in that regard, particularly in respect of the many countries not promoting human rights, including Israel. I note we have assumed the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Eu…

I thank members of the Rural Independent Group for allowing me to speak ahead of them on this by way of exception. I appreciate that. I agree with Deputy Verona Murphy on a number of issues, but certainty not on the Planning Regulator and the manner in which he has been portrayed. It ignores how the Planning Regulator's role arose. It was because of a planning tribunal that cost a fortune, went on for years and found systemic corruption at every level of the planning process. Perhaps I am misquoting a little bit, b…

My question relates specifically to the waiving of intellectual property rights in respect of Covid-19 vaccines given their uneven distribution. I ask for an update on the waiving of the rights and the Minister of State's engagement at EU and WTO levels.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The clearest sentence of his written response is the first, which states he believes in universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines. I agree with the Minister of State completely, but that is not happening. Europe has led the way with a market approach to the production and distribution of vaccines, meaning we are left with the companies making a huge profit and a totally inequitable system. Vaccine inequity persists, according to Oxfam. Som…

Two years after a pandemic was declared, we have an inequitable system in relation to vaccines. The European Commission has led a system that has facilitated profiteering by private companies with public money and a total indemnity against any possible cause of action against them in relation to trial vaccines. Then we blamed other countries and said they had not the capacity when that was illustrated to be totally false. Now we are going down the road of a supposed compromise, which the committee, after hearing th…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire.

No.

It was really one question, with the other two being additional to it. The Minister did his best.

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh na daltaí san Áiléar Poiblí. Tá sé tráthúil go mbaineann na ceisteanna le cúrsaí oideachais agus leis an Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta. Guím ar an Teachta Boyd Barrett a cheist a chur trí Ghaeilge más mian leis.

I am afraid you cannot.

The Tánaiste will respond.

We are over time but as there are two Members left, I will allow them to contribute with the co-operation of the House.

An bhfuil cóip de ráiteas an Aire Stáit ar fáil?