The national maternity hospital.

On a point of order-----

-----there were three Private Members' business slots.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this however short the time. I stand, as I have already repeated, in full solidarity with the people of Ukraine. I deplore what has happened. Words do not convey it. We should do everything possible on a humanitarian level, as we are doing. I welcome the briefing that will take place later this week on the practicalities of the numbers of refugees coming to our country. However, I fully agree with what Deputy Boyd Barrett said that if the message from this is that we must incre…

I ask everyone to keep to the times. We all run over, but please stick to the times.

The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach has concluded its consideration of the Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2018 and has made amendments thereto.

The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for Public Services for the year ending on 31 December 2022: Votes 35 and 36 - Army Pensions and Defence, respectively.

The time is running on and we are not given extra time.

That is okay but Deputy O'Dowd has made a specific point in relation to Deputy Brady. Deputy O'Dowd might withdraw that, please.

We will move on. Perhaps Members could use the time for the questions. It is up to them but the time is running.

May I have a minute and I will forsake any further contribution as I suspect we will not have time for it? I have the advantage of having read the written reply. My question is about the status of the independent review to examine the effectiveness of the policies and procedures for dealing with bullying etc. in the Defence Forces. The review was announced on 25 January, when the three-person membership was also set out. The terms of reference state that a work plan is to be produced within 30 days of the appointme…

I ask the Minister to conclude.

Please, can we let the Minister respond uninterrupted?

We are over time.

My question is very specifically about what analysis has been done on acquiring empty schools in Galway where properties are vacant. There are two major schools empty for some time. There is potential there. I ask that in the particular context of an Educate Together school that is in a temporary building. That arrangement is coming to an end this year. We had a meeting with the school representatives lately and I understand from yesterday there has been an announcement on that. It is a general question plus a spec…

I have had the privilege of reading the answer. There was good news yesterday but my question relates to Galway city. We have two empty schools sitting there. The Minister mentioned St. Joseph's College and the plans for that. They have been going on for a long time. It is literally across a little river, or a little stream, from an empty secondary school, where I went myself. It is sitting there empty because the school amalgamated with the Mercy Secondary School, which sits empty. Both have gone to a new premises…

I appreciate a positive announcement was made yesterday about a temporary solution for two years. What is the permanent solution? The Educate Together school is moving into an empty school. I am emphasising to the Department that it has been empty and the school I went to myself is also empty. Two major buildings have been left empty in Galway while there is a plan to build a brand new school up on a university site and no examination of what to do with these two schools. Again, my question is what specifically is …

I beg the Acting Chair's pardon. I did not realise I was over time.

My question is very specific in relation to decarbonisation zones. This was action 165 under the climate action plan. A message went out to all the local authorities to identify an area. I understand 29 out of 31 local authorities have responded, including Galway City Council. It did everything right. It submitted the application. It identified the west side as a decarbonization zone. Yet, almost a year later, the application sits in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with no approval having …

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 Chris Andrews - to discuss public safety concerns in Dublin’s inner city in light of ongoing street battles and the stabbing of a 13-year-old boy; (2) Deputy Cormac Devlin - to discuss respite services for individuals with special needs in CHO 6; (3) Deputy David Stanton - to discuss the need to have Carrigtwohill and Midleton, County Cork, recogni…