Deputy, we are over time and we are eating into Private Members' Business.

Tá mé ag filleadh ar an cheist a d’ardaigh an Teachta Shortall maidir le Sláintecare. Is polasaí é a foilsíodh i mí na Bealtaine 2017 nuair a bhí an Tánaiste ina Thaoiseach ag an am. Bhí sé lárnach sa phróiseas. Is polasaí é atá teipthe ina iomláine ag an Rialtas go háirithe de réir fianaise na mbeirteanna sinsearacha a d’éirigh as a bpost le déanaí. I am returning to the subject raised by Deputy Shortall. I read about it with disbelief. The resignations were shocking enough, but even more so was the manner in whic…

There was no Covid in 2017. When the report was launched, it was because it was urgent and necessary. When did the Minister meet Tom Keane? Will the Minister please clarify that? When did that happen? Regarding the roll-out of this programme, I hope I never hear a Minister stand up here again and use the deaths of people from Covid as an explanation for why there was no progress on the implementation of a plan that was necessary because of the deaths and illnesses of people who were suffering as a result of a compl…

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Before Covid, on 27 January 2016, the first ever national maternity strategy was launched with great fanfare and, indeed, on the pain and suffering of mothers and children. Four years later, on 12 February 2020, still before Covid, HIQA published its report. The report highlighted HIQA's concern at the overall level of progress in the implementation of the strategy. Fast forward to a motion in my name, on 2 June this year, supported entirely by every part in the Dáil and all…

Táim sásta páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo. Tá an t-ábhar seo thar a bheith tábhachtach d'iascairí na tíre. Aontaím le mo chomhghleacaí go bhfuil neamhaird agus dochar déanta don earnáil de réir polasaithe leanúnacha ó na Rialtais éagsúla. I agree with the my colleague's comments about the fishing industry and how Ireland has completely and utterly lost out with the Common Fisheries Policy. I do not have the time to go into that today except to say on the record that I agree with him. I want to look at what i…

Fáiltím roimh an deis, mar is gnáth, páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo. Is Bille maith agus dearfach é seo ach tagann sé tar éis a lán tuarascálacha agus a lán rudaí nach raibh ceart. Tá an iomarca ama caite roimh na leasuithe atá á chur chun críche os comhair na Dála laistigh den Bhille seo. Tá mé chun tús a chur leis an bpróiseas inniu leis an tuarascáil ón iar-bhreitheamh Charleton. Tá neart le rá aige ó thaobh an Gharda de, rudaí maithe agus rudaí nach bhfuil chomh maith nó chomh dearfach sin. Tosóidh mé le…

I call Deputy Harkin of the Independent Group.

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 Patrick Costello – the need to discuss the ongoing drug dealing in the Oliver Bond flats and the need for regeneration of the complex; (2) Deputies Dara Calleary and Rose Conway-Walsh – the need to discuss the re-naming of Ballycroy National Park to Wild Nephin National Park and the lack of consultation with local communities; (3) Deputies Barry Co…

Before moving to the Labour Party, I point out to Members that the debate is moving quickly. I have a list of speakers and the debate may conclude quicker than Members anticipate.

Anois, bogfaimid ar aghaidh. There are a number of speakers listed, but I do not see any of them. If I am missing any of them, they can give me a gentle shout. I am moving down the list and have come to the Rural Independent Group. There are a number of speakers. I call Deputy Michael Collins.

As there are no further speakers offering, I invite the Minister of State to respond.

I fully support the Bill and thank Sinn Féin, particularly Deputy Ó Broin, for bringing it forward. It sets out to close a loophole but that does not fully capture what has happened, with certain builders being able to avoid the 20% obligation right up to 2026 if they have bought land in the past five years and have planning permission that covers them up to 2026. As a previous speaker noted, this could mean these developers being excluded from the 20% obligation up to 2030. I will return to the overall area of hou…

I come to this from a different perspective. I have had the opportunity to read the review of the help-to-buy scheme. I note from the review that the scheme has cost more than four times what was anticipated. This year alone, it will cost €177 million. It was introduced as a temporary scheme. It was announced in 2016, it came into operation in 2017 and as the Minister said, was enhanced later. It was always envisaged to be temporary. When I look at the review of the help-to-buy scheme - the Minister talks about the…

I am concerned with the Minister's answer in the sense that I would like it confirmed that there will be a formal review of this scheme. A formal review has not been carried out in three years and if the Minister is to extend the scheme, I would it confirmed that there would be one. It has been pointed out by the ESRI and Social Justice Ireland that the scheme has contributed to house prices. It has also been pointed out that 40% of the first-time buyers making a claim already had a deposit. What is even more inter…

It cost more.

I hate to interrupt but there is a time limit. Could we all just work within it? I am aware it is not perfect.

As the Deputy asking Question No. 8 is not present, we will move on to the following question.

Before the Minister of State responds, I call an Teachta Ó Murchú.

Thank you, Deputy.

We are almost out of time. The next few Deputies are not here. The next name is Deputy O'Rourke. Questions Nos. 15 to 21, inclusive, replied to with Written Answers.