I must stop the Minister there to allow Deputy Paul Murphy to speak. If there is time at the end, the Minister can come back in.

Deputy McNamara-----

I pushed it because we are over time. I gave the time. We have to take a break of 20 minutes.

I thank the Minister for his work regarding direct provision. I have, however, to place on record that it has been reactive. I know it has been difficult because the situation before Covid-19 was inhumane in the first place. I was at the meeting in Oughterard and I know the complexity the Department was facing. It was an inhumane situation, however, and Covid-19 has now brought that into acute focus. We simply have to find a new way. Is the Minister aware that direct provision was never once mentioned in any of the…

I take it from that that the Minister is aware that direct provision did not feature once in the minutes of the NPHET committee, not even once. The Minister can tell me if I am wrong and I will be corrected, but that tells me then that it was not given priority at all by NPHET. Everything has been reactionary, every single step. I thank the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, for their efforts, but it has all been reactive through pressure and through the suffering of people. I welcome the clarifica…

My question is specifically in relation to the community health organisations on 2 April. It is now 13 May. Were those assessments carried out, as we were told on 2 April? If so, what was the result and what were the issues? I am particularly conscious I have read an opinion by senior counsel and junior counsel for the Irish Refugee Council and they point out the positive obligations on the State to take appropriate action to protect people's health in many settings but particularly in this. From reading that, we a…

This is from the Minister, issuing on 2 April. This is not from the Department of Health.

Yes. Will the Taoiseach confirm that it is not his intention to abolish the Department of Children and Youth Affairs? That possibility has been raised, albeit in a joking manner. I have just under five minutes and have only one question, which I will preface with a number of comments. The question relates to children with autism and special needs of all sorts. I understand the Taoiseach is in receipt of a letter from a man who describes himself as a professional but is not writing in that capacity but in a personal…

I asked who is the voice for people with disabilities on NPHET. That is my question.

Who carries out the impact analysis in regard to decisions like this, whereby this sector has been left completely on the side with no provision?

Bogaimid ar aghaidh go dtí Fianna Fáil. Glaoim ar an Teachta Haughey.

Now from the Regional Independent Group, I call Deputy Fitzpatrick.

We will move on to the Rural Independent Group. Deputy Michael Collins is next.

It is five minutes in total. Then there will be questions and answers after that.

That completes the statements. We now move on to questions and answers, with six minutes for each party or group. That is six minutes for both the questions and the answers.

The Deputy may continue but there will be no time for a reply.

I am going to have to stop the Tánaiste. Otherwise-----

It is unsatisfactory but I have to call other Members. It is six minutes and if somebody is more generous with his or her time, perhaps the Tánaiste can come back in and answer.

Yes. I will move on and call the Sinn Féin Deputy.

I congratulate the Deputy on his maiden speech.