Is the Bill being opposed?

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

Is the Bill opposed?

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

There will be seven contributors who will have up to one minute each, starting with Deputy Ó Murchú.

There are seven contributors who will have one minute each.

I still have three contributors. An Teachta Ó Murchú is next.

I am sorry for interrupting, but we are way over time.

I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate, and that the Minister is still here. I welcome his written speech, and he has set out various issues I hope I will get a chance to look at, including equality in the workplace, carers, children, etc. Then he goes on to use this opportunity to say yes, yes for the referendums. I might come back to that. This is my eighth year doing statements, and I acknowledge some progress has been made in that time. I acknowledge the extra money that has gone into childcare. …

Seanad Éireann has passed the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023 without amendment.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I always start by thanking Sinn Féin for bringing forward a motion and I do so again tonight. I am also grateful for the opportunity to speak. However, my gratitude stops there because the elephant in the room is being ignored. Many TDs and the Ministers have spoken about the upcoming referendum, which is taking out two parts of Article 41 and replacing it with an entirely new article that gives absolutely no enforceable rights. It confines caring to within the family and it seeks to recognise the care that family …

Baineann mo cheist le polasaí na n-oileán agus an coiste faoi leith atá ann chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar na céimeanna atá sa pholasaí sin agus iad a chur chun cinn. I know the Minister has followed up on this in respect of the policy she published for the islands after a long time, and I thank her for that. The first task force was set up in 1996 and it took up to last year to get the policy, so then you set up a monitoring committee. Where are we at with that in terms of meetings and actions?

I welcome the fact that the minutes will be published. That is a good exercise in openness and accountability. We have waited so long for the policy for the islands, since 1996, and there have been many false starts. The implementation of that policy is the key. Are two meetings a year enough? I understand from the terms of reference that the monitoring committee will meet twice a year. Maybe if I am wrong the Minister will correct me. How close are we to getting those actions that are identified for quarter 2 and …

It is definitely positive but I will come back to the utter failure to progress the health centre on Inishbofin and the simple transfer of land that is no longer simple and is taking years. We know the population of the islands has decreased in comparison to the Scottish islands, where there has been an increase in population. The Scots have a strong policy for the islands based in legislation. We do not have such legislation. We have made a start with a policy but not the implementation of the policy. I and my col…

My question relates specifically to islands, this time Inishbofin, and the rigmarole that has taken place for almost 20 years as the islanders wait for a health centre. I ask for an update on the transfer of land so that we can give them a definite answer on when an essential piece of infrastructure for this island will be provided.

Does the Minister have any date for completion of the project? Will the Department have any role in the primary care centre or is that strictly the Health Service Executive? Will there be matching funding? Let me try to give a tiny bit of background. This has been going on for 20 years. According to the 2022 census, Inishbofin had 188 inhabitants, which, luckily, was an increase. A functioning health centre is a basic need. The current facility is not fit for purpose. We had a national primary care island services …

I would appreciate it if the Minister could give me an approximate date for the transfer of the land. The national primary care island services review, in itself, was a work of art, first, in getting it done and then in trying to get the report. A number of TDs asked for that. We are talking about a basic health centre, a primary care strategy and a policy for the islands. That is why I went back to the original question. I refer to the implementation of the policy for the islands on every level, including housing,…

I am staying with the theme of the islands. The Minister can see why with the delay in all of these projects. Baineann mo cheist le hInis Oírr. Go háirid, tá mé ag iarraidh fáil amach cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ó thaobh na céibhe de ansin agus an obair atá geallta. Where are we in terms of the update on the Inis Óirr pier? This started 20 years ago. Perhaps the Minister will break the spell.

I appreciate the Minister has given me a date for later this year but in the context of 20 years, I am still a little sceptical so I will be coming back repeatedly for the rest of the year. Has the Minister any clarification on the foreshore licence? I think there was a need for a foreshore licence. Where is that at? At the risk of boring the Minister, all I can keep repeating is that there is an urgent need for an islands policy. What is missing is an islands policy based on legislation. I should not have to be he…