This is rushed legislation, obviously, because the issue and the solution only emerged in the last week or so. Someone has probably sat up half the night, probably for a couple of nights, drafting this Bill. There is no way we can anticipate everything that may be wrong and definitions are required. However, some valid issues have been raised regarding what is intended and these must be tightened up. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, said earlier that it is not intended to permit a bar in the outdoor area to serve ta…

I wish to ask a question about serving drinks to take away. Does that still happen within the premises? Is that excluded?

It was understandable and appropriate that the census was deferred but it is really important for it to go ahead next year. What opportunities are there for additional questions? Is there a limit on the number of questions that can be put? The question on religion is quite useful as we can measure, for example, the requirements of schools with regard to particular religions. We have been trying to change the ethos governing schools and the process is particularly slow, so it is an important measurement. The Ministe…

This is not just about a new national maternity hospital. This is a moment in history and the Minister has to decide what side he will be on. Are we going to build a truly public healthcare system, which we are already paying for? This is a moment in history when we have the chance to redefine our republic. The Minister must decide that there is a red line here. This is not about language. He said he would "prefer" it if the land was owned by the State but it is essential that the land is so owned. We are being ask…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: - resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2021 and ending on 29th June, 2022; and - in the absence of any specific information being presented which points to the inadequacy of the ordinary courts in the administration of justice in Ireland with specific regard to offences listed…

Yes.

I am sure the Taoiseach paid close attention to the Tánaiste's Ard-Fheis speech last weekend, given Fine Gael is one of his partners in government. There is no doubt we witnessed a political transformation, unlike almost anything we have seen for the past 20 years. Having been an enthusiastic Tory fiscal conservative for his entire life, the Tánaiste has seen the light. There were so many spending commitments announced on Saturday that Fine Gael delegates must have been checking to make sure they were at the right …

Covid has certainly exposed huge weaknesses, including health, childcare and a range of other things. There is no doubt about that. However, announcements were made at the weekend. Does the Taoiseach stand over them? Are we, as I hope we are, seriously looking at 40,000 houses a year? Is that a Government commitment? Was the Taoiseach consulted in advance? What about the summer economic statement? Has work been done on that already? Is it on the way? Are these announcements likely to be included in it or is this ju…

I wonder if we are unnecessarily secretive about this committee. In Germany, for example, the citizens get a briefing on the equivalent committee. They know the full composition and what is deemed to be a threat. That helps people on the non-governmental side in terms of their level of preparedness. We know what the State knows are threats, like hostile states, hardline dissidents and international organised crime, but where are we in relation to things like energy, cyber and climate issues? What is being proactive…

I want to talk about the new national children's hospital, that totem to Fine Gael's legendary fiscal prudence. Between 2017 and 2019, 11 separate reviews and audits of the project were commissioned at a cost of €700,000. An additional report was then sought and PwC carried it out at a cost of €450,000. After 12 reports costing €1.15 million, we have learned that the taxpayer will be very lucky to emerge with any change from €1.7 billion for this project. A further review, by the National Paediatric Hospital Develo…

I do not disagree that the hospital is needed, but I want to quote something else the Tánaiste said. On Newstalk in 2019, he stated: "It's scandalous that the Government - or rather the Government's agents - got the estimate ... so wrong." Nobody is disputing that the hospital is needed. Indeed, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, who is sitting behind the Tánaiste, wrote to the Minister for Health seeking an update and clarity on this. There is widespread concern about the escalating costs and the esca…

I am seeking an update on the recommendations of the Hamilton report, which calls for greater powers for investigating agencies to tackle economic crime and corruption.

There are many positive things in the Hamilton report. It is about seeing it delivered on. I would prefer if there were a single agency but we will disagree on that. Of the 20 or so actions and business cases that were flagged for completion in quarter 2 of this year, how many of them will be achieved? Are they on target? If they are going to be implemented effectively, there must be collaboration between the various law enforcement agencies. How will that be achieved? How will existing agencies and public authorit…

The Hamilton report identified a significant number of issues in terms of agency resources such as personnel, ICT, and other issues. Are they going to be provided for in tandem or will we see them at the tail end of the process? Is that likely to be something which will be undertaken? Very often, we see legislation as policy but in fact it is about the implementation. How will that and procurement and recruitment be handled? I am concerned we will continue with a fragmented approach. Other jurisdictions have introd…

I will be very brief because I am just endorsing and repeating what Deputy Shortall said. Is the Minister minded to accept any of the amendments? It would be very useful to know that at this stage. Could he confirm whether it is his intention to accept any of the amendments that have been tabled? We may not get to deal with all of them. There is a very short period available to discuss them and it would be useful for people to see what options might be possible. Essentially, too much of what has happened has been b…

I also want to be associated with the remarks in relation to the gardaí and send my party's well wishes for a speedy recovery and solidarity to both the gardaí and the community who have been traumatised by this. Whenever the Government's housing policy comes under attack, the Taoiseach consistently tells us that the State, and not the cuckoo funds, is the biggest player in the housing market. Let us examine this. The Government has called its housing budget the biggest in the history of the State and, at €3.3 bill…

I am on the record, in 2014, when HAP was introduced, as saying that unless it was accompanied by substantial building what would happen would be that we would be paying in perpetuity rents to the private sector. Essentially, that is what we are seeing because the scale of what is being built is being outstripped by the amount that is being spent on rents. If long-term leasing is bad, what is the Taoiseach doing about it? One cannot rely on replies to parliamentary questions on this. One hears about long-term leasi…

And rightly so.

It is Hobson's choice.

Since last March, our response to Covid has been one of emergency thinking, with a heavy reliance on secondary legislation. We rushed legislation through last March in a very different environment. The Minister described that legislation as draconian and I agree with that description. In a million years I would not have expected to have to vote for that kind of legislation but the Covid pandemic has been extraordinary. It was a crisis and a time of great uncertainty. We did not understand the virus and there was no…