We have responded to reflect the challenges the inclement weather is creating across various schemes to provide flexibility over the course of the year in terms of dates and returns. In respect of the ACRES scheme, for example, we have delayed some actions until the end of the year to provide space for farmers to be able to manage that. We have provided more flexibility in respect of some of the tillage requirements that are in place around what crops farmers can plant this year and exemptions from the three-crop r…

As the Deputy knows, the gambling Bill is important legislation which the Government has been committed to bringing forward to address the many challenges we have with gambling in society. Obviously, the Government is working to make sure it is proportionate in how it is applied. It is being considered on the floor of the Dáil as it makes its way through the Houses. On the potential impact on advertising restrictions on charitable fundraising, charities may continue to advertise and promote their work in all fora w…

The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence has made it very clear that media reports that former members of the Defence Forces may be involved in training members of the Libyan National Army are deeply shocking and cause reputational damage to Ireland and our Defence Forces. No Irish citizen should knowingly be involved in activities that breach UN sanctions or EU restrictive measures, least of all former members of the Irish Defence Forces. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has since confirmed that the…

It is certainly very traumatising for everyone to hear the stories coming out of Gaza at the moment. The Government has been absolutely proactive on this and has shown leadership at international level from the outset, particularly on the absolute need for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to be let into Gaza. As we speak, the Tánaiste is in the region once again, very much advocating, on behalf of Ireland and the international community, the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a way forward, but especially…

The situation in Mount Street is unacceptable to everyone. A number of Departments and statutory agencies have been working together to alleviate the problems experienced by those camping there as well as the residents, local businesses and workers. This includes offering accommodation to many of those encamped outside the building in question and in its environs, providing regular waste collection in the area, policing the area and assessing the situation from a public health point of view. Representatives of agen…

I attended the annual conference of the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors of Ireland a couple of months ago. The contractors comprise an important part of our farming infrastructure and are under considerable pressure given the amount of work ahead – work that was not possible to do in recent weeks. Generally, farm businesses are exempt from the carbon tax. There is a rebate system in place. Farm and forestry contractors are not exempt and the carbon tax does apply to them. The Government has no plans to…

I am very much aware of the issue. I have been liaising with the Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland, including Paul Gillespie, on this matter. Like the Deputy, I have been working on the issue over recent years. We have seen significant improvements in paediatric diabetes services in Letterkenny in recent times. Additional supports have been provided that have brought about improvements in paediatric diabetes services, which presented a significant challenge and one we were all working on together. There is a genui…

I thank Deputy Bruton for his question. This is very much part of our policy platform under Food Vision 2030. It involves taking a sustainable food system approach to how we develop Irish agriculture and particularly how the various sectors integrate with one another. I will certainly give further consideration to any potential place for the Deputy's suggestion and would be happy to chat to him further about how he thinks it might work. Everyone in the sector is working to the objective of making sure it continues …

I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for raising this. I absolutely agree with her on the importance of public library services. They do great work across the country and in different counties. I know this has great potential in Carlow. I know the Deputy is working on it with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I will certainly pass on to her that the Deputy mentioned it here today as well. I hope the Deputy can make progress on it. I have no doubt, with Deputy Murnane O'Connor on the case, that every effort will be made to…

I thank Deputy Carthy. I do not accept that the Government is underfunding roads. It is putting record funding into roads. In the last day or two, we had an announcement from the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, of a record €40 million this year for local improvement scheme roads.

The weather has been a particular challenge, like with many other aspects of life, with the wear and tear on our roads over the last number of months, but we are responding to that with record funding for local authorities across the country, which do really good work in this regard.

I do not know the specifics of CUH but I know that the Government has put unprecedented resources into the health system, with a 20% increase in staffing across the board over the last four years with the objective of improving services and bringing down waiting lists. We are seeing progress on that. That progress has been seen in improving health outcomes and life expectancy in our country. I will certainly pass the Deputy's particular query on to the Minister for Health and have him respond directly.

I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this. I know he has been raising it and bringing it to the fore as a TD for Tipperary. I will certainly pass on to the Minister for Health the fact that the Deputy has raised it here today. I know the Deputy raises it on an ongoing basis. It is something the Government is looking to prioritise. It is an important service. Response times are crucial for good outcomes in rural areas in particular. I will certainly engage with the Minister on Deputy Cahill's behalf, subsequent to him …

I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this. We addressed it in Leaders' Questions too. The Government is investing significantly in this. Additional funding was put in place in the budget last year. Up to 900 additional staff were being recruited across the services at the end of last year, which we hope will feed through into this important service. It is crucial that young people get intervention at an early age because it prevents problems down the line. It is something the Government is working on.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I will pass the details of his comments on to the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, for a direct response.

Colleagues and I worked hard at European level to ensure that the nature restoration law was significantly adjusted so that it would be appropriate to Irish circumstances. If the law is passed, the onus will be on us as a country to put our own plan together for how to implement it. We have been clear that CAP funding cannot be impacted in any way by whatever needs arise in that regard. That is a commitment from the Government. The BurrenLIFE project, which was a European innovation partnership project, was a tempo…

I am not aware of the specific details of the case, but I will relay to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that the Deputy raised the matter and ask him to respond to her directly.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am conscious that the coroner's inquest is ongoing, but I wish to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the Johnston family at the loss of their beautiful daughter and sister. The Government is placing particular priority on resources at University Hospital Limerick in terms of investment and support. We have invested significantly over the past period, but we also need to see stronger and better management and Limerick embracing the reforms that have worked elsewhere. …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Dáil Business Committee for scheduling these statements today and for allowing me and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, to give an update on the real challenges facing farmers over the last few weeks and the work the Government is doing to try to support the sector and farm families through this period. We are very aware of the acute challenges experienced by farmers right across the country due to the prolonged and exceptional wet weather conditions we have been going throug…

I thank all of the Members for their extensive contributions and for agreeing, on a cross-party basis, to allocate three hours for a debate on a very important topic to ensure that all the issues involved got a good airing. Many different issues were raised over the course of the three hours. One that was raised by a number of speakers is that of transport subsidy scheme we have introduced in order to help support the transport of fodder to areas where it might be scarce from areas where there would be availability…