No, I did not.

True.

I ask the Minister about the long-awaited scheme for the group known as the forgotten farmers. In our last round of questions back in February, the Minister advised that his Department was looking at establishing a system, but there is still no detail about what that scheme would look like. I have met with farmers who are part of this cohort known as the forgotten farmers. They are really at the end of their tether and are wondering if they should continue with their farms, so this is something that is urgently ove…

I appreciate and acknowledge that the Minister has committed to this group of farmers that he will come up with a scheme that will financially support them, given they did lose out. At one point, the scheme was to be prepared in the first quarter of 2023. It was then to be published in May 2023. The system was being put together in February, and it is now April 2024. In a number of weeks, we will be going into summer recess. We will be coming back for the budget. By the sounds of things, there is no detailed scheme…

As the Minister has said, this issue was identified back in 2015 and 2016. It has now been nearly a decade since then. In the past ten years, I do not believe it is fair or makes much sense, given this Government has now been in place for four years. If the Department was going to establish a system in February, it is now April. Given there are no details of the scheme or what it will look like and given there is no funding in place, is the Minister committing here today that, between now and the end of this term o…

My question is on the capital investment scheme for women farmers under TAMS. Will the Minister of State give an update on the number of applications approved to date. Given the issues that have been raised about locking out women farmers from accessing the scheme in the first place, will she review the eligibility criteria?

Will the Minister of State confirm the figures, namely that 867 applications were received and that 333 of those were approved? Can she advise if any have been refused? She will be well aware that the women in agriculture stakeholder group has raised concerns about the eligibility criteria. Last summer, when it was introduced, it flagged its fear that it would lock some women out of accessing this really important support. The Minister of State should listen to the concerns of the likes of the stakeholders group. W…

It will be important to see how many, if any, of the 867 applications made have been refused for whatever reason to allow us to understand if there is an issue there. If a stakeholder group of women farmers set up to represent women farmers is raising an issue of access to this scheme, it would be worthy of consideration by the Minister of State. Perhaps when this fourth tranche closes, she might agree to look at the eligibility criteria given that women farmers, who set up a group to represent the women farmers, a…

I am sharing time with Deputies Browne and Conway-Walsh. While these statements are welcome, they would have been more timely a number of weeks ago, when the issue was very much at the fore. Perhaps together we could have looked at measures that were needed, in consultation with farmers, the farming organisations and the Opposition, given the difficult and challenging weeks and months farmers have had. It has been a really difficult time for them and, as has been said, the issues vary. I know that in my case at hom…

It is good to be able to stand here with my constituency colleagues and speak to Deputy O'Donnell, as a Minister of State, who has been down to Lough Funshinagh and seen it with his own eyes because one really has to see it to believe it. He will be well aware of the trauma of older people, in particular, in that community, looking at their life's work totally ruined before their eyes and the fear for young families, in particular, young couples who have big mortgages, afraid to let their children out the gate for …

I thank the Minister of State for his response. All we need to know now is how soon he will meet the Attorney General and when we will know what the Attorney General has come up with and how long that is going to take. We are being asked every day for an update. Every day the water is rising. We are getting some little bit of relief now due to the rain not falling, but there it really does not matter because the water is already at such record levels. I ask the Minister of State for any timeframe he can give us for…

The Taoiseach will be well aware of the disaster area in my constituency, Lough Funshinagh. The situation is worsening hour by hour and water is continuing to rise. As I stand here today, a fifth home looks like it will need to be evacuated. Water is now flowing towards Curraghboy village. An overflow pipe – a temporary and emergency measure – is 60% installed. I met the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, with representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Office of Public Works and Oireachtas…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to establish a body to be known, in the Irish language, as An Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Feirme Teaghlaigh or, in the English language, as the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm; to define its functions; and to provide for matters connected therewith. As somebody born, raised and living on a family farm, I am very glad to have the opportunity to introduce the Bill, honouring a key commitment made by my party. This legislation is about protect…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

In recent weeks, I have been contacted by parents in Monksland in south County Roscommon who have no special class place for their children in September. I am told that there are 18 children in Monksland alone who have no school place. Of course, this is just one area. In one case, a mother has tried seven local schools with no luck. Another mother has been told that the only school she can get into would mean a three-hour round trip for her child. Both of their sons have autism. Will the Tánaiste ensure there are …

I raise again the situation of flooding at Lough Funshinagh in my constituency. Waters have now surpassed record levels and the situation is getting worse every single day. Water levels are now at 69.16 m above sea level and are rising daily. At least five additional houses are now under immediate threat and another farmyard has been destroyed. Older people in their 80s and 90s are looking at their lives' work totally devastated, young families with big mortgages are unable to let their children outside, and this d…

They are extra high here.

I am very glad to have the opportunity to speak on the nature restoration law and, as my party spokesperson on agriculture, to very clearly outline our position. In recent days I have been quite bemused at the reaction to our vote in the European Parliament. From the very first discussion on the proposed nature restoration law at EU level, we engaged proactively at every point. We met the farm organisations and we submitted amendments at EU level at every single opportunity available to us - unlike some other MEPs …

It is reported in a local newspaper today that there are proposals to install 167 modular homes for refugees across Roscommon town, Ballaghaderreen and Boyle in my constituency. These proposals were provided yesterday to Roscommon County Council by the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, which is seeking feedback from the council on the plans. I have engaged repeatedly with communities in regard to seeking additional services for them where their population has increased. I have raised the issue in the House …

Yes. I have raised this issue many times.