Gabh mo leithscéal, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Tá an cheist seo i m'ainm féin. This question is about the commitment in the programme for Government to change the budgetary process to one that is more open, less dominated by existing levels of service and rewards ambition and innovation.

I welcome the changes the Minister is beginning to introduce in the system. The emphasis on existing service levels does not sufficiently acknowledge the need for innovation and change. I particularly welcome the Minister's ongoing commitment towards regional balance. We need some regional imbalance where extra expenditure is given to the regions. Many Departments have introduced programme budgeting but that is yet to happen in the Department of Health. In the context of the appointment of Robert Watt to the positi…

I thank the Minister. I emphasise that in order to achieve those very ambitious levels of growth, we need similarly ambitious levels of investment. We will not get that growth without investment to drive it. I will give the Minister the rest of my time to deal with the Department of Health issue and programme budgeting.

I am asking this question on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Niamh Smyth, who was delayed. The PEACE+ programme is crucial. It has delivered enormous achievements in the Border areas for many years. It has never been as needed as it is now in order to build infrastructure but, most important, to build confidence in the context of the Brexit vacuum and all that is associated with that. I am seeking an update on the current position of the programme and I ask the Minister to outline not just the expenditure, but the a…

This is a very important programme and it is essential that the Minister's Department engages with all other Departments in publicising the consultation period and publicising and encouraging community involvement in the consultation. I ask the Minister to provide a breakdown of the various cohorts from which the €1 billion funding is coming. Will there be co-operation between the PEACE+ programme and the ambition of the Taoiseach's shared island unit in the context of its capital expenditure? I ask the Minister to…

I ask the Minister to focus specifically on the role of young people in the new programme. How can they become more involved in the consultation process that is under way? We have seen in recent weeks the alienation of young people from the political process. This programme is something in which we need them to get involved. We should make it as accessible as possible to younger communities across Northern Ireland and within the Border counties.

I want to commend the Minister on the energy has brought to the review of the national development plan, but I wish to raise a number of matters. In the context of the increased budget, what proposals does the Minister have to reform the delivery mechanism for those projects? There is nothing more frustrating than a budget being allocated and the project then not being delivered owing to a lack of capacity. I know the national planning framework is an aligned document and a different administrative responsibility. …

I welcome the chance to speak ahead of this important European Council meeting this weekend. I also welcome the Taoiseach's determination not to support an export ban on vaccines. Such a ban would be short term and irrational. It seems to be an attempt to deflect from proper scrutiny of what is really going on here. The weakness of the EU response to the issue of vaccination since this time last year is what we must scrutinise and learn from. It is from those lessons we should bring about changes for the future. Re…

I too acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for their huge work to date. The roll-out in nursing homes in particular has been hugely successful, particularly given the story of Covid in nursing homes. That was based on communication and on a partnership. We need to make sure that the roll-out through GPs is based on the same principles: communication and partnership. The reason so many of us have been critical in the past few days is the lack of communication. GPs have…

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Aire, an Teachta Martin, agus leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Chambers, ní hamháin as a bheith ann le haghaidh na díospóireachta ach as an bhfuinneamh chomh maith atá tugtha acu go dtí an Roinn agus na hoifigí atá acu. Mar a deirtear gach Nollaig, agus táim cosúil leis an Teachta Ó Cathasaigh faoi seo, tá an ráiteas ann nach amháin don Nollaig é an madra. Ní hamháin do Sheachtain na Gaeilge is ea an Ghaeilge agus cúrsaí Gaeilge. Tar éis bliain Covid-19, táim ag ceapadh gur le haghaidh se…

I join many colleagues from rural areas in expressing concern about the Bank of Ireland closures. In my own county, branches will close in Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Charlestown, in addition to Ballymote and Tubbercurry in south Sligo. It means that an entire swathe of east Mayo and south Sligo will be without a branch service. Many people may dismiss that, but it is a very real concern. Many people are not capable of Internet banking and the alternative An Post service, while welcome, is not sufficient for banking…

This legislation is necessary given the way the disease is unfolding. Having reflected on some of the discussions and debate around the Bill, I fear that travel is being presented as some sort of totemic issue in the belief that many of the answers to the challenge we face with Covid lie in banning and restricting incoming travel. That is not the case. There are many other challenges. We will be coming back to this legislation because there will be difficulties with implementing it. Difficult cases will arise over …

Thank you. I cannot speak on Covid without acknowledging that it has been an incredibly difficult few weeks for our country, but particularly for my county of Mayo. I want to put on record my thanks to the staff of Mayo University Hospital for their extraordinary efforts, which are ongoing, and to the GPs and ambulance drivers across the county, who have been faced with huge challenges. My thoughts are with all the families who have lost people. I say to the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, that communities a…

I wish to be associated with the Minister's tribute to the late Hugo Boyle who resided in Achill. He was very much part of the fine tradition between Achill and Donegal, particularly in our fishing community but also in all communities. I extend my sympathies to his wife and daughters and to his wider family. He was an exemplary servant of the Irish fishing industry all his life. This is an incredibly complex time for Irish fisheries and the Minister has given it absolutely everything so far in his Ministry. There …

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for choosing this matter and the Minister for being here. During the programme for Government discussions there were a number of conversations about this proposed competition. It did not make the final draft but it was something that we engaged on. We must mobilise communities right across the country in the climate change challenge. The green schools initiative has been a particularly good example of mobilising the next generation and we must bring that sense of spirit and adventure to …

I thank the Minister for that information but what we need is a structure that makes information and resources accessible to communities that want to act. Communities like Ballina have plans in place and they want to start acting on them, involving the people of the town and the wider region. I would love to get some information from the Minister on the status of the community green flag initiative and the various other initiatives I mentioned such as the challenge call, the environmental fund and the local environ…

As the Christmas period approaches, what are the Minister's plans to increase supports for those seeking places in domestic violence refuges? This has been an incredibly difficult and challenging year for that sector. We are in the middle of the 16 days of action highlighting domestic abuse and violence. As this is day nine, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the Minister's plans.

As the Minister is aware, there has been an increase in domestic violence incidents this year with some 3,000 extra incidents reported. They are the ones reported. We do not know how many go unreported. It is important that all of what the Minister just outlined is made available to the public as far as is possible. There are many people who may not be able to access some of the wonderful work and services available to them locally. What engagement has Tusla with local authorities? In particular, local authority ho…

I welcome that review and remember those discussions. Will the Minister give me a timeline as to when that review will be completed and when he hopes to have an action plan around it? Many of the voluntary organisations in question have had a difficult year in terms of fundraising and their ability to fundraise. This is the time of year when they need those funds mostly. Will the Minister or the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, or the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritag…

The whole area of childcare costs is a major issue for families and parents. The phrase one hears regularly is that it is a second mortgage. The Minister outlined very interesting proposals in the Irish Examiner some weeks ago in terms of his reviews of childcare, the status of working conditions within childcare and also the role of the State. He mentioned that if he were to start again we would have State-funded childcare. I want to know the Minister's timeline and plans for reducing childcare costs and enhancing…