Intra-company transfers are something I have been raising from time to time. It is where a company brings in a worker from abroad under a permit. Very often such people are highly skilled, highly paid and highly valued and they are badly needed by the companies here. The contract often lasts for about two years. You will understand, a Chathaoirligh, that if one goes to a foreign country that is far away, one leaves one's family behind. Currently, if a spouse or partner comes with the person, he or she cannot work. …

The Minister of State spoke about intercompany transfers, about which I made a comment earlier. I understand that spouses and partners of people who come here on critical skills employment permits are allowed to work. It is a small move, then, to allow spouses and partners of the others to work as well. This issue came up earlier and it is one about which I feel strongly. It is having an impact on companies, workers and their families when spouses and partners are not allowed work if they come here. Quite often, pe…

I want to ask about the many new developments being built around the country. There are a lot of houses going up but there is very little forward planning with regard to resources such as community facilities and playing fields. It is very expensive for clubs to purchase land. Perhaps it is something the Minister of State would have a look at and consider with his Government colleagues.

I recognise that these programmes are visionary and have made a massive difference to the communities in which they are located. Are there plans to carry out an audit of communities that have nothing, neither old community centres that can be renovated nor shovel-ready projects? They start, as I think colleagues said, from a low place when they have no place at all. I am aware of a number in my area that have no community centre or building that could be renovated. Will the Minister consider carrying out an audit t…

I welcome the Minister's commitment to local areas that were badly damaged by the flooding, especially due to Storm Babet, and my own area of Midleton in east Cork which suffered more than most. In County Cork alone, the damage to the roads is over €60 million, including those to which the Minister refers. Therefore, any help at all that can be made available will be most welcome.

I welcome the Government policy to reach down into the grassroots of communities and ask people their views when projects are being envisaged and moneys being spent. That is hugely important. When I spoke earlier about community centres, the Minister of State said they should engage with the local authorities, which is correct. Sometimes, there is no land available, it is difficult and people get frustrated. They might need a bit of help in those situations. Will the Minister of State comment on what is being done …

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am delighted with his portrayal of community animation, which is very visionary and forward-looking. How much funding is ring-fenced for community animation nationally? At a later stage, he might be able to give me a breakdown of how much is made available per county for community animation and local development companies. Community animation is a great idea but I would like more detail on it. Will the Minister of State consider supporting organisations like communi…

When does the Minister of State expect to receive a report on the effectiveness of community animation from the local development companies he mentioned? Is there a template at Department level as to how the local development companies should carry out community animation? Will he take a personal interest in this and personally drive it forward across the State in order that areas in which there are no community organisation and leadership can be identified and be provided with the help and support he mentioned?

On a point of order, if a question is passed over, what do Standing Orders say with respect to how it is to be done?

I wish to give the Tánaiste an opportunity to comment on the current situation in Sudan, the third largest country in Africa, with 49 million people there needing aid at the moment, 7.5 million displaced and tens of thousands killed in the ongoing war. Will the Tánaiste comment on that situation and Ireland's and Europe's reaction to it?

I thank the Tánaiste for his comment. Will the Tánaiste inform the House with respect to the sanctions put in place by the European Union to try to influence the awful civil war in Sudan whether there are plans to increase the sanctions on both sides? Will he comment on the alleged war crimes committed by both sides? Would he like to comment on the recent issue that Sudan has left the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, which was set up to promote development among countries in that part of Africa?

I understand these wars are being financed and that very complex financial networks are involved. Has any effort been made by the European Union to investigate these networks and intervene to stop the money driving these wars? The Tánaiste mentioned these were proxy wars, which leads to the question who is behind it. What countries are fighting this proxy war on both sides? Who is supporting the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan army? Will the Tánaiste comment on the impact on the seven neighbouring countries? The…

I warmly welcome the decision by the Government yesterday to hold a referendum in June on the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court. I am told that this could result in added value to the economy of €1.6 billion per annum. When does the Taoiseach expect the legislation to enable this referendum to go ahead to be published?

There are nearly 14,000 in homelessness.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for choosing this Topical Issue this evening and I thank the Minister of State for being here. It is now over three months since Storm Babet, which devastated my part of the country, Cork, and Midleton in particular. The images from the town on the television screen were really frightening. There was water 3 ft or 4 ft high in houses, homes and businesses and cars and roads were destroyed. I acknowledge the Minister of State visited and saw for himself the damage that was done. …

I thank the Minister of State. As he said, this all started in December 2015, eight years ago. That is a long time ago. Is he satisfied the OPW and the council have enough resources to carry on with the work and the planning and move it on? Do they need more manpower, expertise, engineers or planners to move this forward? He referred to insurance on several occasions. Several of the businesses in question were underinsured, unfortunately. I thank the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Red Cross …

I would be very interested to know where that figure came from. Who came up with it? We have had flooding in 2015, 2018 and 2023. I am worried there might be another flood. I do not want to be wandering around the town in my wellingtons, helping people and pulling sandbags. I am getting too old for that. To be serious, this is devastating for the people affected. The Minister of State referred to insurance. I wish to put on record that some insurance companies have been slow to come forward. I will shortly name tho…

Three months ago, almost to the day, Storm Babette hit the country, affecting in particular my own area in east Cork. I thank the Minister, her Department and the community welfare officers, CWOs, for all the help they have given to households. It has been really appreciated and they have been very good, as have the Department of enterprise and the Irish Red Cross, for businesses. However, the issue of road funding remains and I understand that the county council sought up to €50 million in support. When will the G…

This question offers the Minister an opportunity to give us his views on the recent publication of the new bull replacement and terminal index ratings and the potential impact this might have on bull sucker farms and the suckler carbon efficiency programme, and to make a statement on the matter.

I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome the setting up of this forum because a certain amount of information needs to be given to farmers and others who are concerned about it. Would the Minister agree that, if the ratings are reduced, this would result in fewer high-quality exports, fewer animals hitting local marts every week and fewer top-quality animals going to factories, which would result in less income for the country through exports and cattle sales and less income for already struggling beef suck…