When will that be?

I probably will not take the 12 minutes but I want to ensure the debate will continue if the following speaker is not here.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We have the same debate annually in which we amend the Health Insurance Act to modify the regulations governing the private health insurance sector. The whole goal of health policy at this time is the delivery of Sláintecare, that is, the delivery of a universal, single-tier healthcare system, with access for all and service free at the point of use. Sláintecare is silent on health insurance because the gamble is that once it is delivered, people will be so impressed, looked after…

What?

What is the next slot?

I will resume my seat. I had not planned to talk for long on this. I will just end up going around the houses.

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — while it is acknowledged that the horse and greyhound racing sectors do not qualify for sports capital funding, they are unique in Irish sport in that they are supported by the State through their own ring-fenced statutory fund; — payments into the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (Fund) have increased from €55 million in 2013 up to the €91 million proposed for 2023, an increase of over 65 per cent in a…

Tackling climate change is an act of intergenerational and global solidarity, and the COP process is the only multilateral forum we have to do so. It is vital we make this process work. COP has shown it is able to deliver commitments and agreements, but action is what really counts. Realising the scale of the climate crisis we are facing, it is difficult not to be disheartened following the conclusion of COP27. The establishment of the loss and damage fund, which will provide financial assistance to developing coun…

I wish to share time with my colleague, Deputy Ged Nash.

I welcome the announcement of a six-month delay, but we understand the money is still going to have to be paid. The sum of €12.5 million will have to come from somewhere else to be paid to these eight PPP companies in order for the State to meet its contractual obligations. What has emerged from this is a worrying proposition, in terms of how we as a State, as the owner of the road networks, is running them and raising revenue. People accept tolls as a fact of life, but with these projected toll increases the level…

It is great to have an opportunity to speak on the motion, although I do not profess to have any great insight into the Galway transport system. However, the proposer, Deputy Connolly, and, indeed, Deputy Farrell as Deputies for the area and the detail of the motion highlight the fundamental need for a bottom-up approach to a transport model that works for Galway. It is a wonderful city on our west coast that is choked by traffic. I visit Galway city and the county a lot. I love the city and love visiting the count…

The increase in tolls came as a bolt out of the blue for everyone, including Government, today. I am probably the only Deputy in this Chamber who does not have to go through a toll to get to Leinster House. I am looking at the M7, M8 and M9. We are all used to paying tolls. The M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel are in my county. This is not about tolling as a revenue raiser. Nobody likes paying tolls but it is accepted across the world as a way of paying for a road system. This is not about raising money for climate o…

I hope he follows through. I was not expecting this today. I was not down to speak today. I am usually a suit man when I am speaking in the Dáil but this issue is such that I had to submit a Topical Issue matter. People are angry about this. Sometimes an issue can be the straw that breaks the camel's back. These tolling companies do not have to put their prices up. I have never read an article stating that tolling companies have lost money or even broke even. These are cash cows and rake in the money. It is not jus…

I think everyone in this House is. I have had representations on this issue from all over the country today, as I am sure everyone else has. People do not want to accept this increase. It is just too tough for them.

The issue of safety on our public transport system has arisen often lately. Has the Minister plans to implement a new public transport security strategy and will he include An Garda Síochána in any discussion on such a strategy? My view, which I will outline when I speak again, is that there has been an unhelpful stoking of the issue by some in politics, but the matter can be resolved through increased regular staffing and better co-ordination with An Garda Síochána.

Some of the measures outlined by the Minister, such as CCTV and text alerts, are all well and good but what we need is increased staffing in the public transport operators. Over the years, we have made a virtue of having staffless rail stations. This has been a problem. If we had the traditional stationmasters as well as workers present on platforms, who have authority by virtue of being public transport workers, it would go a long way towards increasing security so people can feel safe on our public transport syst…

The Minister and I are on the same page. I do not agree with having a separate transport police or the private outsourcing of security. I do not like the level of security on the Luas because it adds to the degree to which people feel unsafe. Rather than increasing security measures on public transport, I would rather see traditional staffing levels improved across our public transport system in line with a stronger, more rigorous and more visible Garda presence, where and how appropriate. I ask that we get back to…

I thank the Regional Group and Deputy Naughten for bringing this motion to the House. No more than the Labour Party and others, the Regional Group does not have Private Members' business very often so an awful lot of thought and care go into choosing the issues deemed to be of importance. A thorough debate in the Dáil on this issue is long overdue. People suffering from long Covid are fast becoming one of a number of forgotten elements of the Covid pandemic. The pandemic is still with us in many ways. We hope we wi…

I thank Deputy Cullinane for this excellent motion. A few weeks ago I was going door-to-door and came across a woman who had just come home and was getting out of her car in her driveway and was taking a moment to compose herself. I had that feeling with which we are all familiar of trying to deliver a leaflet and wondering what to do. She took the leaflet, called me back and asked me to come in. She had come from providing a couple of hours care for her mother - she shares the care with two sisters. Like many peop…

Were all private providers involved?