Looking forward to 2040, we absolutely need a metro system, BusConnects, DART+ and various other projects in Dublin. My colleagues in government know that in any meeting I have, my first priority is, as I told Deputy Verona Murphy, the national planning framework. We need better balanced, more compact and low-carbon development in this country. My first priority should be to look at the likes of Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick and put in infrastructural investment to see those cities grow beyond anything we ha…

One of the reasons we want compact development is because if we keep building outward, we have to keep building more and more new infrastructure. It would be far more economic for us and work far better if we build up our existing towns through a town-centre-first strategy. We must invest in all those existing sewerage systems in towns where sewage is pumped directly out. Compact development works not only because there is no time cost when one can walk to a shop, church or local pub, but it is also because we are …

Deputy Doherty is right. We have to make sure this does not push up prices. That is why the ESRI rightly stated at the Oireachtas joint committee that the targeting of any market intervention is critical and that we must make sure we get this right. The key to getting it right is also what this Government is delivering after a lot of talk and promises over the years when nothing was ever delivered. It is the development of cost-rental solutions, which I believe should be central to addressing the housing crisis. Th…

We are progressing and have advanced cost-rental solutions like the one in Shanganagh on the way to Bray.

I believe that will be the mainstay of the-----

I will commit to that. We listened to what Dr. Swanick said with real care because he was in the centre of a flare-up of cases in Belmullet, so I can well understand his frustration. I spoke earlier to Deputy Catherine Murphy about the changes to the vaccine roll-out process. This week, there was a further iteration or variation when it was decided that those people at very high risk with underlying conditions would be brought up the order and those at high risk would similarly be brought up. That was done on good,…

I will take that advice.

I did not hear the interview but I understand the Data Protection Commissioner, DPC, was on the radio this morning and she indicated she would continue to work with the relevant designated data authorities for the records of the 550 or so survivors. I believe the approach the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, has taken has been correct and appropriate, which it must be.

The key point we want to honour is those 550 survivors and their ability to get access to data.

People are always entitled to a judicial review but the Minister's focus is correctly on making sure that the data, which are the subject of real concern, are accessible in a way that is appropriate and is in compliance with the DPC.

He is doing that, which is the key thing he must do.

I will check and revert to the Deputy on when that payment was due, why it has not proceeded and if payment was due, why it has not come through. The Government's approach is to make sure that we retain a good nurse education training system. I believe we made the correct decision strategically as a country some years ago to introduce a degree course for nurses. As I understand, the international assessment of nursing training, education and skills development shows us to be very high quality. It is a system that w…

No one should accept that, but in addressing it we do not want to dismantle a system that is a good one by international standards. I am open to correction on that.

The Deputy would say that I would say this but my colleague, the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, has just opened up the organic scheme. Approximately 500 or 600 farmers will be able to go into it. I mention it because I think that is the future for Irish farming, especially beef and lamb. It offers the prospect of reducing the input costs and increasing the price that we get on the market, which I understand to be patently clear, since one can see the price of one versus the other. Our food strategy is coming c…

I thank the Deputy. I hope that I did not get myself or anyone else into trouble. I found the meeting useful and I commit to meeting Tipperary County Council about the issue. The meeting was about the issue of roads and I was particularly interested with my own roots being in that neck of the woods. Clear problems exist in Tipperary town because of the volume of freight traffic passing through. The roads programme that we signed off on two or three weeks ago contains more than €600 million in spending. I will look …

I understand that following a Supreme Court decision in June last year, the Minister for Finance requested that the assessment process for primary medical certificates be suspended. On the passing of the Finance Act 2020, which provided for the medical criteria in primary legislation, I understand that the Minister for Health instructed the HSE to recommence assessments from 1 January 2021. As the Deputy stated, there unfortunately were some delays in processing assessments due to the involvement of medical officer…

We need a just transition for the midlands in particular and for all of those workers in Bord na Móna and related industries.

No-----

That is why we supported some 39 projects on which the Just Transition Commissioner, Kieran Mulvey, had worked with local communities. There was concern that some of these projects might not be able to qualify for funding approved by European institutions but, from what I hear, that will not be a problem for the vast majority. We will spend and invest that money and we will support Bord na Móna in its switch from brown to green. It rightly recognises that the skills it has in managing bogs can be used in this low-c…

-----is in the switch to green-----