I was in contact with the CCPC today and it could not give me any comfort on that.

I will send it in.

Is breá liom a bheith ag caint anseo inniu. Chun an fhírinne a rá, is tamall fada é a bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge ann. Deirtear go bhfuil sí ann le 150 bliain. Tá a lán rudaí maithe déanta ag Rialtais ón tamall sin agus is rud maith é muid a bheith anseo ag caint anseo trí Ghaelainn. Tháinig m’athair ó Ghaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne, an áit is sia siar in Éirinn, mar a ghlaoitear ar an áit sin. Nuair a fhéachtar ar an daonáireamh ó 1901, my great grandfather at that time lived there on a small farm and he could only sp…

The Government is planning a national day of commemoration to remember the 9,000 people who died from Covid. Dealgan House is the only nursing home in the country that was taken over by the HSE. The families of the residents there, or a representative of them, would like to be invited to any such event. On 25 January, I called in the Dáil for a commission of inquiry into the 23 deaths that occurred there. The Taoiseach acknowledged that this is a genuine issue and said the Department of Health is finding a way in w…

First, I refer to the last point Deputy Berry made about the Russian ambassador and the Oireachtas. I was appointed by the Ceann Comhairle as the convenor of the Irish-Russian parliamentary group. We had a discussion following the invasion of Ukraine at the weekend and the Ceann Comhairle decided, in conjunction with the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, that the Irish-Russian parliament group would be dissolved yesterday. The Ceann Comhairle issued a statement, which quoted me, that it was being done in full support of…

This is a very important debate. I listened carefully to all of the speakers so far. I fully support the view as expressed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on what must happen now and what the future should be for all of us. Earlier this month, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland published a very significant report assessing the RUC's handling of a series of loyalist paramilitary murders between 1990 and 1998. This report clearly identified a range of collusive behaviours by the police and the continued un…

I welcome the ambassador from Ukraine. The world is in a very difficult position and, clearly, we all have worries about war breaking out and families being destroyed and obliterated from the face of the earth. It is unacceptable to all of us. The Irish Government, the European Union, the United Kingdom and America are all speaking with one voice here - there must be an end to this unacceptable aggression. It will have important and far-reaching effects on the world and, indeed, on the economy here. I worry about t…

The Tánaiste last week said we need to urgently increase the electricity rebate. We need to go significantly higher than the announced €113. We also need to address the issues in respect of fuel allowance, increase the benefits for people and the time, and the income they can get before they qualify. We need to look also at the squeezed middle, people who cannot pay their mortgages, the rising cost of living, and significant bills such as energy, childcare and rents.

Every family is worried about the cost-of-living increase. They are worried and fearful about their next energy bill, in particular. Will the Minister review the household benefit packages due to this significant increase in the cost of living, and will she make a statement on the matter?

I thank the Minister. I congratulate her on the excellent work she is doing. As she stated, uniquely, she has made significant changes for the first time in 17 years. The problem we have is recognised by the Government. At the time of the budget, inflation was predicted at 2.2%. It is now in excess of 5%. Regrettably, and through no fault of the Government, many families are choosing between buying food or fuel. That is the reality of the situation. I appreciate the Minister stated it has to be a budgetary matter. …

I accept that totally.

I very much welcome the Minister's comments. She has the support of every Member, those of all parties and none, to do what needs to be done. I accept and acknowledge that is her absolute intention. The key point is that older people, as well as those who are sick or disabled, need more heat than younger people do. That is why these schemes are there. If she can increase them, she should do so. I have no issue with a supplementary budget being brought forward if that is needed. I do not know what the alternatives a…

I welcome this debate. It is appropriate and timely it happens as restrictions are being eased and that we all pay fine and sincere tribute to all the people who worked in our homes, in hospitals, on the front line, on ambulances and so on. We pay tribute also to those who sadly passed away in this awful tragedy called Covid. About a year ago this week my own brother-in-law passed away from Covid in a nursing home. He was very well looked after, as were thousands of other people who died of Covid. However, some wer…

I do not have any time left. Maybe that is just as well. I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am sorry about that.

I warn the Taoiseach that the dental services in Louth and Meath have collapsed and the number of patients helping General Medical Services, GMS, patients has fallen from 61 two years ago to 22 today. Thousands of people cannot get an appointment, their teeth looked after or their oral hygiene checked and worse, there is no option to redirect them anywhere else because there is nowhere for them to go. It is extremely urgent. Only emergency appointments are available to people now. They are being provided by the HSE…

I very much welcome this debate. In particular, I welcome the consensus on all sides of this House on legacy issues in Northern Ireland and the New Decade, New Approach agreement. We all agree on rejecting the British Government proposals. Unilateral action on this most sensitive of issues is an impediment to reconciliation. Indeed, it is totally divisive. If we stand firm, which we do, and reject any of the possibilities of amnesties or statutes of limitations, that will be the way forward for us in the South and …

I congratulate the Department on renewals for existing passport holders. The office is very efficient. Would it be possible to arrange a direct relationship for newborn infants to shorten the time families have to wait? If the register of births certifies that somebody is a newborn infant, that should be enough and it should be able to fast-track the 40 days the Minister is talking about. It is unfair on parents who have a newborn infant to face delays they cannot accept.

In view of the fact of the difficult and frustrating talks there have been between Maroš Šefčovič and Liz Truss, as reported by Vice-President Šefčovič himself, the perfect storm in the UK Parliament and Government, and the DUP banging its Orange drum once again as we approach elections in the North, will the Minister report on the engagement he has had with European and UK officials regarding the Northern Ireland protocol that is helping avoid barriers on the island of Ireland?

It seems to me the moderate opinion in both Britain and Ireland is outmanoeuvred by the extreme views in the Tory Party and its view on Brexit. The traditional relationship that was there all along between Britain and Ireland is seriously affected by this. That notwithstanding, given the links between the civil servants, the professional administrators in the UK and the business community, they need to show the benefits in a stronger way. I accept and acknowledge businesses in the North clearly and absolutely ackno…

I welcome the Minister's comments that if the chair of the commission feels there is a need for compellability, that will happen. That is the key process. I regret very much the Women of Honour are not in negotiation with the Minister now and I urge him and the chair of the commission to engage with them. It is important given the clear suffering and harassment they endured and the appalling treatment they got that they would have confidence in the process. On compellability, if somebody is asked by the judge to co…