Again, I thank the Senators for raising this important issue. It is important not to understate the deep hurt and upset caused in what is a cornerstone of rural communities by the letter written by Mr. Cuffe. It left farmers feeling unfairly targeted. I acknowledge that Mr. Cuffe has since stated that he should not have singled out young farmers, which is welcome. What we are asking farmers to do to achieve our climate targets in agriculture is not to carry out drastic or radical actions like herd cuts but to make …

I thank Senator Ruane for raising this issue. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is in the Dáil from 10 a.m. until noon for a Private Members' Bill. I welcome the opportunity to update the Seanad on the Department's engagement with the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force to address the governance issues that are preventing it from operating effectively. Drug and alcohol task forces play an important role under the national drugs strategy in co-ordinating services to assist individuals and families to …

I thank the Senator. I am committed to addressing the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city in conjunction with the local community and relevant service providers. Considerable additional resources have been provided to enhance drug and alcohol services in the area, both from the NEIC initiative and the Department's budget. The drugs and alcohol task force has a key role to play. However, it is clear that maybe a new start is needed for the task force so it can command the support of all stakeholde…

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position regarding the Rotunda Hospital. The National Development Plan 2021-2030, launched on 4 October 2021, provides a total five-year allocation, to 2025, of €5.657 billion to the Department of Health. This includes funding towards projects provided for in the capital plan, such as the critical care wing at the Rotunda Hospital. It is acknowledged that there is a need to address the highest infrastructural ri…

I thank the Senator for her concerns, which I will bring to the Department to try to make this decision as quickly as possible. I understand there continues to be ongoing and active engagement with the Rotunda Hospital refining key aspects of the project. As the Senator knows, again, all capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages in line with the public spending code, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can…

I thank the Members of the Dáil who contributed to the debate on this Private Members' Bill. The Minister and I recognise there are deeply held views on all sides of this Oireachtas on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and we must respect them all. What Deputy Harkin said about the choice of language used on all sides is also very important. The 2018 Act enables women who need it to have access to termination of pregnancy services in a safe manner in our own community, where possible, and…

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. General practice is at the heart of primary care, and a robust general practice and GP out-of-hours service is essential to the delivery of primary care health services. As the Senator will be aware, GPs are required under the General Medical Services, GMS, to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs meet this obligation through GP out-of-hours co-operatives that fac…

I thank the Senator for raising that question on enhanced Westdoc services in Moycullen, Roscahill and Oughterard. The Senator knows the importance of general practice as part of primary care is evident at this time. GPs are playing a critical role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic and performing additional services while continuing to provide non-Covid care. The commitment of GPs in that area to patient care is laudable and I thank them for that dedication. GP out-of-hours services are a necessary component of ge…

I thank the Senator for his question and for the work he undertakes in supporting this sector, ensuring Ireland remains an attractive place for international students to study. It is important that every effort is made to encourage these students to make this decision and support them once they come here. I also understand that it is important for any jurisdiction to have in place certain restrictions and requirements on those people who choose to come to the State, to live or to study, and in that context, my coll…

I thank the Senator again for his contribution and for raising this important issue. As outlined in my opening reply, this issue concerns international students coming to study in Ireland who are required to adhere to particular immigration visa requirements, one of which relates to having private health insurance. I repeat that it is not within my policymaking role within the Department, as the Senator said. Officials in my Department have been engaging with officials in the Department of Justice to see if this re…

On behalf of the Minister for Justice, I would like to thank the Deputies for raising this matter today. The Deputies will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the training and deployment of Garda personnel. The Minister for Justice has no direct role in such decisions. However, the area of mental health in the justice sector has been a priority for the Minister, Deputy McEntee, so we are grateful for the opportunity …

I thank the Deputies for raising this important initiative. The Deputies are aware of the recent publication of a report from the Mental Health Commission on access to mental health services for people in the criminal justice system. It refers to the crisis intervention team pilot project in Limerick. The Minister for Justice is grateful to the inspector of mental health services and the Inspector of Prisons for their work on this important issue. The publication of the report is very timely. We know the healthcare…

I thank Deputy Nash for raising this issue to discuss the need for a permanent Covid-19 testing centre in Drogheda. Testing and contact tracing continues to be a key component of the Government’s response to the pandemic and is fundamental to identifying the source and containing the spread of the virus. Demand for testing at this time is very high with approximately 216,000 tests conducted in the last seven days. This demand on the testing and tracing system is due to the high level of infection currently being ex…

I thank the Deputy and I agree with him that testing and tracing continues to be fundamental to our response to the pandemic. It is critical that we continue to monitor demand for testing to ensure that we can identify and contain the spread of the virus. The HSE are continuously monitoring the demand for testing and attendance rates at both regional and local level in order to ensure that Covid-19 testing is available on a regional basis. As I explained earlier, the HSE has the goal of ensuring that well in excess…

I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the ongoing efforts to expand employment services in the State. I acknowledge that existing service providers are concerned about the future contracting of public employment services and I look forward to discussing this issue with the Deputy. The Department of Social Protection is procuring a regional employment service, RES, over two phases. Phase 1 will see the new service commence in seven counties in the north west and …

It is the first time I have heard of cuddly meetings and I thank Deputy McAuliffe for introducing the term to Parliament.

I thank the Deputy for his contribution. I would like to reiterate some key points. The procurement process for the regional employment service is the outcome of a lengthy process of engagement and consultation with all existing service providers. The tender will allow the Department of Social Protection to procure employment services on a legally sound basis and in line with best practices. The RES will continue the delivery of accessible and local services. With the exception of Dublin, the services are being pro…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. I welcome this opportunity to confirm for the House the continued participation of the community and voluntary sector in the national oversight committee for the national drugs strategy. I convened a meeting of the national oversight committee on Friday. My door is always open to meeting various groups. I have met CityWide on many occasions. It has been part of various deputations I have met previously. The meeting was attended by three representatives from the…

I again thank the Deputies for the opportunity to confirm the continued participation of community and voluntary organisations in the national drugs strategy. The interagency approach involving a partnership between statutory, community and voluntary bodies remains central to the strategy, as does strengthening the resilience of communities to respond to the drug problem. Community organisations will continue to have an active role in the design and delivery of the strategy, both at local level through the drug and…

I think there was a miscommunication or a misinterpretation of exactly what is happening. I think that was clarified at the meeting last Friday and I hope that, in the coming days, we can clarify this even further.