I am going to assume the HSE business continuity plan has a mutual aid provision with private hospitals and, potentially, even across the Border with hospitals like Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital. At what point does the HSE's emergency business continuity plan stipulate that such a mutual aid provision be invoked, for example, for new presentations? Do we have a mutual aid provision and will it be invoked?

What is the HSE cyberattack response? Is there a NPHET-like equivalent? If so, what is its membership? Who are its leaders? Who is in the room providing a cyberattack response?

What conversations has the Minister or his officials had with others on the establishment of a European rapid reaction force?

I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate that this idea is currently in its infancy but the idea of a European rapid reaction force was also floated in 1999 before being done away with in 2003. Eyebrows will be raised that this conversation is happening and that Ireland is one of 14 nations expressing a willingness to take part in discussions, particularly given the current state of numbers and morale in our Defence Forces. What type of scenario would precipitate a response from the proposed rapid reacti…

I represent a constituency, Dublin Central, that has two Army barracks. I have friends from school who have joined the Defence Forces. We understand completely the proud tradition of peacekeeping and putting ourselves in harm's way when required. That is very different, however, to creeping militarisation or getting involved with defence initiatives with a more militarised facet. We fully appreciate that the Defence Forces do not want to stand out of harm's way, as we can see with their behaviour over many decades,…

I thank the Minister for speaking on the arrangements in the legislation required for the leaving certificate model of 2021. However, a large part of what I wish to speak about relates to the failures of the leaving certificate examination prior to the pandemic and the ambition that both sides of the Chamber should have to change it for the benefit of our younger people. There is an opportunity for change at this time. The pandemic forced us to cross the Rubicon in terms of the traditional leaving certificate exami…

I thank Deputy Barry for bringing the Bill forward. It is most important and timely. I acknowledge and pay respect to the former workers of Debenhams who, for 400 days, have demonstrated immense dignity, respect and determination. It is a testament to who they are as people in contrast to the indifference shown to them by the State. We have spoken about the Debenhams workers many times in the Dáil and then failed to act. In July 2020, which was nearly 100 days into the strike, most of us here spoke on this same iss…

On the same issue, we need to have statements on the ongoing crisis in east Jerusalem. I noted just before Leaders' Questions started that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has called the Israeli ambassador to his office, which is often a prelude to criticism. I hope that happens and I hope it is stark and full criticism. We need statements on this matter and we need to have a full and common position whereby we can condemn to the fullest extent the atrocities that are happening in east Jerusalem.

The median age of the population of Gaza is 17.7 years. The size of the population is over 2 million. When bombs are dropped on an area of its size with that kind of population and with such a median age, it is inevitable that children will die. The Palestinian community is crying out for international solidarity and help. I am not even going to ask the Taoiseach about the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, which Fianna Fáil supported during the period of the confidence and supply agreem…

Europe Day is a day celebrating peace and unity. I echo that - a day celebrating peace and unity - given all that is going on in the world, all that we have seen on television screens and all that has been experienced by the people of Palestine, not only over the past 24 hours or the past week, but for many decades. We should be cognisant of talking about how we celebrate a day of peace and unity while 27 people were killed last night, including nine children, but I will talk about Europe. Europe is often talked ab…

I want to begin by thanking my colleague, Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, for bringing forward this Bill and for the leadership he has shown on this issue throughout his time in Dáil Éireann and beforehand. The inability to access housing and a home is destroying lives in this country, and has done for more than a decade. This debate happens regularly in this Chamber, as it should as a point of conversation in national debate. Too often, that debate is defined by arrogance. That arrogance was encapsulated perfectly over t…

We have heard time and again that nobody is safe until everybody is safe, in the context of vaccine justice and equity. Tomorrow, the World Trade Organization, WTO, meets to discuss the potential waiver of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS. The Tánaiste is our Minister with responsibility for trade. I asked the Taoiseach this question at several points yesterday and did not get an answer. What is the Government's position on the TRIPS waiver?

Public money.

My thanks to the Labour Party for bringing forward this important Private Members' motion. My thanks go to the previous contributors for outlining their personal experiences on the issue as well. Those of us in the Social Democrats are highly supportive of the motion. An emerging theme in most of the contributions in the Dáil in recent months has been the issues that we cannot unsee from the pandemic. I am referring to the inequalities and inequity made all too visible during the pandemic and too tangible for us to…

It is a source of pride to the people of the Irish nation that whenever we have seen an injustice, be it famine or conflict, we have always stood up and played our part. In that vein, India is in peril. Medical staff are on their knees, hospitals are overwhelmed and crematoriums cannot keep pace with the number of people who are dying due to the coronavirus. I am aware of the welcome news that over 700 oxygen concentrators have been sent to India by Ireland but we have to do more and more has to be done globally. I…

The programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a citizens’ assembly on the future of education and states that the voices of young people and those being educated are central. This week, once again, our system, in the manner in which we teach our children, has been exposed either in the buildings that they are in or in the lessons that they are being taught as being unsuited for purpose. In this instance, what happened was not related to the pandemic but rather to religious institutions and how the…

I have a similar question. Today, President Biden stated that the US would be in a position to share vaccine know-how. What is the Irish position in relation to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS, and could we communicate it in advance of the WTO meeting on Friday and show moral leadership on this issue?

What of TRIPS?

Ireland and TRIPS.

We had a detailed discussion of this motion at committee. The conversations we had were thorough and well-thought-through. At the time, I felt that the responses from the Minister were quite adequate in terms of why this motion is being brought forward and what we stand to benefit from it. The contributions I made then have not changed. I will reiterate them here. There is a substantial difference between Irish neutrality and self-isolating for the sake of it. What is on the table here is not a threat to our neutra…