Do not-----

Notwithstanding-----

Notwithstanding that that is the Minister of State's position-----

-----can she communicate the details that we require in writing through the NTMA to us?

But, based on the fact and the nature and the way in which this information has been presented is unsatisfactory-----

-----I would imagine that if the Minister of State were prepared to meet us halfway, acknowledging that this was rushed and-----

I understand the Minister of State's defence of her own position. That is fine.

I would imagine, as a courtesy, that the Minister of State would ask the NTMA to write to us to provide us with the information we require.

It is basic, and it is the job of this House to hold the Executive to account. It is our job, fundamentally, constitutionally, to approve expenditure.

It is as simple as that.

It is contemptuous.

Leave it to me.

County Louth has been in mourning over the past few days and we all unite in sending our sympathies and condolences to the families left behind after that unspeakable tragedy outside Dundalk on Saturday night. I congratulate Deputy Donohoe on his appointment. This is a very significant personal achievement and this is also a very significant achievement for Ireland. This is evidence of the respect in which Ireland is held on the international stage and the respect he has commanded in the context of his presidency o…

While we may differ politically, I will miss him at some of the same gigs we managed to attend. While we differ politically, we also differ in terms of our football teams as well but we can move beyond that. In Deputy Donohoe’s engagement with me and my party over the years, he has shown nothing but respect, integrity and honour and I thank him for that. I wish him, Justine and the family every success in his next chapter. The changing of a Minister for Finance is no small thing. When the figure at the top of the D…

My colleague and Labour MEP for Dublin, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has led the charge - as has rightly been said - on this issue in Ireland for a number of years now and he is continuing to lead the way in Europe. The most obvious example to follow in a European context is that of Portugal. One thing is crystal clear from the Portuguese example, that is, moving to a health-based approach and away from punishment, reduces serious harms from drug use. Portugal has more than 20 years’ experience under its belt and in the firs…

We have been reading a lot of significant information in the media in recent days and weeks about plans the Minister appears to have to improve the delivery of infrastructure and capital development in the context of the revised national development plan, NDP. Will he elaborate precisely on what those plans are and how he plans to implement them?

This is all well and good and we have been reading a lot about this since the revised national development plan was published. We will see updates on specific projects shortly. Will there be timelines for those projects? Looking beyond the abstract, what will it mean for people? For example, will the package of proposals that the Minister wants implemented shorten the timeframe for the delivery of the MetroLink or the northern line DART project to Drogheda? How many new homes will it deliver? At the moment this is …

Would the Government take any responsibility for what the Minister described as the unnecessary processes that have developed over time? We hear a lot of analysis of this and finally the Government appears to be cottoning on to the fact we have a real problem with delivery. We have been saying it in opposition for years - I try to be constructive and put forward alternative proposals for delivery of infrastructure - but it is only when someone like John Collison writes an article for a national newspaper that senio…

The Tánaiste said nothing about Drogheda.

He was on Instagram all weekend and said nothing about Drogheda. He did not condemn it.