I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The Government legislation programme, which was published on 16 January 2024, sets out Government legislative priorities for the current parliamentary session. The programme includes 46 Bills for priority publication and drafting across a number of areas, including healthcare, access to housing, stronger safer communities and road safety among many others during the spring Dáil session. Since this Government came to office in June 2020, a total of 187 Bi…

Just to explain, normally this is Taoiseach's Questions but the Taoiseach is not here, so I am stepping in for any questions on the legislative programme.

I thank both Deputies for their questions. This session is on legislation. With regard to agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has prioritised one Bill for publication during this parliamentary session. That is the agriculture appeals (amendment) Bill. The general scheme of the Bill was approved at Cabinet on 16 January this year and it is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny. On the issues Deputy Tóibín mentioned, I advise him to table a parliamentary question to the Minister, Deputy McCo…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Amendment of Orders of Reference of the Committee on Assisted Dying (without debate) - Motion re Approval of Appointment of a Member of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (without debate) - Motion re Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2023 — Taking of divisions in Committee - Statements on Recent Arson Attacks (not to exceed 3 hrs 32 mins) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023, selected by…

No.

I move: That the Orders of Reference of the Special Committee on Assisted Dying, contained within the Report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform entitled "Orders of Reference for Special Committee on Assisted Dying", as agreed by Order of the Dáil of 24th January, 2023, be amended in paragraph (4), by the deletion of "within nine months of the first public meeting of the Joint Committee" and the substitution therefor of "not later than 27th March, 2024".

I move: That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 108(2), and for the purposes of the proceedings on the Planning and Development Bill 2023 only, it shall be permissible to proceed, before the eight minutes have elapsed from the demanding of the division, to take a division in the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage without a member of the Select Committee being present, as long as that member has indicated in writing to the Clerk to the Committee that they do not intend to be pr…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann resolves that the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 be deemed to be read a second time this day nine months to allow for the issues contained in the Bill to be further examined in consultation with the Deputies and on the basis that the Government's Mental Health Bill, currently in the final stages of drafting, and which will be published and will be introduced to the Oireachtas in the summer legislative session, w…

I also begin by adding my condolences to those of others to Deputy Michael Collins on the loss of his nephew. I thank Members of the House for their contributions to this discussion on general practice in rural communities and for their interest in and commitment to the issue. I acknowledge the issues various Members raised, such as the delays patients are facing in getting appointments with GPs and some GP practices not currently accepting new patients. The Government has substantially increased investment in gene…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of meeting of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community in Galway city (without debate) - Statements on the Second Anniversary of Russia’s Full-scale Invasion of Ukraine (not to exceed 1 hr 52 mins) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Paediatric Orthopaedic and Urology Services, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Consideration of Estimat…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, in accordance with Article 15.1.3° of the Constitution, hereby determines that the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community may meet in Galway city, on 8th March, 2024, in order to hear from community groups and populations in Galway city, first hand, on the operation of national and local policies as they affect the community in Galway city: provided that, pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), Members may participate in such meeting from within the p…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 29th March, 2023, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Minister for Health Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whereupon the…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Report of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach under Dáil Standing Order 133 on a Proposal for a Council Directive on Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT), COM(2023)532 (without debate) - Road Traffic Bill 2024 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 6.30 p.m. or after 2 hrs 41 mins, whichever is the later) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Reform of the Te…

No.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders - - expressions of sympathy on the death of former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, shall be taken now and on the conclusion of expressions of sympathy, the Dáil shall adjourn until 9 a.m. tomorrow; - the Government business to be taken tomorrow shall be Second Stage of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023 and Second Stage of the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the following arrangements shall apply thereto: - if not previously …

I add my own tribute to of our former Taoiseach and party leader and echo the deserved praise already given by my colleagues in the House today. I first of all extend my sympathies to John’s wife, Finola, his son, Matthew, and his daughters, Juliana, Emily and Mary-Elizabeth. I note in particular the presence on the benches today of his brother, Richard, someone who is held in such high esteem by our party. I extend to you, Richard, your sister and the rest of the family my sincere sympathies. While many words will…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022 be deemed to be read a second time this day nine months, so as to allow sufficient time for the report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs to be considered by the Oireachtas.". I welcome the opportunity to update the Oireachtas with regard to drug policy and to highlight the progress made on implementing the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supp…

The Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, and the Department of Health are engaging with priority in regard to the publication of the mental health Bill in the next term. It is on the priority drafting list at the moment. It is a very complex area. The Deputy can have my assurances, as Chief Whip, that we will be doing everything to get it drafted in this session and then published in the following Dáil session.

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 215A, the following Committees may complete their consideration of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2024, standing referred to them pursuant to Standing Order 215(2), later than the sixtieth day and not later than the one hundredth day, being the 22nd day of March, 2024, after the Estimates had been so referred: - the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, - the Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action, and -…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate) - Statements on the Coordination of Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland (working title) (not to exceed 212 mins) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re the International Court of Justice and Genocide in Gaza, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees (without debate) - Research and Innovation Bill 2023 (Second…