The programme for Government seeks to accelerate the roll-out of the national broadband plan, NBP. Dependable broadband is essential to support rural communities, foster businesses in our towns and villages and enable people to work from home and students to learn online. Every day, I am contacted by people who are extremely frustrated at their appalling Internet access. Throughout lockdown, people resorted to working from church car parks in their cars. Some teachers could not access the Internet at home to teach …

I too welcome the opportunity to speak on the Social Democrats' first Private Members' motion in the new Dáil. The pandemic has highlighted how undervalued so many of our essential workers are. Like my colleague said, we all owe them a debt of gratitude but gratitude is not just paying lip service. Real gratitude is providing them with fair pay, better conditions and basic rights. Another motivation for putting this motion forward is that by addressing workers’ rights we not only ensure their livelihoods and dignit…

I echo some of the sentiments expressed by Deputies regarding disability services. The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Dáil, aimed to give further effect to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in areas such as assisted decision making and voting and with regard to the National Disability Authority. The programme for Government commits to strengthening rights through the convention as well as improving support and diagnostic ser…

Is the Minister aware that there is only one domestic violence refuge for all of Cork city and county? It has space for just six families and now, due to social distancing requirements, that is down to two families. At a time when calls to gardaí about domestic violence have increased by 25%, the shamefully inadequate refuge space has been reduced by 66%. Will the Minister please address this shortcoming with immediate effect? Over the last week, we have seen horrific details emerge about the epidemic of gender-bas…

An answer about the Cork domestic violence centre would be great. There is only one refuge centre in all of Cork city and county, which provides space for six families, and only two at the moment.

I have quite a few questions for the Minister but I will try to be quick so that there is time to come back in after he responds. This pandemic has illustrated the importance of healthcare delivery at the point of need. Before, during and after the Covid-19 crisis, an issue of extreme concern for people in west Cork is the potential downgrading of Bantry General Hospital to a model 2 facility. The hospital provides vital healthcare services for the population of west Cork, some parts of which are more than a two-ho…

Is there a plan to use private hospital beds as part of the reopening of public non-Covid health care?

Does the Minister have an update on introducing a statutory right to home care provision?

I hope the Minister will also tie its hands on the Bantry hospital issue.

I welcome the flood risk management section in the annual transition statement. The document highlights that there will be an increase in extreme weather events resulting in an increased risk of flooding. Flooding has caused irreparable damage to communities and businesses in areas, including west Cork. We desperately need a proactive, whole-of-government and sustainable response. To deal properly with flooding we must consider the broader landscape. As well as taking into consideration our emissions and climate ac…

Has the OPW looked into using a more whole-of-government approach with regard to planning or using more soft engineering as a prevention method rather than always dealing with the problems of building on floodplains and so on? Has the OPW started to look into methods such as a watershed approach? Is that on its radar or could the Minister cite any instances where we have used more soft engineering approaches?

Is it possible to get an analysis of the release of emissions through the production of concrete for big flood relief works in Ireland and west Cork specifically? Would it be possible to get a figure on something like that?

I have a statement and three questions for the Minister. Thus far, not only has the State’s response to the climate crisis been wholly inadequate, the manner in which it has been carried out has created fear. It has made farming and fishing communities fearful of climate action. I often end up asking the question as to whether farmers should be more worried about climate action or climate change. I am interested to know what the Minister thinks. We need action and it will require determination, vision and leadershi…

I am not aware of that.

To clarify, is that an acknowledgement that the Minister does not plan to reduce the emissions but just plans to work further on emissions efficiency?

Does the Minister acknowledge that some food production sequesters carbon and that his statement that all food production increases emissions is actually incorrect?

Crops, horticulture.

In respect of overall reduction of emissions, which is what we are talking about, it is untrue to say that all types of food production will increase our greenhouse gas emissions.

I am disappointed by the absence of tourism in the annual transition statement. An ambitious domestic tourism strategy could be environmentally and economically sustainable and has become urgent in light of the effects of Covid-19 on the industry. We need to enhance and incentivise domestic tourism for the next few years; it is the only way the industry will survive. Greenways, blueways, walking trails and other eco-tourism initiatives that promote our natural and cultural heritage should be prominent in our climat…

I have a brief statement to make and then three questions for the Minister. Like many, I am outraged at the killing of George Floyd and the treatment of Black Lives Matter protesters in the US. As public representatives, it is important we respond to these events and listen to and amplify the voices of those affected. We cannot ignore this; that is how racism thrives. We also need, however, to reflect on racism in Ireland. This includes the inhumane direct provision system, attitudes towards Travellers, and everyda…