I thank the Deputy again for his question. I do not have the figure he seeks to hand but I will undertake to get it for him. Regarding the information, part of the challenge is the sheer volume of requests that come in. However, the Department and the Minister have undertaken to reach out to Deputies to see what the particular difficulties they are having in dealing with international protection applications, and how we can improve that system for them so they can get the information they need. I agree it can be a …

I suppose the challenge is that many of these applications can be very complex. People often come to Ireland from some very traumatic situations looking for help. They often have had to flee their situation with no notice and it can be quite challenging to process those people. It is not a simple case of moving along A, B, C in a processing plant. These cases can be very complex and they can get caught at a particular moment in time when we are trying to get particular information or process them. Sometimes when th…

Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, overall investment of €210 million issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding has supported schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure and to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment. The new digital strategy for schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200 million to support schools over the period committed to under the NDP. The …

As previously stated, I expect that the next tranche of funding under the digital strategy will issue in the coming school year, by January 2024. The ongoing commitment to embedding the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning is demonstrated through the continued investment in teacher professional learning, relevant resources and the schools' broadband programme, with policy articulated in the digital strategy for schools to 2027. Our overall schools building programme is demand-driven and determined b…

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter around the ongoing delays in scoliosis surgeries. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this extremely important issue. The Government sincerely regrets that children like Leah can experience long waiting times for scoliosis treatment and it remains conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. Last year the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, approved an ambitious plan from Children’s Health Ireland to reduce the number of …

I again thank the Deputy for raising the ongoing issues with regard to delays in scoliosis surgeries and, in particular, for his mentioning of the very difficult situation which Leah is experiencing. As has been acknowledged, many patients, including children, who are waiting for scoliosis treatment are waiting for an unacceptably long time. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and in improved pathways to elective care, acute hospitals are still impacted by pent-up demand that aros…

The Deputy's Topical Issue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine the amount, in tonnes, of sheepmeat being imported into and exported from the State each year. That is the question I will answer. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, thanks the Deputy for raising this important issue, that being the amount, in tonnes, of sheepmeat being imported and exported. We all recognise the challenging market conditions our sheep farmers have faced this year compared with recent years and the Minister has spoken pre…

I remind the Deputy the question put down on the paper by himself is simply the amount in tonnes of sheep meat being imported and exported from the State each year. Had he mentioned traceability in his question, he probably would have got a more specific answer. We are answering the question he asked. The Minister in his reply is quite assured that any meat import from third countries, including Great Britain, is subject to certification requirements and the import control system operated by his Department at borde…

The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, has overall policy responsibility for public service occupational pension schemes payable to retired public servants. For all new entrants to the public service on or after 6 April 1995, the date of introduction of full social insurance for public servants who now pay class A PRSI, and before 1 January 2013, the date of introduction of the single public service pensions scheme, their pension is integrated. An integra…

The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is aware there are some issues concerning the procedures for qualifying for the payment of an occupational supplementary pension. However, reducing the administrative burden is likely to include a technological solution that will require some time to agree and implement. The Department will commence a consultative process with stakeholders to establish if there is a way in which we can streamline the process involved in accessing th…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating corruption, replacing Council Framework…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for their generous support for this motion. I will address two particular points that were raised. One related to the GDPR. As has been said to me in the past, the GDPR is meant to be a guide rail, not a locked door. Sometimes people use it as a locked door and a reason for saying "No". It can be the bane of all politicians' lives when it is cited sometimes. With regard to privileged immunity refers, this motion relates to a law for the entire European Union. I canno…

I thank the Deputy for raising her specific questions, which is why the firearms expert committee was established and what was the wide range of matters related to firearms about which the Minister formed the committee to advise on. The firearms expert committee was established to serve in an advisory capacity in respect of various firearms matters and I would like to thank the committee for its work. The firearms expert committee, FEC, was established following a request for expressions of interest from suitably q…

In fairness, I answered the question the Deputy actually put before the House. It was unfortunate that one of the members of the committee resigned or withdrew his support. However, he did so after the committee concluded all of its meetings and actually submitted its report which was, in fairness, quite late in the day. In regard to this process, this was just an advisory group making recommendations many of which use phrases like, for example, "to consider" or "to look at". That is all it is. These are not laws. …

If the Deputy will let me answer, please. There is no point in shouting me down.

Nobody is about to be criminalised.

I read misinformation in my own local newspaper where somebody said that organisations are going to be charged €1,000 a year. This figure was plucked out of someone's backside.

No, but it was in the newspaper. I am giving examples of the kind of misrepresentations that are being put out there----

-----that are creating unnecessary fear among the gun community.

Make no mistake either, we always have keep things like firearms under review. That is important as well.