We are aware of that need. I wish to say words of support. All of us acknowledge the costings of the works that need to be done to get the coastline ready for what will happen in the next two or three decades are extraordinary. They are in the hundreds of millions, no doubt, and may be in the billions. We support the Minister of State and I hope his good colleague, the Minister, who is seated beside him, will be forthcoming in the upcoming budget to further support those works. The other issue that is important to …

It is great to see the level of progress in the roll-out of broadband. However, in ready to connect areas, and, thankfully, some parts of my constituency have that status, there is a lack of clarity with regard to people who are in new builds who want to get high-speed broadband connections under the national broadband plan, NBP. In particular, I refer to those in areas that are ready to connect. What is the process for a person with a new build in a ready to connect area who wants to get a broadband connection? Wh…

I thank the Minister of State for the information provided. I acknowledge that those in areas that have had high-speed broadband roll-out through the NBP have had a very positive experience. There are many households, including my own, where people are working from home and also travelling to and from work. This dual model whereby people might be part of the time in their work premises and part of the time at home is going to be part of the future of working and of remote working. I do not think that full-time remo…

I would like to ask about further funding that is going to be allocated for the provision of community services, in particular family resource centres. The Tánaiste will be familiar, from his recent visit to Youghal, which we appreciate, that this is a concern in the community and the town of Youghal. These centres have many benefits. Is the Government in a position to assist with this? Could the Tánaiste perhaps liaise with some State agencies and the Minister for Social Protection to try to provide further suppor…

I wish to ask about supports required for our many sporting clubs and organisations across the country. The Minister of State will be aware that energy costs have huge implications for sporting clubs in Ireland because with the increased energy costs, there have been consequences for activities such as, for example, games played under lighting and ongoing energy cost maintenance. There has been a huge increase in this area. Does the Government have a plan to provide further supports? We heard this was an issue at t…

I sincerely thank the Minister of State for the information provided. I also thank the Government for what has been done in this year's budget. It was very well received and the Minister of State referred to a point I was going to make about the dropping level of participation by many people when it comes to fundraising in club activities and volunteering activities. This is causing huge knock-on consequences for sporting clubs around the country. I hope that, post Covid-19, this will be addressed in the medium ter…

I appreciate and acknowledge this. It is an ongoing concern. I want to hammer home the point that Oireachtas Members should acknowledge and let the energy companies in this country know that we are aware there is not a fair price being charged for electricity. It is something we have to look at. Many people are suffering as a consequence. This is just one example. It is an important example because it affects communities rather than individual households. If the companies are paying hand over fist to sponsor organi…

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about a new taxation policy the Government has been working on, namely the area relating to benefit-in-kind tax. It has been raised with me recently that a significant and substantial burden has been placed on people who have company cars. Unfortunately, they are put to the pin of their collar because of the new taxes that have been imposed on them if they are driving particular types of vehicles, such as a 2 l standard family-sized SUV. The tax on such vehicles has increased by approxim…

I am here for a reason. I am very concerned about antimicrobial resistance and the Department's speed of implementation. I come from a dairy farming background. We milk a sizeable herd at home. As Deputy Sherlock, who has been here longer than I have, would tell the House, Cork East is a constituency steeped in agriculture, particularly dairy farming. Notwithstanding the waffle about farming we listened to for the past ten minutes, when talking to progressive people who understand-----

Excuse me, Deputy Healy-Rae. When I need to hear from you, I will ask. Will you please leave?

Mother of God, he was halfway out the Chamber door. My apologies but that was unacceptable.

Experts who know about farming are, unfortunately, incredibly concerned about antimicrobial resistance. They do not feel it is being taken seriously enough and are concerned about the speed with which this is being implemented. I am hopeful there will be some degree of progress on that issue under the current Minister. The Bill has the potential in the medium term to have a significant impact on the effectiveness of animal medicines in Ireland. This will have knock-on consequences for the food supply chain in this …

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, on his appointment and wish him well in that role. No doubt, it is going to be one with plenty of travel and I know he will do his very best for us. In regard to the latest European Council summit, a number of important points were made. There was particular reference to the passing of Private Seán Rooney following his very sad death in Lebanon. I pay tribute to both him and Trooper Shane Kearney, who comes from my home parish, where I am well acquainted wit…

With regard to the upgrade of the N25 at Castlemartyr and Killeagh, I understand the documents, thankfully, have now gone to the Department of Transport for “gate zero” approval under the planning frameworks within the Department. Is it possible that this is looked into and that it is done immediately, and that funding is immediately issued for the appointment of a design consultant, which is required in order that locals can see what the proposed routes will be over the course of this coming year?

I want to raise the issue of interdepartmental staff promotions within the Civil Service. Have concerns been raised before, perhaps by trade unions or staff themselves, with the Minister's Department around the lack of interdepartmental staff that are given promotional opportunities? It is an issue that has been raised with me by a number of constituents who are concerned about it. Perhaps it is something that could be looked at by the Department.

I thank the Minister for the very detailed response. I appreciate and understand that due to the very sensitive nature of the matter, such a response was going to be issued in reply to my question. However, I have to give my own perspective from what I have heard from people who have brought the issue to my attention. Upon looking at the individual cases without naming or going into facet of the Civil Service, I did find it a bit peculiar in relation to the issues that were raised with me. I think it would be a pru…

With regard to Moorepark Technology, a company within Teagasc in Fermoy that does wonderful work, 18 employees have been locked out of public pay restoration because the company is semi-owned by the State. This is a very new situation that has not occurred in the past. The employees had pay cuts through previous pay deals and were not subject to pay restoration this year or late last year. They are on public sector pensions. I would appreciate it if the Tánaiste raised this with the Departments of Public Expenditur…

I will make a point on the climate action plan I have made in the House before around the calculation of the emissions budgeting for different Departments and sectors of our economy. As we all know, according to what we released in the most recent census, Ireland has a rapidly growing population. As a consequence, we need to engage in very serious work around infrastructure development, whether it is roads and transportation infrastructure, rail or any of the climate friendly transportation projects. Unfortunately,…

At the outset, I will very quickly refer to the situation this morning. Many of us awoke with horror at the news that has come from Lebanon. I express my sincere condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family of the soldier who died and to those who were injured this morning. Unfortunately, there is a connection to our local area. I wish the individual well and hope for his speedy recovery, which we are praying for. My question is on the national development plan, our carbon targets and capital projects containe…

I thank the Minister for the information. I am not necessarily coming here with a wrecking ball, but the State has put everything into the national development plan that we intend to build in all facets of infrastructure. It must, though, consider other plans put forward by the Government. My great concern is that, if we look at the calculations for the capital development of new projects around the emissions of those projects, I understand the Department of Transport and the agencies within it would be tasked to t…