I thank Deputy Scanlon for his question about Sligo University Hospital. As the Deputy will be aware, a 42-bed block is being built in Sligo. I think it is Deputy Scanlon’s view that the oncology unit should be constructed at the same time. I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, in respect of this matter and come back to the Deputy on it. Obviously, a lot of work is being done in the orthopaedic theatre in Sligo University Hospital at present. It is proposed to replace the orthopaedic theatre. The o…

I commend Deputy Scanlon on raising the question. As he knows, the programme for Government has committed the Government to exploring the provision of a surgical hub for the north west, in addition to establishing six new surgical hubs across the country. Delivery of the surgical hub in Sligo will be in line with the delivery of the other surgical hubs which are all new builds and which are taking in the order of four years for planning, design and construction. I can understand the Deputy’s desire to ensure this i…

I want to thank in the first instance Senator Ryan for amendment No. 3. I propose to respond to amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, 8 and 382 together as they relate to matters regarding Ireland's sovereignty and the common travel area. I will start by looking at amendment No. 3 itself, which states, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting the sovereign authority of the State ... to determine policy in respect of immigration ... " We need to recognise that what we are doing here today is Irish sovereignt…

On the solidarity mechanism Senator Keogan referred to, we are not opting in to accepting individuals; we are making a financial contribution in the region of €9 million. A member state can choose to go down the route of accepting applicants or making a financial contribution and we are doing the latter. On Operation Sonnet, I am pleased with the Garda national immigration bureau. There is strong co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda. As Senator McDowell mentioned, a large part of this involves the traffickin…

We made a decision in the previous Oireachtas to sign up to this arrangement. We decided to harmonise our asylum laws with other EU countries. That is Irish sovereignty in practice. We agreed to do that. The Houses of the Oireachtas decided to do that on foot of a Government recommendation. We cannot keep saying this is not Irish sovereignty in practice. Regrettably, the debate here is all about saying we should not have gone into the pact. Can people tell me what measures they want in this legislation that are not…

I have not heard anyone say they would change asylum law in Ireland by doing X, Y or Z. We are sovereign and can do a huge amount of what we wish to do but I am just hearing in the debate that Senators would not have gone into the pact and feel we have lost control. What control do they want? Spell it out. Sorry, I probably should not have stood up.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It was a horrific incident that happened to the families. I had the pleasure of meeting the Deputy and Deputy Doherty to discuss it last year. I also met with the parents of Leona Harper in December. I want to be straight with the families, because they have suffered a lot. I will not establish a public inquiry until such time as the criminal investigation and the inquest are concluded. The reason I am being blunt about that is because I want the families in Creeslough to…

As the Leas-Chathaoirleach has indicated, we are discussing a group of amendments. The vast majority of the amendments in the grouping are mine but some are not, including amendments Nos. 12 to 14, inclusive, 60 and 62, and we will deal with them as I go through them. The amendments I am bringing forward will introduce legal counselling under the Bill. They provide for a definition of legal counselling, setting it distinctly apart from legal advice, legal assistance and legal representation. This is why I will not …

I will answer that-----

I will answer it in due course.

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Ireland does provide a lot of paid-for legal advice and legal representation to applicants for international protection at present. Anyone who has had an opportunity to look at the report of the Legal Aid Board will have seen that just less than 50% of the applications for civil legal aid received by the Legal Aid Board are in respect of international protection. When dealing with that issue, I obviously have to ensure that not all of the resources of the Legal Aid Boar…

I want to deal with the question from Deputy McDonald that I did not answer. I will keep an open mind in respect of the matter. I will just say, however, that my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, met them. They want a public inquiry. I am being straight with them. I am not going to establish a public inquiry until such time that the criminal process is over. I will come back to the Deputy on this matter, but I do not want to fool people by bringing them up to Dublin and having them come in here-----

I will deal first with Senator Ruane's question. As she will be aware, under Part 4, and in particular Chapter 2, which deals with the determination of the member state responsible, it is the Minister, namely, me, who determines the member state responsible in respect of the application. There is a process that continues in respect of that. Section 74 deals with the "Determination of Member State responsible - assessment whether applicant poses threat to internal security". Section 75 deals with a "Personal intervi…

In the context of what Deputy Bacik said, people are obviously concerned about the rising cost of fuel. That is why the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other Government Ministers have indicated that measures will probably be taken in response to what is happening with regard to the price of fuel. We are not going to just have a knee-jerk reaction in respect of this; we are going to have a united Government response in the same way that we did in respect of Ukraine. The Deputy will obviously continue to put pressure on …

I thank the Deputy. I am well aware of the issue. As he indicated, it happened in Sean Moore Park in my constituency. Gardaí had considerable success identifying the person responsible for it. The criminal justice system must operate in respect of people, even if they are under 18 years of age, who commit arson in playgrounds. Not only are they damaging playgrounds, they are damaging their communities. I do not think the Deputy is suggesting I am responsible for arson attacks or for the increase in such attacks. I …

Unfortunately, I do not have an answer for the Deputy. I will raise it with my colleague the Minister, Deputy James Browne. It might be of assistance if the Deputy were to provide to the Minister details of the two constituents in question in order that he can look at the matter in more detail. At the periphery of every scheme, there is always some flexibility.

I would prefer to respond to Senators individually. I know the House does not do it that way but it would be easier in the long run for me and for the Senators as well to get a full and adequate response. Senator Higgins, in terms of section 81, "legal representative" is going to be a stronger term and a stronger provision for the applicant. Second, in terms of the unaccompanied, minor, as the Senator knows, I will be designating a competent authority as having responsibility for looking after an unaccompanied mino…

Everyone is aware of the impact that the price of fuel is having on families, not just at pumps but also elsewhere. The Deputy is correct that VAT accounts for more than 20% of the cost of fuel. Excise duty accounts for more than 30%. That is something the Government is looking at, particularly in respect of the excise duty. We will not make a knee-jerk reaction just to facilitate the Deputy in getting an answer today. This has to be carefully considered by the Government.

Very briefly in reply, because I am conscious there are other amendments, in response to Senator Higgins, there is a very clear definition of legal counselling set out in amendment No. 14. It is extremely detailed. It is very clear what legal counselling involves. Finally, the Senator spoke about the removal of rights in respect of children. There may be some confusion there. What is happening in terms of certain provisions in the Bill, they are not being removed; they are being moved to a different part of the leg…

I have spoken to Deputy Crowe previously about this issue and his concern for the gardaí involved. As is obviously the case, they were acquitted. They are not guilty. It is always the case, regrettably, that where people who are prosecuted for offences and acquitted, there are consequences for them deriving from that. There is no mechanism in place to provide any remedy for a person who is prosecuted and then acquitted, and I do not think there would be public support for it. The Deputy has raised an inquiry in res…