I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the debate. It was not my intention to mention the briefing that we received today from the care group but, such was the moving personal testimony from people who have suffered from eating disorders and their family members, it would be unbecoming not to mention it. Those who attended became much more aware of the issue today. Many there were already familiar with the issue of eating disorders. There is a specific request. That is for specific treatment and therap…

One of the commitments in the programme for Government relates to the delivery of a step change in disability services. This is a very welcome and ambitious objective. Should it come to fruition in five years' time, we would be able to reflect positively on it. This Government would leave a legacy of change in this area should it come to pass, and we all hope that it will. My professional career coincided with an era when children with diverse needs began to enrol in mainstream school settings. We saw with this the…

Like other Members of the House who spoke previously, I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, well in her role and congratulate her on her reappointment. It is a difficult portfolio but the Minister of State will have the support of the House in all earnest efforts to try to improve services for patients in this area. I compliment the Business Committee on enabling this debate. I am familiar with the case outlined by Deputy Tóibín, which was also outlined earlier by Deputy O'Hara, of the young man who presente…

Tá mé an-sásta an cheist seo a chuir ar an Aire ar son an Teachta O'Sullivan. Mar is eol dó, bhí díospóireacht againn aréir inár bpáirtí parlaiminte ar an ábhar seo. Last night at our parliamentary party meeting, this issue was raised and concern was expressed by a number of Members about the application of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. The Minister will be aware that the scheme offers those eligible to avail of a repayment of VRT and VAT on the purchase of vehicles and to exempt those eligib…

That is no problem. I could not be mistaken for a better person. I welcome the Minister's response and the sentiment contained in it, particularly the information that a new scheme is being proposed in this area. This would be welcomed by all Members of the House and many sectoral interests working on behalf of people with disabilities. In respect of the report submitted to the Department of the Taoiseach, is there any update about when that might be published and will there be a debate on the issue among Members?

I welcome that.

Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus tugaim leithscéal an Teachta Crowe don Teach. I am sure that, like us all, the Minister has received substantial correspondence on this issue. There is a perceived discrimination in the application of inheritance tax that impacts families who have no children of their own. As the Minister will be well aware, strong bonds exist between aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Often in such situations, the nieces and nephews become the primary carers for their aun…

I thank the Minister for the response. We are all aware when proposing any change that it must be balanced against other areas within the Exchequer. The concern is that some people are entering a phase of their lives where they must give consideration to this issue. Our worry is that what they are passing on to their relatives is as much a tax burden as an asset. There should be some consideration of that point. Consideration should be afforded by bringing forward some type of equity in respect of the inheritance o…

I thank the Minister for his response and for giving the issue further consideration.

There is a theme, which I heard many Deputies remark on at the outset of their contributions, that this is a topic that will be difficult for many, having lost loved ones through road traffic accidents or incidents. I am particularly conscious as the Minister, Deputy O’Brien outlined at the start of the debate that the number of fatalities in recent years has increased despite much good work which has been ongoing prior to now that has seen a significant reduction since the late 1980s through the introduction of th…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis seo píosa a rá faoi chúpla rud áirithe atá sa chlár Rialtais. Tosóimid ar an bpointe ar chríochnaigh mo chomhghleacaí air maidir leis na Gaelcholáistí agus an gá atá orainn níos mó Gaelcholáistí a chur ar fáil do chuile cheantar, go mór mór in aon cheantar a bhfuil Gaelscoil ar fáil ann. Ba chóir go mbeidh rogha Gaelcholáiste a bheith ann sa cheantar céanna. Is mór an trua é nach bhfuil sé sin ar fáil gach áit, ach ba chóir. Glacaim go bhfuil an sprioc sa chlár Rialtais go mbeidh muid ag…

Is trua í ar bealach gur faoin ábhar seo a bhfuil an chéad deis agam cúpla focal a rá sa Teach, ach sin mar atá sé. Is ábhar tábhachtach é do mhuintir mo Dháilcheantair. Fiú amháin é sin, níl a fhios agam an leor í an díospóireacht seo ach ceapaim go bhfuil gá le próiseas eile chun muid ar fad a shásamh go ndearnamar chuile rud a bhí deis againn a dhéanamh chun tionchar na stoirme a laghdú agus daoine a chabhrú. While I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, I am not wholly certain that it is a suffi…