May I just indicate that I raised this matter with the Minister earlier on and would appreciate the information that was asked for?

I will begin by taking up the point made by the previous speaker in respect of this and other issues with which the State is dealing whereby we tend to leave people behind. For me, consultation is extremely important. The outcome of that consultation is even more important. We do not factor that in at the early stages in order to impress on people that their concerns, suggestions or ambitions are heard. In order to gain the support of people, we need to deal with the issues they are grappling with at this time. The…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I acknowledge that the topic we are speaking about is an issue which has been created for us due to the horrific events abroad in the context of Russia invading Ukraine. It comes on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, which added increased costs to and more issues for businesses throughout the country. This crisis comes at a bad time for those affected by the impacts of Covid-19. We are now entering into a time when it is not possible to predict the price of di…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Defence Forces and this report. I come from Kilkenny city, where James Stephens Barracks is located and where the oldest unit in the Defence Forces, The Bloods, are stationed. I know the value of having the barracks in the constituency. I also know the loyalty and support that family members give to members of the Defence Forces in the context of carrying out their duties. I have heard many debates in this House on the Defence Forces and improving their lot, as it were. They…

I welcome the Bill. I commend the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on its work on the pre-legislative scrutiny on the Bill and the various recommendations that came from that committee. In his response, I ask the Minister to deal with each and every recommendation so that we know what the standing of the Department is in relation to the report and to the recommendations. I want to put on record too that there have been many whistleblowers down through the years. The one who s…

Since the Minister was appointed and the new Department established, he has certainly made huge strides on the reform of this area and indeed funding for it. That must be acknowledged. He has cut new ground in almost every part of the third level sector. When he visited the Institute of Technology Carlow he made quite an impression with the interest he took in all the projects that were displayed and each of the individuals he spoke to. I also admired the fact he introduced the type of reform that deals with the ac…

It seems like another week, another scandal of outrageous proportions. Everybody in this House will speak about it and will demand action of one kind or another. It is a reflection on the system itself. I agree with Deputy Nolan when she said that the State is broken. It is true. The administration of this State is broken, and particularly the administration of the HSE. We have to come to a point in this House where we agree that it has to be reformed. The 1926 Act and the other amending Acts associated with the Mi…

I join with all other Members of this House, and indeed those beyond the House, who have expressed their sympathies to Ashling's parents, family, extended family, school community and general community to say how sorry we are that she died in such a way, in such horrific circumstances. I hope this debate and all that is being said here will result in action being taken. It is very sad to see a woman who had contributed so much in her life having that life stolen from her when she could have contributed an awful lot…

The Government has responded to the hospitality sector with various supports. There is no doubt that the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, and Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, have been extremely helpful. However, the sector is on its knees and all the sectors providing associated employment are also in difficulty, including the entertainment industry, individuals and groups. The Irish Hotels Federation has contacted us all again. Locally, the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow, on behalf of its members, and th…

I welcome the Bill, particularly the changes relating to the importance of local authorities. They have been taken for granted for far too long. We have moved away from the full meaning of local authorities and what they deliver to the people they represent. In the context of the pre-planning phase, I fully agree that there must be greater consultation with the local communities involved. That can be enforced or enhanced by having proper planning through the councils in terms of what they want the land used for or …

I wish to draw the Taoiseach's attention to what we spoke about earlier, namely, the increase in energy and fuel costs and how it is affecting society and the economy. On one side, you have marginalised people and people on limited incomes who cannot afford to pay for the fuel for their houses. They are making choices, as was said earlier, between food or being warm. Outside the gates today are the hauliers. The cost to them has not seeped down yet but it will be passed on to the general economy and those who are a…

I listened carefully to the remarks of the Minister of State and the other contributors to this discussion and I have to say that I am shocked and appalled that what is happening here today is a further abuse of Grace and the 46 others. We are completely ignoring the fact that there are reports within the HSE that clearly outline what happened to Grace. In the beginning, when this happened and the whistleblowers decided they were going to explain the case, it came up at the Committee of Public Accounts under the gu…

Hear hear, a Cheann Comhairle, we join with you in supporting what you have just said on this.

I wish to first put on record my thanks to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her kind remarks earlier in the debate on the Farrelly commission of investigation, which I appreciate very much. The Bill before us deals with a number of different road traffic issues. There is a commentary in the explanatory memorandum on the changes in our use of vehicles of one kind or another and the use of public transport. I have to make a case for rural Ireland generally where there is no transport system and where people cannot get a…

I understand that but I am talking about legislation-----

-----that may effectively deal with that.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle very much. That aspect needs to be examined to see if we can strengthen the court system in the context of legislation to ensure this does not happen again. I wish to discuss another example of the poor implementation of legislation in the context of another accident where the vehicle was impounded. We need to examine what happens to a vehicle that is impounded, how gardaí carry out their assessment of such a vehicle and how available the report is to the other party who might have…

It seems that there is not any aspect of the health service that is not in crisis. Older people are being sent home with promised care hours and care packages that never materialise. Management is dealing with waiting lists in hospitals. Patients are again being asked to queue on trolleys. Yesterday, Deputy Lowry raised an issue I raised previously about ambulance services. Patients in Tullow and Kilkenny had to wait six hours for an ambulance. When will the Government engage with the management of the HSE and the …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this subject. I welcome the new technological universities that have been established. There is a clear pathway now ahead in terms of the development of the status and activity of each of those entities and a great deal of what they will be engaged in will centre around the sciences because the future is all about solutions through science. Whether it is life sciences or pharmaceuticals or the medical sector, all of those have left a mark on world markets, in that products from…

In 2011, the Fine Gael Government promised the roll-out of broadband, particularly in rural Ireland. The same was said by the following Government and it is being said now by this coalition. However, in spite of what the Tánaiste said in reply to Deputy Cahill earlier, the evidence on the ground is that businesses are suffering badly. Deputy Cahill gave the example of a business in his area. Likewise, a company employing 50 people in Tullow, County Carlow, which relies heavily on broadband, was promised it would ha…