I totally agree with the Deputy that we need a holistic response that is about prevention and harm reduction and that treats this as a health issue as well as a criminal justice issue. The legislation the Minister has promised is on the way. I do not have a timeline for it yet but I know the Minister is committed to tightening our laws around people who direct others to commit crimes and people who groom children to commit crimes. That legislation is pending.

There are three different schemes involved. The first is the tenant in situ scheme with respect to social housing tenants. That is in operation. Dublin City Council alone is in the process of purchasing approximately 300 properties. We are confident we will meet the target of 1,500 homes purchased under the tenant in situ scheme this year. We may even have to go higher if we are able to purchase more. From 1 April, that is being extended to people who do not qualify for social housing but who do qualify for cost re…

I broadly agree with the Deputy's sentiments. I have not made a planning objection to a housing development or a negative observation on a planning for housing in seven or eight years. I cannot do it in clear conscience. When we are in a housing crisis, the perfect is the enemy of the good. I will not object to a development because it is not perfect. It is not entirely black and white though. There may be circumstances where a development is so egregious or so inappropriate that a Deputy or a councillor may object…

I thank the Deputies. On Deputy Costello's question, that is an issue that has come up a lot for me in my constituency too. Many people use childminders for lots of different reasons. It is the view of Government that we should include childminders in the early education and childcare structure and that people should be able to get the subsidies if they use a childminder but my understanding is that to do that they have to be registered with Tusla for good reasons around quality and child protection. We cannot be s…

Anyway, perhaps the Deputy was just being provocative. I might ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to answer the question on CAMHS.

No.

No.

No.

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 1 go 11, go huile, le chéile. The Cabinet committee on health met yesterday and is due to meet again soon. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet Ministers individually to focus on different issues. I meet regularly with the Minister for Health to discuss progress and challenges in the area of health, including the Sláintecare reform programme. The primary aim in 2023 is to improve access, outcomes and affordability for patients in line with Sl…

Concerning individual queries, I am sure these are very difficult cases and if Deputies want to pass on the details to my office or the relevant Minister, we will try to provide a reply. It is not possible in this forum to respond to individual cases because there is always much more to it than can be put across in a minute or two by a Deputy and we need to know all the facts. Regarding the Sláintecare programme, our programme to bring about universal healthcare, it has three principles: affordable healthcare for e…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 15, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the humanitarian response to Ukraine last met on Thursday, 23 February and the next meeting is scheduled for this Thursday. The committee which I chair works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the State's humanitarian response for people arriving from Ukraine, who sought temporary protection here. The Government's co-ordinated response to the humanitarian crisis is extensive. Ireland has never seen so many people arrive in su…

On the war in Ukraine, it is obvious that appeasement has not worked. I have stated my view on that, and I explained it earlier. Of course Ireland argues for de-escalation, but de-escalation requires the aggressor to de-escalate. Ukraine was attacked. Ukraine is partially occupied. There cannot be a de-escalation until the aggressor de-escalates. Ukraine cannot de-escalate. What would that even look like? Would it mean Ukraine stopping the defence of its own cities and citizens? De-escalation has to involve the wil…

I propose to take questions Nos. 16 to 25, inclusive, together. The EU and international division works on all aspects of EU and national policy within the Department. It helps me to promote Ireland's foreign and economic policy objectives and to develop and maintain strong bilateral and multilateral relations. Working closely with other Departments, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs, the division assists me in my role as a member of the European Council and in my other EU engagements. It provides advice…

In response to Deputy Barry, I am sure the line Ministers would be happy to provide reports on their meetings and what was and was not said. It is standard for Ministers abroad to raise human rights concerns and issues if they are meeting another politician, but not necessarily if they are meeting somebody who is not a politician or representative of a Government. I am aware of the Phelan case. We are working on it. Suffice to say, relations between Ireland and Iran are not very close for many different reasons. I …

-----in Israel to change the judicial process. It has equality for women. It very often has Arabs represented in government and business in senior positions. It is very different from the countries in its neighbourhood where all the Jews have either left or been expelled. In Palestine, for example, there have not been elections for a very long time. In my view, there should be. In my view also, the anti-gay laws in Gaza should be repealed. It is not just in Qatar; it is also in Palestine. There should be women's ri…

I met President Macron last week in Brussels. We did not have a bilateral meeting but we were attending the European Council and we spoke en marge of that. We discussed the pension reforms. I understand in France they are trying to bring the pension age to 64. It is 66 here, and perhaps heading for 66 in Northern Ireland, with a 43-year rule. I explained to him that we have adopted a different approach in Ireland whereby people are able to choose to retire between the ages of 66 and 70 and that the amount of pensio…

Of course I condemn any violence, provided it is not lawful, and provided that it is not in self-defence.

It can be, certainly in self-defence.

I would encourage the Deputy to condemn any violence by protestors, or any attacks on police as well.

I can guarantee the Deputy that we will do the right thing; it is just the case that we disagree as to what the right thing is. When it comes to this entire matter, the Deputy has been very disingenuous in how she has spoken about it. She is deliberately stoking up additional anxiety and fears among people who have enough to worry about as it is.