Deputy Mattie McGrath raised the issue of energy security. As a country, we are doing okay with energy security. I remember only a few months ago there was a real concern that we would be facing black-outs and brown-outs, but that has not happened. We have managed to get the necessary emergency generation in place and we are working to ensure it is in place for next winter and the one after. We have 90 days' worth of reserves for petrol, diesel, kerosene and oil, which is important too. We are examining whether we …

-----on the right thing to do. The Deputy was cheeky enough to tell me what he thinks I think. He should let me tell him what I think he thinks, which is just to find any excuse to oppose anything and there is always a reason.

I join with the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming the members of the delegation from Moldova, along with the ambassador, Ms Larisa Micule, who we all know very well, and to assure them of our continued support for Moldova's path to its membership of the EU and our support for it in everything it is trying to do now to defend its independence and its democracy from forces that would undermine it. They are most welcome. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil socrú nua in áit idir an tAontas Eorpach agus an Ríocht Aontaithe - the Windsor …

I read the statement of the leader of the DUP last night and heard his interview on radio this morning. I think he has asked for a little time to consider the agreement, to pore over the text and to ask some questions. That is reasonable, and we should allow a little time and space for that to happen and for him to consult his party. That is not unreasonable. Certainly, the European Union and the British Government are happy for that to happen. We can see that there is strong cross-party support for this, not just …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a cuid ceisteanna. I want to acknowledge the fact that businesses and people are facing very high electricity and gas bills, and as a result of that many households are struggling, particularly pensioner and low-income households. Many small businesses are also struggling with very high utility bills. Mar a dúirt an Teachta, tá an costas maireachtála an-ard. Tá an praghas ar leictreachas agus ar ghás an-ard ach tá an Rialtas anseo agus tá sé ag cabhrú. As the Deputy mentioned in …

Rinne an Rialtas go leor agus beidh níos mo gníomhartha ón Rialtas sna seachtainí romhainn. The Government has done a good deal and we will do more in the coming weeks. We have reduced VAT to 9% on electricity and gas. Another energy credit will be deducted from people's bills for the March-April period. We have improved the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, the scheme to help businesses, farmers, sole traders and professionals with their energy bills. The next step is the windfall tax. We plan to le…

The temporary compensation still has to be paid and there would be a temporary delay in investment in education, healthcare and housing as a result.

I thank the Children's Rights Alliance for the work they do. We do not always see eye to eye but we have had very good engagement with them as a Government down the years. I am aware of its Report Card 2023, which was issued today or yesterday. To be fair to the alliance, in the round it gave the Government two As, five Bs, four Cs, four Ds and one E. We did not get two As last year and it is worth noting that the alliance has given the Government two As - one for enacting the Harassment and Harmful Communications …

I thank the Deputy. I am almost astounded by the Deputy's response. Does he really think he deserves some sort of reward, or thanks, or kudos, for not opposing housing?

We should all be actively supporting the building of additional housing in our communities. He deserves no reward, nor thanks, nor pats on the back for not opposing thousands of new homes in his constituency, or even for supporting them. Between April 2021 and May 2022 he has opposed 1,315 new homes in his constituency. Where would those people be living now Deputy, if he had his way? However, to answer his question, we have not made a decision yet on the extension of the eviction ban. We will make a decision on th…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. On behalf of the Government, I want to acknowledge that we have a very real problem when it comes to children being able to access the therapies, assessments, treatment and counselling they need. Children are being let down. It is not so much a matter of money or political will; both are there in abundance. There is a real difficulty in recruiting, training and retaining staff, as well as organising services in such a way that children and their needs are priorit…

The figures I have from the HSE and Department of Health indicate that we are seeing a levelling off in waiting lists. There has been an 18% reduction in those waiting for initial speech and language therapy treatment according to the latest available data. The latest available data from October indicates a small reduction in physiotherapy waiting lists of approximately 3% and approximately 6% for occupational therapy. That is pretty minor in terms of reductions in waiting lists and is not a satisfactory situation.…

In relation to the Windsor Framework, we propose to take statements on it next week. We want to give Members some time to read and digest all the documentation. We propose to set aside Government time next week for that. In relation to the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, it is my understanding he is seeking time to make a statement today. I am not sure if the Ceann Comhairle is across that, but the Minister of State wants to make a statement at any rate and has agreed to do so. On staff safety and sheep fa…

We will arrange the briefings with agreement by the parties to do that this week. My Department is already working on that and will probably be in touch with Opposition leaders' offices today around having those briefings. I think we are at a very sensitive stage and I do not think anyone in this House, least of all me, wants to say anything that might jeopardise the acceptance of the Windsor Framework, so the only thing I would say is this. The Stormont brake is there, in many ways to counterbalance the consent me…

I spoke on this a little earlier. The next step from the Government is the windfall tax and legislating for that in the House to allow us to take some of the windfall profits from last year, and indeed this year, and to use them to help people and businesses with their bills. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is engaging with energy companies. I will engage with them directly as well. But I would like to know, and it is not fully known yet, what their profits were for last year because what I want to be able to say to the…

This is a complicated insolvency involving a company based in Britain. I am not sure if the way that the Deputy described things is exactly the case. I do not know whether the Corporate Enforcement Authority has examined it fully and come to a determination on it so I would prefer not to comment on it. Either the Deputy or myself can make inquiries with the Corporate Enforcement Authority as to whether there is a case or not.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. During the pandemic all available Department of Health resources were devoted to the public health response. This meant that work on a vaccine damage compensation scheme was stalled. However, a senior counsel has prepared an initial report on this for the Department. It is expected that further work on it will be advanced this year. A similar scheme exists in the UK already. It is a good model to follow and one that can provide an alternative to court which is e…

I am not aware of any plans to cover those costs at the moment. It is not standard that we would cover the costs of private healthcare or private treatments. Sometimes we do this through the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, mechanism, for example through the cross-Border directive. If there is a prior arrangement, we can do this but we must have some checks and controls around these things. Perhaps we can give consideration to using that mechanism to pay for some people to go private in those circumstances. …

I am very much aware of the issue. Residents in my constituency in the Hollywoodrath area and The Ward are having a similar experience. I am, and I will be, engaging with the Minister on it.

We are definitely working on it. As the Deputy can imagine, I could recite a similar list for my constituency and I believe most Members in the House could do likewise. We have a very large school building programme at the moment. It is great to go into some of those new schools and see how well built they are and the level of services that are available. It reminds one of how old some of our school buildings are and how much investment we need. It is never the case that we can do every project we would like to do …