-----every adult over 70 and people with medium incomes or less will have free GP care.

That is a huge step forward.

For the first time in the history of our State, that will be the case. The reason the Deputy has lost control again, and is shouting and interrupting me, is he does not want to hear the facts.

Let me give the Deputy another fact. He advocates for the National Health Service system, which is the system his party ran in Northern Ireland for a long time when it comes to health, but does he know that Irishmen and Irishwomen live two years longer than is the case in Britain? Does he know, for example-----

-----that when you adjust for disability and life years, Ireland outperforms Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland?

Does he know, for example, that waiting lists in Ireland, high as they are, are 66% lower than in Northern Ireland, where the Deputy's party ran the health service for most of 20 years, and 84% lower than in England? Why does he want to adopt systems we know do not work?

Of course we need to do more for people facing homelessness. It is important to bear in mind that while 12,000 people in emergency accommodation provided by the State are homeless, they are not the same people. We are lifting people out of homelessness all the time. It is important to bear that in mind, too. Of course, there is more we need to do, but the summer economic statement is essentially a document that deals with fiscal policy. It has a macroeconomic framework; it is not going to get into the details of ho…

We always consider the proposals that are put to us by Opposition parties, NGOs and others working in the area of homelessness, as well as, of course, those who build homes – the home builders. For example, we accepted the proposal to introduce a rent credit and that has helped many people with their rent. It is €1,000 for a couple and it is €1,500 for three people renting. We have also accepted other proposals for example in relation to derelict buildings and other proposals in relation to the tenant in situ schem…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. There is a long-standing Government commitment to ensure safe access zones around healthcare facilities and providers of termination of pregnancy services. That includes hospitals as well as GP surgeries in some cases. The introduction of safe access zones is supported by clinicians providing the service. Safe access zones are designed to protect the freedom to access termination services without impediment and to provide privacy to people accessing health servic…

As part of preparing this Bill, which took a long time to prepare because we wanted to get it right by balancing the right to protest and civil liberties concerns with the need to protect patients and allow them to avail of healthcare without being intimidated, we consulted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. There was also extensive consultation at pre-legislation stage. We believe we have got the balance right…

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this very important issue. I think any of us who turned on the news last night will have seen the scenes from Jenin and will have been deeply concerned at the violence that is happening in Israel and on the West Bank. We are, as I said earlier, deeply concerned by the level of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories this year. That includes Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, drone and rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, including the killings of civilians …

We have no role whatsoever in deciding the names of Israel Defense Forces operations, inappropriate as they are, but we can take very clear positions and we have done as a Government. As the Deputy said, the Tánaiste has resolutely condemned the announcement by the Israeli Government that another 6,000 housing units will be built on the West Bank on occupied land, and I echo that condemnation. Our position on settlement activity is crystal clear. Settlements are a clear violation of international law. They stand in…

Before I respond to Deputies, I want to take this opportunity to welcome some visitors to the House. Members of the national advisory council of Down Syndrome Ireland are here today. A very special welcome to Sinéad, Ross, Conor, Orla and Claire. They are very welcome to Leinster House. I hope to see them at some point later on. The Deputies have raised some very important issues here, including homelessness, what is happening in Israel, Palestine, Jenin and Tel Aviv, and also the European defence industry issue. W…

We will not be opposing the Deputy's motion tonight. I want to make clear the Government's support for the A5 upgrade which is a very important road in terms of road safety. I am very aware of the campaign in that regard. It is also a very significant road in that it connects Derry and Letterkenny better to Dublin and other parts of Ireland as part of the national road network. We are very much in favour of the project. The last agreement on this was actually made by Deputy Brendan Howlin, Sammy Wilson, Danny Kenne…

I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this important issue. I only became aware of it recently. I am advised that 13 families were sent letters by St. Michael's House on 27 June informing them that St. Michael's House would not be able to accept a referral to their adult disability day service. Some 11 of these referrals are school leavers who are leaving St. Michael's House School. I imagine that was very distressing for the families concerned. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is aware of the situation. She…

I want to be associated with Deputy Cairns's remarks and extend the condolences of the Government to the families, friends and school community of St. Michael's, in particular the family and friends of Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, who sadly lost their lives in Ios. It must be any parent's worst nightmare and a devastating event to happen to young men who were starting off on the next chapter in their lives. Our thoughts and condolences are with them. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assista…

Free GP care has been extended to all children aged six and seven and to families on median incomes or below. The reason it took so long is we needed to get agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, precisely to deal with some of the issues raised by Deputy Cairns. For example, as part of what we are doing, which is part of the agreement, there is-----

-----a trebling in GP training spaces. Doctors will be coming in from South Africa and other places. There are improvements in grants for practice nurses, capitation payments and maternity leave payments, all of which were agreed with GPs in recognition of the fact that more GP visit cards will result in more attendances.

Several Attorneys General have found that the occupied territories Bill is unconstitutional given the trade competencies of the European Union. We are not blocking the Bill. It is simply unconstitutional, so it cannot proceed.

I reiterate the Government's support for a Palestinian state.