I thank the Deputy. As I said earlier at a different event, the figures produced by Women's Aid are very concerning. Just this year so far, five women have been killed as a consequence of domestic and gender-based violence. It is something the Government is acting on and is very concerned about. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is taking the lead in implementing the strategy in that regard. Last year for example, 12 additional safe homes were put into place and the total number will further increase from 32 to 50 by t…

I thank the Deputy. The Government is committed to making childcare more affordable and more available, and to improving the quality of childcare and early education available to children and parents. I am happy to confirm there will be a further reduction in the cost of childcare for all parents next year. That will be in addition to the 25% average reduction that occurred last year. As is the case with any budget decision, the exact figure has yet to be agreed and cannot be agreed until budget time. I am happy to…

-----disingenuous.

I thank the Deputy. The Government is doing everything it can to increase the supply of housing and to make it more affordable. More than 30,000 new homes were built last year. We expect a similar number to be built this year. There is a rent credit to help with the cost of renting and loads of schemes to help people to buy. We are seeing them make a difference. There are now 300 or 400 people buying their first home every week, which is hugely encouraging.

I read about the tragedy that happened in the Mediterranean and saw the pictures. Everyone is horrified by what occurred in the Mediterranean in that people have lost their lives at sea. My condolences go to the families of those who were lost. It is not fair to simply blame European governments and the EU. The people who are most responsible for these deaths are the human traffickers - the criminals and criminal organisations that put people on unseaworthy vessels and do not care whether they arrive alive so long …

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for recruitment but the Minister for Justice keeps in regular contact with him about this important matter. Funding has been provided for 1,000 new Garda recruits this year. That remains our target for the year. We are confident that the number of new recruits this year will exceed the number of retirements and resignations. In addition, we are hiring Garda staff to free up gardaí to do Garda work. I saw that in operation in Clonmel only a few weeks ago. I am very pleased that …

I would have to talk to the Ministers, Deputies Darragh O'Brien and Eamon Ryan, about the matter. I know of plenty of examples internationally of both privatisation and remunicipalisation of waste services. There have been different results in different cases. I might be wrong but I would have thought that whether councils are willing to make the investment, pay compensation and do all of those things would be a matter for themselves.

I thank Deputy Higgins for raising this important issue. I know that there are many people who are unfortunately afraid to use public transport at night because of the security issues the Deputy has rightly raised. We now have a new control centre at Heuston Station, which allows An Garda Síochána to monitor what is happening on public transport and in our stations. Obviously, any decision on the establishment of a dedicated transport police service would involve weighing up the pros and cons but I will certainly l…

That legislation is being developed. It now falls to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to progress it. I do not have a timeline for its publication but I will find out and come back to the Deputy before the end of the week.

I am very sorry to hear about the disruption that people in Ratoath have faced. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is very much on the case, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. I will certainly check in with Irish Water and see if that can be done. I do not want to make a commitment in the House today but I believe it is a reasonable ask. We will make some inquiries.

This is now a matter for the committee and I cannot speak on behalf of its chair or its members. They will have to make a decision on timelines. The Deputy asked whether there would be a free vote here in the Chamber and there was. There will also be a free vote on Committee Stage.

There has been a reduction in fees and an extension of services over recent years. With regard to the particular services in Sligo and Roscommon that the Deputy has mentioned, I do not know the details or the reason the bus did not stop in Boyle but I will certainly let the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, know the matter was raised here and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am familiar with Cancer Connect. I know it provides a lifeline and a really important service to people, allowing them to get to CUH in Cork city for their treatment. There are a number of possible funding options. The HSE is one option. Other options might include the dormant account funds. Certainly, if I can be of any help, I am happy to be of help.

Far from being select, over 900 people have already registered to attend at the three sites. We have received 300 written submissions. That is quite a lot of people. I know the Dublin meeting is full. It may well be the case that Cork and Galway are full as well. I am not sure if it is possible to create more space, but if it is, we will.

As the Deputy knows, acute Lyme disease is caused by ticks. People should be made aware of the habitat. That is a very valid point. There is some work being done to raise awareness around the possibility of getting Lyme disease. The diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease, though, is a controversial diagnosis. I would ask people to be cautious about using overseas labs or treatments that may not be recognised here.

I will ask the Minister.

I 100% want to join with Deputy Farrell in condemning those cowardly people who attack our gardaí and other front-line uniformed and non-uniformed professionals. We are proceeding with body cams for gardaí. I hope that will at least reduce the number of assaults they have to endure, make it easier to catch those who engage in such assaults and be useful in general when it comes to detecting and preventing crime. We need to make sure that gardaí have the tools and the technology they need. That is being progressed. …

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 44F) (Appointed Day) Order 2023, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 12th June, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not later than 27th June, 2023, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 101, …

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 1 go 8, go huile, le chéile. The Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland was reconstituted as one of ten Cabinet committees established in January 2023. It operates in accordance with the established guidelines for Cabinet committees and, where appropriate, substantive issues are referred to the Government for discussion and approval. The Cabinet committee is intended to oversee implementation of relevant programme for Government commitments in the area of Brexit and Northern I…

The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the British-Irish Council, two institutions of the Good Friday Agreement that are still operating, met in the past week or so. The Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, went to London for the meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. The Tánaiste and I were in Jersey last week for a meeting of the British-Irish Council. At all forums, we make very clear our opposition to the legacy legislation being bought through the Houses of Par…