I have read the report, as has everyone at Cabinet, because we approved its publication, and we await the advice of the Oireachtas joint committee once it has done its report. Certainly, as far as my party is concerned on this matter, members have a free vote, but just like Deputy Bríd Smith, I would prefer to wait until the Oireachtas joint committee makes its report, and that is why I will be voting for the timed amendment.

I can give Deputy Tóibín the absolute assurance that they will not be deleted or delayed. The national children's hospital is costing much more than was projected, but it is also taking a lot longer than was projected, so the amount of money being spent each year is largely in profile and for that reason it will not impact other capital projects. The national broadband plan is now running under budget, and is actually speeding up, so I am very confident that the national broadband plan will come in at a lot less th…

There are a number of sources of finance for city and county councils when it comes to repairing roads. There are grants from the Department of Transport. Councils can use their own resources from commercial rates, for example, and the local property tax. The Minister for Transport is responsible for allocations by county. He acknowledges, notwithstanding a very big allocation for local and regional roads, that the cost of repairing roads has gone up. He is examining that at the moment.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important and sensitive issue. As I read the report, families like the Chadas, the Hawes and others affected by such tragedies were in my mind. The report was approved by the Cabinet today. The Minister intends to publish it in the next couple of days. I do not know the exact date. There are many recommendations in the report. It needs thought and consideration. Some of these things are happening already, while we need to give further thought to others. My understanding is that t…

I thank the Deputy for the question, which she has raised previously. The proposed legislation we approved today is to ban the sale of vapes to those aged under 18 and by those aged under 18. Equally, they will only be able to be sold in licensed stores. There cannot be pop-up shops or stands at festivals or events targeted at children. There will also be restrictions on advertising, particularly around schools, cinemas and other places. I am not sure to what extent this will apply to online advertising, which of c…

We are introducing new legislation and regulations on short-term letting such as Airbnb to restrict it in the cities, in particular. The proposed legislation is currently being reviewed by the European Commission. It is something we want to introduce, in particular in city centres and urban areas where there are such shortages of places to rent. As I said earlier, in response to questions from others, it is encouraging to see how many first-time buyers there are every week - 400 people are buying their first home e…

I do not have a date, but I am told the proposed legislation is on Committee Stage in the Seanad at the moment and will come back to the House after that. Certainly the intention is for it to come before the House before the summer recess.

I will ask the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to answer the Deputy Naughten's question at the end. With regard to Deputy Griffin's question, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services, planning delivery and operation. However, my offer made inquiries with Uisce Éireann on this issue today. I am informed there are two separate approved construction projects for this year. The section from Boolteens to Farran is designed and the plan is for the replacement of approximately 1.6 km of net…

The only ongoing commission of investigation for which I am the specified Minister is the National Asset Management Agency Commission of Investigation. As with all such commissions, it is fully independent in its work. The NAMA commission was established in June 2017, following consultations with Oireachtas parties, to investigate the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle. Its original deadline for reporting was 31 June 2018, but following several requests from the commission and co…

I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Tóibín raised the difficulties we have had with so many commissions of investigation taking so long and costing so much. I often meet people who request a commission of investigation into some matter or other. I am often very upfront with them and I say it will take years and could cost many millions of euro and they might not be happy with the findings. They do not always work out very well. Some have worked out well and some have not. There are lots of different wa…

On the immigrant investor programme, to be very clear, it does not involve passports or citizenship whatsoever. It never did. The programme involves a residency permit for a number of years if somebody makes a major investment in the State. Nothing specifically came up that was untoward about it. However, the numbers availing of it are much larger than we expected. Almost all came from the one country and that raised concerns. That is why we suspended it. Let us not forget that it brought millions of euro into spor…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 9, inclusive, together. The economic division in the Department develops and implements policy to promote sustainable economic development in areas such as job creation, housing, climate action, digital issues and wellbeing. This work is particularly focused on ensuring a co-ordinated approach to implementing the programme for Government and issues that cut across multiple Departments. The division supports the work of the Cabinet committees on the economy and investment, housi…

I thank the Deputies for their questions. I join Deputy Bacik in welcoming the decision today to grant the Land Development Agency planning permission to build another 800 homes in Dundrum in south Dublin. This will be in addition to those under construction already by the LDA not too far away in Shanganagh. It will include a mix of social and affordable-for-purchase homes. As I do not know the answer to the Deputy's question on the Poolbeg site, I will have to come back to her when I have the facts. Deputy Barry r…

It is important that we build up surpluses in times of plenty.

We are doing exactly that.

The approach of Sinn Féin seems to be see a surplus, spend a surplus and there is nothing left when we need it down the line. This is the pathway to a return to austerity. This is what I hear all the time from Sinn Féin. It is the glide path back to austerity.

Spend the surplus now and have nothing left when we need it most.

With regard to Deputy Tóibín's question on a reduction in excise on petrol and diesel, we reduced excise on petrol and diesel by 15 cent to 20 cent at a time when it was 500 cent per litre at the pumps. It has come down considerably now. It is approximately €1.40 or €1.50. He pointed out that we have taken in a lot of revenue from VAT on petrol, diesel, gas and electricity. This is true but it has also been given back. The temporary business energy support scheme has a big budget. The energy credits alone were €600…

With regard to Deputy Ó Murchú's question, the duty of care law is now in the Seanad. We expect to have it enacted this year but that is not entirely under our control. Notwithstanding the fact that Beyoncé and Coldplay did not play concerts in Ireland, a large number of concerts are happening all over Ireland this year, including in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Slane. They have all obtained insurance so I am not sure whether it is as simple as the story we are being told that it is down to insurance solely. Deputy Boy…

It is so that people who do not qualify for social housing and who used to qualify for nothing else now qualify for a cost rental. We need to review the limits every year to take into account house prices and earnings. We have increased them and I anticipate we will increase them some more. With regard to investment in the west, enormous investment is happening in the west of Ireland at present. Only a few weeks ago the Minister, Deputy Coveney, announced probably the biggest private sector investment ever in the w…