That is not a response. The Tánaiste did not answer the question.

High-performance computing is at the core of the fourth industrial revolution and is central to growing the Irish economy and securing next-generation foreign direct investment, FDI. Under the watch of An Taoiseach when he was higher education Minister, Ireland's national supercomputer, known as Kay, reached the end of its life last November without a new supercomputer to takes its place. Until we have a new national supercomputer in place, academics, industry and the State will have to use the national supercomput…

That is good to know.

I will not say I listened with amusement, but I listened with one eyebrow raised to Deputies talking about what happened in 2009. You would nearly think the accident and emergency departments closed themselves when we know it was the Minister's party, Fianna Fáil, that closed them. They did not close on their own, as appears to have been suggested. I also listened to the Minister's remarks at the start, and he was dead right to pay tribute to our healthcare workers. They are the glue that holds our health services …

Who I am hoping is on his way. I will hold the time anyway until my colleague gets here; half of it is mine. I listened with some interest - I know she is not here now - to the Minister of State's backbench colleague absolutely decrying the cut her own Government made to summer provision. The irony of that is not lost on me, nor will it be lost on the parents of kids with special needs in my constituency. The woman voted for the budget and then comes in here and decries it. I would say the Minister of State is prob…

We fought it.

No. We fought it.

Last week, I was contacted by the parents of a girl with autism who lives in Skerries. They were one of 32 families in my area to receive the devastating news that their child will not have a place in the ASD unit in the Educate Together primary school in September. This morning, I spoke to the girl's mother and to say she is devastated is an understatement. She is heartbroken, the same as any parent, the same as me and the same as the Tánaiste. All she wants is for her child to be able to live her best life and to…

Yes.

I thank our Chairperson, Deputy Quinlivan, and the secretariat staff of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment for all of their work on this report. In a time of climate change and energy insecurity, there is an opportunity for industry and coastal communities, working together, to develop a new industrial sector supporting regional development, creating thousands of jobs, and driving sustainable growth. Decarbonising our electricity system is central to the transition to a more sustainable, afford…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Doherty, for bringing forward this motion. Duty increases on petrol and diesel are a huge concern for my constituents in north County Dublin. We have debated the lack of a reliable bus service in this House many times. The Government has not provided people with a reliable bus service. They have no choice but to be in their car and they are getting creased yet again by this Government, not once or twice but three times this year. These increases in the face of a cost-of-living crisis fo…

I welcome the new Minister and Minister of State. I very much look forward to working with them and congratulate them both on their appointment. I know it is a very proud time not just for themselves but for their families, their local party and their communities. I congratulate them both and look forward to having a good working relationship, as I had with their predecessors. My question is a very straightforward one. The Minister will come to know over time that it is an issue I take a very keen interest in and o…

I welcome the Minister's reference to the significant legal changes because we had an engagement with IBEC and the ICTU at the Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. During the course of that engagement, IBEC was very much of the view that no legislation would be required or very minimal legislation - I think it actually said “No” - whereas Congress took the view that legislation was very definitely going to be required. I note the Minister's predecessor had been a bit noncommittal on the issue but, because…

I will look at my calendar later and see if I can find what date “in due course” is. We need a date and if the Minister is not moving towards a date, that is a difficulty. The last time we discussed this, the previous Minister advised me that no targets had been set in regard to the 80%. That is a grave mistake. If the Government is not driving the targets, there is going to be drift. He also said, quite bizarrely – I am putting this back on the record because I challenged it at the time and will challenge it again…

In 2006, the OECD recommended the abolition of mandatory retirement in Ireland. I have brought legislation forward on this, as have my colleagues, Deputies Claire Kerrane and John Brady. Recently, we had stakeholders present at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment to discuss the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill. We heard from people who had made submissions but who do not feel that their voices have been heard. They feel that the Government is simply e…

Yes, but will the Government listen to them? That is probably the question I should have two minutes on. We heard from a range of stakeholders, some of whom pointed out something that was quite interesting, namely, that at the last election, 13 Deputies were aged 65 or over. During the course of this Dáil, 12 Deputies will attain the age of 65, and fair play to them, but nobody is asking them to retire. Nobody is asking them to retire at 66 years of age either. It is hypocritical that we would pass legislation in h…

The Pensions Commission also recognises in the case of people who work in certain occupations, like hairdressers who are on their feet all day and those working in construction and retail, that by the time they hit 65, they feel they have done their shift. Many do not want, and nor should they be compelled, to work past the age of 65. That is contained within the Pensions Commission report. At least we won that argument with the Pensions Commission and we may yet win it with the Government. The OECD recommended the…

I join with Teachta Murphy in pressing the Minister on this. The Minister can clearly come out and debunk what is being put out in the media. The suggestion in the media is that he will put a pause on the provisions. That is something he either is or is not actively considering now. He can very easily, quickly and simply either confirm or deny what we have read in the media. It is unfair to those workers who depend on this measure and believe it is coming. I shared Teachta Murphy's concerns about the Bill and put f…

Economy first, people second.

I understand that Fine Gael Members like to come in here and throw bouquets at themselves, and fair play to them for doing it. It is not lost on me, however, that during its time in Government, Fine Gael cut the sick leave entitlement for serving civil and public servants in half, without a backward glance or second thought. It was aided and abetted by its then partners in Government. That was a retrograde step. During the pandemic, plenty of us, not just Fine Gael and its Government colleagues, spoke about sick le…