Were they isolated in 1980?

You knew where he lived.

Like so many around the country my thoughts are with the young children and their crèche worker who were heinously attacked last Thursday on Parnell Square. A series of menacing actors seized on these tragic incidents to sow hate and division under a guise of concern. To see Opposition parties like Sinn Féin, instead of providing leadership, try to feed into that division and score political points is sickening. Not one solution was proposed by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald in her contribution this afternoon. There was …

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to this important debate. It is important to note that peaks of mortality are not unusual in winter, most commonly as a result of factors such as cold snaps and the increased circulation of respiratory viruses, in particular viruses with epidemic and pandemic potential such as Covid-19 and the flu. The Health Protection and Surveillance Centre reported significant excess all-cause mortality in Ireland during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and again in January and Fe…

Budget 2024 is an opportunity for this Government to ensure that we deliver for farmers and for rural Ireland. In my own areas of responsibility, I have put a particular focus on addressing the three legs of the sustainability stool, namely, economic, environmental and social. I will continue to build the networks to improve farmer safety, health and well-being with a dedicated fund of €2.5 million in 2024. This fund will be used to extend the range of initiatives currently undertaken to improve farm safety and wel…

I am here.

I would like to thank both Deputies for raising this important issue. It affects all of us in each of our constituencies around the country. We all know of the really vital work that is carried out by the people we are discussing here this morning. The sustainability and stability of health and social care sectors are a concern for Government and we recognise the ability of voluntary organisations to pay their staff is highly dependent on State funding. We are, therefore, committed to resolving this issue. I am par…

I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. I do not doubt the enhanced quality of life that can be enjoyed by living or working in rural parts of Galway. The Government is committed to enhancing primary healthcare services throughout the country, including out-of-hours GP services. The development of primary care is central to the Government’s objective of delivering a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health service. As the Senator will be aware, GPs contracted under the general medical s…

I assure the Senator that quality and patient safety in the delivery of out-of-hours GP care remain paramount for the HSE and the Government. The HSE engages with out-of-hours services throughout the country and provides significant financial support towards service delivery. Additional funding was allocated this year to the HSE's community healthcare organisation, CHO, area west to expand the Westdoc service to GPs in Moycullen and Oughterard. The management of Westdoc is currently considering the options availabl…

Again, I thank both Deputies for raising this point. It is important that is discussed in the House because these people do crucial work for us around the country. It is a complex area because of the historical nature of section 39 and section 56 workers. Similar considerations arise in respect of other sectors across government, adding to the complexity in seeking to resolve matters in any specific sector. All parties that are involved want to see a meaningful resolution that will improve sustainability and the ab…

I thank Senator McGreehan for raising what is a very important issue. It is timely, given the significance of this month for promoting the risk in this area. The use of genetics and genetic testing in cancer care has developed and changed in recent years. The focus has shifted from that of prevention to a more holistic approach to cancer care. Developments in genetic and genomic medicine mean a greater understanding of the cancer a person has. This, in turn, leads to more precise diagnosis and treatment. The potent…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important issue. This is not just about red fire ants but also the broader issue of biosecurity, which as he rightly said, in the context of our changing climate is a growing concern that needs greater vigilance in terms of the many different threats that we can face. To answer his question as to who is responsible, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the implementation of the EU…

That is the nub of it. In my initial response, there was a point regarding the development of GP referral guidelines for those with family histories of breast cancer, including pathways from primary to secondary care. That is ultimately what we are talking about. Primary care is where people who have such a concern about their family history but who do not have any symptoms and who want to get checked as a purely preventative measure should go. People can be saved the pain and suffering of going through treatment f…

Again, I thank the Deputy for making sure we are discussing what is a really important issue. A lot of work is happening behind the scenes on such threats to our country. We have the advantage of being an island nation, which we need to use to full effect from a biosecurity perspective to keep ourselves safe. This is an advantage that other countries in continental Europe do not have. The Deputy has given me an opportunity to outline who is responsible and some of the safeguards that are in place but this is not an…

I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I am taking this Commencement matter on his behalf. Aldborough House is an 18th century mansion in Dublin city on Portland Row, as Senator Sherlock has outlined. Originally built for the Earl of Aldborough between 1793 and 1799, the classical Palladian design with quadrant walls and flanking pavilions is attributed to Richard Johnson. In 1813, it was leased to a private school and afterwards became an army b…

In the initial part of the Senator's response, she said she wants the place to be preserved not just as a relic, but also as a living and breathing place where there is a lot of activity. That counters her second point because for that to happen, local involvement is required. It is not something the Government can impose on people because that will not work. In my experience, it has to be a locally led idea or initiative with the local authority playing a key part. The pathway for that has been outlined in the res…

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. He has described what happened to parents and students when they tried to access the school during a flood, which is an unacceptable situation. We do not want anyone to go through that trauma again and that is why it is really important he raises this point in the Seanad today. I am pleased to provide a response to the issue of addressing flooding in Donaghmoyne village on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, w…

Yes. The Senator can be assured that this reply was provided by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who has responsibility for the OPW and flood relief. So flood relief is under the remit of the OPW. As outlined, the OPW has a mechanism whereby local authorities can engage in terms of localised flooding issues so that should be their first port of call. I note from the initial response that there is not an application on hand with the OPW. I will convey the specific points that the Senator has raised about Don…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is no doubt a very important point for the pupils and parents of Carrigaline Community Special School. The Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for disability, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, sends her apologies that she could not be here and has asked me to take this Topical Issue matter in her place. The Minister of State is fully committed to the development and enhancement of children’s disability services and to ensuring access for all children with comple…

I thank the Deputy again for his contributions and highlighting this important issue. I reassure the House that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will continue with the Department and the HSE to drive progress on both the reinstatement of therapists in special schools in Carrigaline and elsewhere across the country, and increasing the availability of respite services to children with disabilities. The Deputy compared the situation with one in Enniscorthy, spoke of how these issues could be resolved and made a…