The Minister said there was a significant political intervention in March and April, when these problems emerged. I have to tell him, that intervention did not succeed in its purpose and Sunday showed us the evidence of that. The airport is still operating understaffed, at 70% of its pre-Covid strength. The management of the Dublin Airport Authority, it seems to me, grossly misjudged what the capacity requirements would be as travel reopened, as was always going to be the case. I must say I do not hear anything fro…

On Friday we had another very depressing sense of déjà vu in respect of family homelessness when the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage reported that we are now back to pre-pandemic levels of homelessness, with more than 10,000 people in emergency accommodation, nearly 3,000 of whom are children. This is the sharpest edge of the housing crisis that has been created, perpetuated and presided over by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Make no mistake, this scandal is of the Government's making. It consisten…

Who do you write the cheque to?

Yesterday, I again raised with the Taoiseach the importance of the Government securing public ownership of the site on which the new national maternity hospital will be built. I also expressed my astonishment that neither the Taoiseach nor the Minister for Health had made any substantial effort to convince St. Vincent's Healthcare Group to transfer that land to the State. Furthermore, I proposed that the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, should meet urgently with the boar…

Indeed it is time. That is nine long years. For a very long time women in midwifery, and all concerned in obstetrics and the care and provision of services for women, have been calling for proper investment in maternity services and health services for women. There is no great surprise in that. We all share that ambition. The hospital has to get built. The only fog and confusion are what is generated by the Taoiseach. I asked him a question. We have a motion coming before the Dáil this evening, which is crystal cle…

-----to secure the ambition of that motion and the expressed will of the Dáil.

So why are-----

I want to return, if I can, to the Milne family - to Ryan and Kyle and their parents, Gillian and Darren - whose circumstances were outlined earlier. Gillian and Darren have struggled for years to secure the appropriate services and school placement for their young boys. In his response to Deputy Bacik, it sounded as though the Taoiseach was laying culpability for this at the feet of schools. I want to challenge that. I accept absolutely that the legislative framework has to ensure inclusion, and not for one moment…

-----in honouring the law in respect of those with disabilities. What is the Government's plan for increased resources in order that Kyle, Ryan and others like them can avail of the services that they are entitled to?

The Cabinet this afternoon signed off on the deal for the new national maternity hospital. Instead of securing a clean-cut transaction where the site will come into public ownership, the deal ensures the hospital will have a private landlord under a very convoluted ownership model. This is the wrong decision. It falls short of protecting the State's proposed investment of between €800 million and €1 billion of taxpayers' money. It is obvious that the best way to safeguard this investment and allay public concern is…

And I am struck that the Taoiseach is in any way surprised that there is widespread clamour, and has been for some time, for proper investment in maternal and neonatal care and women's healthcare more generally. Everyone wants that. I can assure the Taoiseach that I want that. I want to see the speedy delivery of first-class services of excellence for the women of this country that for far too long we were denied. He also ought to be struck that there is no doubt in the mind of the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group as…

Pardon?

Is that correspondence from the Minister?

We will not own it.

What did the Taoiseach do to secure the site? That is my question.

What did the Taoiseach do?

The leader of Fianna Fáil is not answering them; that is the problem.

They are not agreed. We had really shocking and devastating news from Westminster this morning for families and communities that have spent decades fighting for truth and justice for their loved ones who were lost in the conflict. The British Government proposes by close of business this evening to legislate for an end to families being able to take any civil actions or litigation and by the end of the year it will have blocked families from accessing inquests. Furthermore, it is proceeding with an amnesty for its …

The British Government again acts unilaterally and refuses to implement that which is agreed. It refuses to work in partnership with anybody or with the Irish Government. Above all else, it treats families and survivors with utter contempt. I ask the Taoiseach to stand with the families today and to call out the actions of the British administration. In addition, I seek a facility for statements in this House this week on this pressing issue.

Is there no space this week?