There is no rationale. That is why the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, is not here to take my Topical Issue. I handed a file to the Minister six to eight weeks ago in this regard. First, I thank Liam Campion, his wife and family. They are builders and providers who are building apartments - six-storey blocks - in this city today, as well as in Cork city. They have been building for nearly 50 years. They built what is known as the Twin Towers estate in Cashel, which is a fine, noble housing estate. These houses…

I thank the Minister of State for all his hard work in different parts of the country. I saw him manning the pumps a good many years ago in Athlone town. He has lived with flooding and he understands it. I also want to thank the late Teachta and iar-Aire Martin Mansergh, who did a lot in that Department. He passed away recently and we sent our sympathies to his wife Liz and family. He was a Minister who helped greatly in many areas but mainly in Clonmel. We had trouble and problems in Clonmel for decades but we hav…

The announcement by the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, regarding the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, national roads allocation for 2026 is expected next week. I urge the Taoiseach to prioritise the N24 Waterford to Cahir project. It is an essential piece of infrastructure for Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and the whole south-east region. We have just endured one of the worst years for fatalities nationwide. The N24 in Tipperary alone, which is just 65 km of roadway, or 1% of our county's road netwo…

-----expire on 11 April so funding is time critical-----

-----and delivering the first €3 million next week is vital.

It will be announced next week.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. It is vital the project gets €3 million this year, otherwise the contracts will end on 11 April and the work will stop. I have been around long enough to have noticed that it was halted in 2002 and 2012, at huge inconvenience to and angst for the landowners and property owners, along with land being sterilised and wide corridors. That has been reduced, thank God, but there are still landowners on the line. There is a proposal to do the line with some off road and some on road. I…

I am back to the Garda numbers as well. The situation in Tipperary is appalling. The numbers are just so bad. We got four in the second-last tranche but six experienced gardaí left Clonmel Garda station. We got four in Clonmel. One of those new recruits has since sadly left the force. We got one in this allocation. The superintendents tell me that they struggle to put out a patrol car. People are not getting replies to phone calls and are being told by superintendents now to dial 999 but they are still not getting …

I issue a fíor fáilte do na daoine ó Limerick West and Croom Active Retirement Association. They are very welcome to the Dáil.

You might get a pass.

Go raibh maith agat.

We will.

I too am glad to speak on the Kenova report. I compliment the people who researched and presented it. We have had a long history here as well as in the North of Ireland and the UK. We are not so squeaky clean here. I compliment the Minister. Since he came into the Department of justice, he seems to have been making stellar efforts to have a more hands-on, open, honest and transparent approach, which is badly needed. The Sean Brown case was mentioned, which was so sad because Sean Brown, to everybody's knowledge, ha…

That was a very interesting contribution. It is a good day to welcome the transition year students from Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir and their teachers Rachel Burke and Anne Hickey. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit.

My question is about the wind-up of NAMA, which will happen in the next ten days. Who will assume responsibility for ongoing issues, irregularities and other issues, such as court proceedings when NAMA has been wound up? It will happen by 31 December. That is only ten days away. Will the Tánaiste make a statement on the matter?

I am worried that when there is alleged fraud taking place with the handling of money who will be responsible for the ongoing investigations into that fraud and irregularities and current cases; including two matters I have raised previously in this House, namely, the ongoing NAMA investigation into circumstances relating to Nemo Rangers lands in Cork, and the unlawful use by NAMA of the personal tax number of Mr. John Fraher, a businessman in Clonmel? He had gone out of business, was living in England and his tax …

There are serious concerns about fraud in recent High Court proceedings about unusual ownership structures such as a case involving two identically named companies, Dildar Limited, one of which is registered offshore, which may indicate attempts to circumvent liabilities to NAMA, and the Tánaiste is saying that he does not have responsibility.

Somebody has to have responsibility when NAMA is wound up. We cannot just fold it up and put it on a shelf and say, "Great job done". NAMA did some good work but there was obvious wrongdoing and fraud in the cases I mentioned including the Nemo Rangers lands in Cork and worse in Clomnel town with the Clonmel Arms Hotel, which I have raised here, and now the Clonmel Park Hotel and Mr. John Fraher. The Tánaiste said NAMA is satisfied it acted appropriately. How could it have acted appropriately when he went out of bu…

The Tánaiste said that NAMA is satisfied. Well I am not satisfied and I will not stop at this. I have gone to the Garda. They do not seem to be interested either so it is a funny situation.

The spirit of Christmas.