I too am delighted to be able to speak on this important Bill. I wish the Minister of State well with it and there is a huge job of work to be done. The Historical and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 will replace the National Monuments Act 1930, and subsequent amending Acts. The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for heritage and electoral reform, Deputy Noonan, described the publication of this Bill as "a major milestone in making Ireland's historic …

He allowed the Irish Republican Army to dwell in his orchard and sleep in the outhouses of Knocklofty House. He has gone to his eternal reward since and he was kidnapped in 1974 by a newer version of the republican movement but he was quickly released when the older people of my father's generation put pressure on, because he was a good man. He went to the House of Lords and spoke out against the atrocities the Black and Tans were carrying out against the Irish people. That is why his house was spared and untouched…

I got a phone call today about the upcoming event in the Garden of Remembrance organised by the Department of the Taoiseach to commemorate all of those people and families who lost their lives in the tragic Civil War. It is very important that we do that and that we come together for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. History evolves and moves on but, in ways, it never changes. There is a lot of unfinished business. I hope the Bill will be flexible enough to embrace communities that have different m…

The president of Macra na Feirme has written to every Member of the Oireachtas. Its members' two days of action are based on what they have asked for. Their action is grounded in a desire for young people to have a vibrant and prosperous future in rural Ireland. We love rural Ireland, we want to live in rural Ireland and we want our children to have a future in rural Ireland and in rural communities. That is what they want. They do not want quotes from the recent census. They want the Taoiseach to meet them. The Ta…

A new coalition.

I am glad the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is present. In the short time available to me, I will mention that I wear the badge of Liam Lynch who died 100 years ago and effectively brought about the end of the Civil War, which was great. When the Minister comes to Tiobraid Árann, I will bring him to the Knockmealdown Mountains to see the fine memorial to Liam Lynch. My late dad was the clerk of works at the time it was erected. He was also in prison for 14 months durin…

I support the amendment. I am concerned about this entire Bill, which I made clear on Second Stage. Deputies Jim O'Callaghan, Pa Daly and Paul Murphy alluded to it. There may be a wrong reason. There may be a situation where there is an argument, a fracas, or whatever, and somebody may say something after the fact, and they can be prosecuted. They would get a serious conviction that would stay with them. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan mentioned the spent convictions, but it would damage their prospects as regards Garda vet…

I support Deputy McNamara and compliment him on tabling these amendments. I join him in thanking the Ceann Comhairle and the Government Whip for their co-operation. Amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 6 are grouped together. Representatives of Macra na Feirme were here today. The Taoiseach stated that the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon would meet them. Their action hits the kernel of agriculture and that farmers are worried about the future. I am sure the Minister and Minister of State met them and they made their case. The…

I rise to support amendment No. 5 which was tabled by Deputy McNamara. I am bemused or intrigued. He mentioned the foresight that the former Minister, Deputy Bruton, had. He was around the House a long time. I think he is athair an Tigh. I would love to know why, when he was a Minister of State, Deputy Troy, changed it. This is what intrigues me most about what is going on with this Government and past governments and the way they are able to be manipulated. We are the first people here who do not represent our peo…

I did.

I did, in fact, refer to the amendment when I stood up. I referred to the then Minister, Deputy Bruton, having the foresight to introduce the regulations in 2016 and asked why they had been watered down by the then Minister of State, Deputy Troy. At whose behest? Who has their hands on the handlebars of power in this country? It is certainly not na hAirí or the Government, because we have allowed ourselves to become - I will not use the word I was going to use - puppets for big business. How come they could do it i…

Was it not?

That is the Minister's interpretation. In that case, why did the Leas-Cheann Comhairle not direct me to speak to the amendment?

A shamrock. A three-leaved shamrock.

The Taoiseach's latest announcement today was on the effort to do something about the housing crisis, which we have now had for ten, 12 or more years. I ask the Taoiseach to clarify whether the development charges are being wiped out. I think the Taoiseach said to Deputy Healy-Rae that they were to be for people who are building one-off houses. Where will the county councils get the funding? Will they have to increase the local property tax, LPT, to make up for the shortfall in funding that the Government will now …

They are making no impression. Every move they make is like chess and bad games of draughts.

They do not know which way to move next. They are like rabbits in the headlights.

I ask the Taoiseach to clarify that and to give time for a proper debate in this House.

I wish to ask about St. Patrick's Hospital in Cashel, a wonderful institution that has been there for hundreds of years. The community, public representatives and everybody else were promised that a 60-bed community hospital would be built on the site. It is a listed building. There were 350 patients and staff at the hospital, and there was plenty of room to park. Now, the HSE has come up with another dúirt-bean-liom-go-ndúirt-bean-léi story in that there is no longer room for car parking at the hospital. I want a …

We will have plenty of space where we are.