I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. There is not a family in Ireland that has not been affected by someone belonging to them having cancer, people recovering from it or, sadly, some of their loved ones passing away. When the strategy was done, we were going to have centres of excellence. A centre of excellence in Galway should be the same as one in Dublin, Cork or anywhere else in the country. We have failed abysmally. Go to Galway and look at the lab that people have to work in and then go to some o…

It is a damnable thing to say that Galway hospital does not have a PET scanner. Imagine that. A private hospital up the road has one, but the main hospital, the centre of excellence, does not. It is time that money was invested.

I welcome the rebate for the haulage industry. The only thing about it is that is probably for licensed hauliers. What about the person who is a haulier of cattle? A haulage licence is not needed for that. What about people who own hardware and have to bring their own gear somewhere? They do not need a haulage licence. Do they get the rebate? If it is like the things before then they do not. What about the guy bringing straw from up the country? The Government is well aware that they will not get it either. These a…

Is the Minister putting a fund in place to offset the cost of live exports with the new requirements from different countries for PCR tests and vaccines? I ask him to make statement on the matter.

I thank the Minister's Department for getting the health certs done in each country. I am not debating whatsoever what other countries do, and I agree with him that other countries set this down. However, the fact is that other countries in Europe have brought in funds to help with exporting. The Minister will be aware that in some of those countries, first, you have to quarantine and, second, you have to do either PCR tests or vaccines. A vaccine, no matter how you go, is €15. The Minister knows as well as I do th…

I understand fully what the Minister says. The certificates are done by other countries but, in fairness to anybody exporting, there was no quarantining when exporting four months ago. Trade is trade. Whether it is a farmer or an exporter going for it, good luck. That keeps the price up. That is the good part of that. Four months ago, however, this was not needed. This is a new regulation that has been brought in. Yes, the Minister is right that it is other countries that want it - I do not disagree whatsoever - bu…

Shortly after Christmas, what we would classify as a fit young woman of 39 years of age was in a gym in Athlone. When she came out with her two young children, she fell to the ground. I compliment the paramedics and air ambulance staff who brought her to Beaumont Hospital, where they found a bleed in the brain. I compliment Beaumont Hospital for all of the work it did. The hospital stabilised her and did a lot of work but, unfortunately, where walking and speech are concerned, her speech and one side of her body we…

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. The one thing I will say is, in the overall context, for people who go through a traumatic injury like that, it is about the facility. It is not about that one person alone; it is about people right around the country. If you leave a person in a hospital that does not cater for something, then you are holding a bed that may be able to help someone else. It is a question of putting in resources around the country. I am appreciative of what Beaumont and all of the paramedics hav…

I seek clarification. I see the Minister of State with responsibility for housing is here. A month ago I asked a question about the exemption for modular houses at the back of properties. I note that in the media in the last week they are saying that the regulations could be done within the next week or two. Are they coming forward? Could the Minister of State inform me about that?

When will they be ready?

The Taoiseach spoke earlier about the need for housing and everyone right around the Dáil here agrees on the urgent need for more houses. He spoke about 50,000 houses and it is welcome that he has that aspiration and the policy to try to back it up but I would like to go to the nuts and bolts of this. At the moment in Ireland, a person with a small quarry will be four to five years trying to get planning and will have to spend a minimum of €300,000 on reports and getting through the planning process. The Minister o…

What I am saying to the Taoiseach is that the facts are, if I am a small quarry operator, it is going to cost me €300,000 to do the reports that those planners need. That is not sustainable for the small guy. Does the Taoiseach realise that at this minute - I will put it on record here - we are heading for four quarries in Ireland because the big guys are mopping up? I would urge the Taoiseach to get someone to research, through the Land Registry, who owns the quarries in Ireland. Four of them are buying up everyth…

What will the small fellow with three or four lorries do in some small town when he is trying to build? He has to bring his muck away.

Have a look at what is going on. Open your eyes to what is happening.

We are heading for four quarries in this country that will own recycling, and own the quarrying of this country.

We cannot see what is happening. You know what happens then - up with the price.

England has different rules.

It is a different system.

Yes, but it is a different system.

We are burying our heads in the sand.