It is a question. He might answer it.

The Minister of State is saying to me that if Eir went in and did 50 houses where they have the high-speed broadband, McCourt does not get any money. Is he saying that to me-----

-----because I have read the contract?

Therefore it can get paid.

Who would sign-----

Who would sign a contract like that?

Who would sign a contract like that, where even if I do not do the work I am going to be paid? What civil servant would allow a Minister to sign something like that?

No, I do not. I am going to move on because I have only five minutes.

All right. The Minister of State might be able to answer-----

The Minister of State might be able to answer this. Why are people who put in their postcode and were told they would have broadband in 2021 or 2022 now getting information back that it could be 2025 or 2026?

I gave them to the Department.

I will give the Minister of State a little insight because I know the game fairly well. I know many of the contractors - not the main contractors or the subcontractor - but a lot of the ordinary hedge-cutting contractors that do the different types of work related to broadband provision. I can tell the Minister of State what is going on out there because seemingly people do not realise it. When it comes to hedge cutting, the minimum is being done and there will be problems in a year or two. The way it was measured …

I have known the Minister of State for a while and am not blaming her for any of this, but she is dealing with an elephant, in that she is in the Department of Health but the HSE does its own thing. A few years ago, elderly people with different needs were in the Rosalie unit in Castlerea. People right across the board - Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Independents - did everything in their power to fight against Mr. Tony Canavan and his team and keep it open. Unfortunately, many of the residents passed away …

I thank the Acting Chairman. I do not necessarily have a problem with the Bill but I am somewhat at a loss to know what miraculous inspiration will be carried out by the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, by being registered with it, that will save everyone from perhaps buying bad blocks or timber, or whatever. I just cannot understand that part. The second part I am trying to fathom, which the Minister of State may be able to address later when he gets the chance, is whether there is a fee. There are probably …

First, I thank Minister coming into the House. Last Monday, Deputy Kerrane and myself met students in St. Cuan’s College in Castleblakney. Those students last Monday gave up their dinner time or their lunch break and went out to stand together in solidarity looking for the hybrid system that they believe they deserve. I believe they deserve it. In fairness, most Deputies around the country believe that the choice should be given to those pupils. Today, we see students in different parts of the country looking for t…

Schools were opened, but the Minister should realise that many families got Covid-19, many teachers got Covid-19 and there was total disruption. On top of that, it is interesting that many teachers have said that they were surprised at the unions' talk as they were not consulted. We should not even be debating whether children should have the choice. This should be an option every year going forward. The Minister spoke about the group that is going to meet tomorrow. With everything she has outlined, I would not hol…

I wish the Ceann Comhairle and everyone else a happy Christmas. Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital put a plan in place for orthopaedic surgery, especially for children with scoliosis, spina bifida and other conditions. The new plan put in place by Mr. Connor Green and his team estimates they will be able to increase output by approximately 400%. There are 100 children on their waiting list. I heard the Tánaiste and the previous Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, say in the House and in many an interview that th…

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. If the HSE and successive Governments have been aware of the situation over the past number of years, as they should have been, it is very unusual the HSE would leave this out of a draft plan. The Tánaiste is correct that money does not always solve everything but if somebody like Mr. Green and his team put a draft plan together to increase output by 400% then surely they are held to account if that is not done. I ask that the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health make sure the fu…

I will share two and a half minutes of my time with Deputy Kehoe. I will be fairly brief. The largest part of this Bill relates to the cull of the mink. We need not to forget those people because they seem to be kicked to the side in the new amendments that have come in. Fair compensation must be given to them. They have worked with the Department in every way. Some of them will say very clearly the Department has not been as helpful in working with them as it should have been. Proper compensation must be given to …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. I am not going to claim I am as knowledgeable about fishing as many who live in coastal areas. My analysis is that much of what is happening has been driven by bad EU policy down through the years. It seems that the EU, as a combination of nations, wants the big monopoly to do everything. One time a builder could go to the council and tender for three, four or five houses and build them; now, if an area is being developed, the builder's bonds and turnover will not be big …