Constituent.

I accept the Minister of State's acknowledgement that fairness would require that there should be an appeals process, but my question relates to what the appeals process involves. I have not received an answer to that question. We will take it that there should be one, and we will proceed from there. It is an acknowledgement on behalf of the Department that there should be an appeals process. If there is not an appeals process, I take it that one will be developed forthwith on the basis of what the Minister of Stat…

It would be helpful sometimes to look into a situation before a decision is made rather than afterwards, but I appreciate the Minister of State's response.

In view of the fact that I have tabled a similar question on this matter, I welcome the opportunity to come in. Everybody accepts that wool has the potential to be a valuable resource. It was certainly treated as a valuable resource in the past and there are many uses which it can be put to which it was put to in the past and also many exciting new uses, for example, around insulation. At the moment, it is a hindrance. It is a nuisance. It is almost valueless, as it stands, until the Minister of State's wool counci…

I would normally complain if the Minister from the relevant Department were not here to take my Topical Issue matter but I am glad to see a Minister of State at the Department of Finance is here because these issues inevitably go back to finance and the lack thereof. We are in the fortunate position at the moment where we have a surplus and a lot more money than we might sometimes have anticipated we would have, although there are questions regarding the ongoing reliability of that money and the period for which we…

I am not asking the Minister of State for a commitment as to what sites will be chosen in the future. I suppose a site on the verge of the lower River Shannon SAC that does not have any sewage treatment infrastructure speaks for itself. A settlement of the size of Doolin in the summer when it is full of tourists - long may that continue - without any sewage treatment infrastructure also speaks for itself. What I ask is what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that they can progress because there is a chicken …

I will do that. I thank the Minister of State.

According to a leaked discussion paper reported in today's The Guardian , the one based in Manchester as opposed to the one based in Nenagh, the EU is close to a landmark agreement to procure arms for Ukraine. In the first instance, this will be done through the European Peace Facility, funding for which is being increased from €3.5 billion to €5.5 billion. An additional €1 billion is proposed specifically for the purchase of 155 mm artillery rounds. Twenty-five of the 27 EU member states have indicated an interest…

I would very much like to continue along similar lines to that of my colleague, Deputy Connolly, with regard to the emergency and when it is going to come to an end. What steps are going to be taken by the Government to bring this emergency to an end? Everybody in the House accepts that there is a potential shortage of energy in the State and that something needs to be done about it. I would, however, question why there is such a shortage of energy and what is going to be done to meet the energy demands of the Stat…

Will the Minister comment on phase 2?

Did it benefit any particular company?

If Deputy Healy-Rae needs more time, I would be happy to share time.

I thank the Regional Group for tabling this timely and important motion. Paramedics and the ambulance service have become a crucial aspect - if not one of the most important aspects - of our healthcare system. There was a time when they were not even considered part of the health system; they were merely considered to have a role in conveying somebody to the health system. Now, they are one of the most crucial parts of the health system. What happens in the immediate aftermath of an accident and their arrival will,…

The Taoiseach has said the future is offshore. Investors were told to go west. We were all told the Atlantic coast would be the Saudi Arabia of wind energy. Investors spent millions identifying sites off the west coast that were suitable for wind generation and sites where they could bring that energy ashore. This was all going to be part of phase 2. Very recently, the Department announced that phase 2 would be limited to two sites: one on the south-east coast and one on the south coast. No criteria were given as t…

The west?

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling the motion, which highlights the completely unacceptable wait times for ambulances and the fact that not alone are targets being missed in many cases, but more of them are being missed than was the case previously. In December 2019, ambulances reached 69% of cases of cardiac and respiratory arrest within the target time of 19 minutes. That had fallen to 59% by December 2022. In other emergency cases, it fell from 54% to 43%, which is less than half. That is simply unacceptable. There a…

I welcome the Bill. It is maybe not quite as revolutionary as it is being portrayed but it does nevertheless mark advances. One issue in particular that was discussed at pre-legislative scrutiny, which I am glad to see addressed, is the current statutory provision whereby the Commissioner is required to bring certain matters to the attention of the Minister. However, there is also a vague reference to "any other matters that, in the opinion of the Commissioner, should be brought to the attention of the ... [Ministe…

I agree with People Before Profit to the extent that we do not want there to be an avalanche of evictions at any particular time and certainly not now. Some continuation of the eviction ban the Government brought in in the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 may be required. However, I cannot support this Bill for several reasons. The Bill, as drafted, basically says the Government may extend the emergency period for such a period as it considers appropriate. If it i…

I agree with what most of the previous speakers stated. Who could not be affected by the plight of the Ukrainian people - those in Ukraine, those who have come to Ireland and those who are displaced across Europe now? Obviously conditions are very difficult for them upon arrival in Ireland but conditions are equally difficult throughout much of Europe, where weather conditions are far more inclement and more difficult to be homeless in. It is important that Ireland maintains a position of neutrality. I have always …

It is not agreed. I would like clarification from the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, as to what exactly is sought to be achieved. He will recall that when this matter was discussed in this House, I had several amendments in regarding public order. My very clear recollection was that they were accepted by the Minister of State and that all references to "public order" would be removed. What I wish to know, from either the Minister of State or indeed the Ceann Comhairle, is how amendments agreed in the Dáil proceed…