The theatres are shut.

But they are shut.

The theatres are shut.

The theatres are shut.

When he was Tánaiste Deputy Varadkar acknowledged the importance of advancing the takeover of the Shannon Heritage sites by Clare County Council. The sites are currently with Shannon Airport, which appears to wish to divest itself of them. Following due diligence, Clare County Council sought €15 million to fund the takeover and the Government offered €2.5 million, which is one-sixth of that. Before Christmas, expectations were raised, particularly among the workforce who have lived with uncertainty for a number of …

Some €2.5 million was offered.

A surgical hub is part of the proposed solution to overcrowding and long waiting lists in Limerick. Since Christmas, however, two newly equipped theatres in Ennis have not been used and the highly trained and expert staff who would normally work there are now diverted to general work around the hospital. In circumstances where we have surgical facilities in the mid-west which are not used, it is difficult to see how going to the expense of developing another facility will add to the solution. Will the Taoiseach fin…

This deal has made people sit up and take a look at the role of investment funds in protecting or enhancing the environment, and at Coillte’s relationship with investment funds. Both are important matters to consider. A number of questions arise. Why did Coillte select Gresham House? What procurement process was put in place? Gresham House came up with a great blurb but it is not unique in that. Many investment funds around the world are into greenwashing these days. Were all the other greenwashing investment funds…

-----I am sure the Minister of State has seen, given that it is from the head of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment to the principal officer of the forestry division within the Minister of State's Department. The Commission’s letter talked about: inappropriate afforestation of sensitive habitats such as peatlands and negative effects on areas of high ecological value including areas under high natural value farming, notably with regard to open landscapes important for Hen Harrier ... and …

What about reforestation?

It has been a pretty grim week for our health system, particularly our mental health services, both for those who work in them and those who rely on them. One of the grimmest aspects of it is that we are here at 7.50 p.m. on a Thursday discussing this important issue. Obviously the political agenda of the week was dominated by relatively minor electoral infractions by both sides of the House. On Sunday night, I learned that this report was going to be in the media the following morning. I pay tribute to the main au…

I think it is important that the Minister identifies who is blocking this and removes them and the blockage. Systems should be put in place so that 140 vulnerable constituents of mine will never again be lost in a system that they rely on for help, protection and a decent healthcare system. I think it is an abomination that we are discussing this at 8 p.m. on a Thursday evening.

I appreciate that the Ceann Comhairle does not set the agenda. It speaks volumes about the priority of our political system.

Do we do that by ignoring a report that is completely damning?

And a digital IT system.

I wish to make a point of order. I may be incorrect on the matter but I ask the Acting Chairman to rule on it nonetheless. Parts of this Bill involve a draw on the Exchequer. A money message was provided when the Bill initially went through Committee Stage but there were many amendments made. There was a new Part 3 introduced with regard to high-risk vendors etc. Anything the Minister does under that measure will involve a cost to the Exchequer because compensation will be payable in accordance with the optional pr…

Even in respect of the Digital Hub Development Agency, I would have thought the transfer and so on would involve a cost on the Exchequer. Is it not proposed to transfer it? That would involve works by the Chief State Solicitor's Office. If I am wrong and if the Minister of State is happy to assure the House that there are no ancillary costs, such as conveyancing costs, I will stand corrected. The more significant aspect pertains to the high-risk vendor, the compensation that will arise therefrom and the lack of a m…

There was a money message but that would have covered the expenditure involved in the Bill at the time it was passed. Obviously, however, a money message cannot give a carte blanche into the future. There were amendments made on Committee Stage that would involve a further cost to the Exchequer and they were not covered by any money message.

It would be true of some Bills but not every Bill. Some Bills involve a cost to the Exchequer but some do not. Engaging in conveyancing or compensating third parties where you are basically banning pieces of infrastructure lawfully included up to that point will not be covered by the money message because the money message relates to the Bill when it was first to proceed to Committee Stage. Rather than do it all in a transparent manner and deal with it, the Minister of State, particularly in amendments around the e…

Like the previous speaker, I have concerns about this Part of the Bill. I do not know if his concerns extend to the whole Part but mine certainly do. As I previously stated, not only have I concern with the content of it, I also have a major concern with the process by which it was passed. As Deputy Ó Murchú pointed out, where the power is given to the Minister to proscribe a certain so-called high-risk vendor, it means any communications network will have to take it out of its network. That will involve a cost, of…