Served where?

Where are they going to serve the sentences?

In the modular homes, is it?

A photo op there, I would say.

I have already outlined why I cannot support the Taoiseach. I have given some reasons; there are many others. However, I had the pleasure of meeting his father outside and hearing his son in the Chamber. On a personal level, I wish him, his family and his Government the best of luck.

The regional disparities in this country are stark. I was in Cork for the last two weekends for family reasons. I saw that there have been remarkable advances in infrastructure during the Minister's time in office. They have particularly accelerated in recent years. It is in marked contrast to infrastructural advancements in the mid-west, the south east or any other part of Munster. There were advances in those areas in previous years, such as the partial ring road around Limerick when Willie O'Dea was in Cabinet a…

For developing political careers.

The Minister's determination is laudable but I wonder what will triumph when it meets the inertia of the Department of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. There is little coming from the Government. It acknowledges what needs to be done but we all know what needs to be done. That is why we put a task force together. The reality is that it is not happening. Even the industrial wind strategy from the Minister's Department lacks specifics with regard to what will happen on the west coast, not to mention the other plans t…

The political system drifts in and out of outrage with regard to UHL, but the situation there does not really change very much. The last time it was in this level of focus was when the parts of the system analysis report, SAR, on the death of Aoife Johnston were leaked. In response to that, the CEO of the HSE appointed the former Chief Justice, Frank Clarke, to carry out an investigation into the death. That was to report within eight weeks or soon as possible thereafter. That eight-week period is now up. Has that …

It was meant to have been published within eight weeks.

The other part of payments for farmers in the common areas scheme is voluntary measures. Obviously, they have to be approved in advance. They are going to be approved in April. Farmers want to know whether they will be reimbursed in this calendar year if they carry out those measures, which are going to involve up-front expenditure to pay for troughs, fencing and so on. I suppose they are slightly suspicious. If they are approved for the measures and carry them out this year, when will they be paid? Can the Ministe…

The hen harrier project in Slieve Aughty is now winding down, as is Burren Life. Farmers farming in designated areas are now receiving less money than they did before. Initially, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, said they would receive as much under ACRES. It is now abundantly clear to everybody that they are getting less money. When I pointed this out to the Tánaiste towards the end of his tenure as Taoiseach, he said it was not good enough. I have raised it consistently since. The last I heard from the Minister …

Did she? The Tánaiste must have got his forthrightness from his father then, I suggest.

This is a matter on which I have been trying to get information for some time now and it has been proving difficult. I asked a parliamentary question with respect to how many persons whose applications for international protection had been determined, and where there no judicial reviews of the decisions, were still in IPAS accommodation. These would be cases where determinations were accepted and were not under legal challenge. I believe I asked the question in November 2023. At the time, I was told that some 6,000…

The Minister is right that under the domestic regulations, the statutory instrument, there is a right to accommodation until the humanitarian leave-to-remain application has been determined. I have outlined the delays and the difficulties pertaining to that which cannot be laid at his door - the Department of Justice has responsibility. The bottom line is that this is only a statutory instrument which could be changed at the stroke of a pen literally. The Minister has done that and has amended the regulations becau…

I am happy to supply them.

I hope it will be stronger than strive to endeavour and that it will actually happen.

I raise the issue of the West Bank. While the eyes of the world are understandably focused on Gaza, the horror that is anticipated there and, indeed, the apparent green light the Americans have given through the use of their veto, people are not looking at the West Bank and there has been a huge increase in the number of attacks on Palestinians and their properties there. Is there a role for the Irish representative office there in recording and documenting this? Is there an increased role for the EU office and wou…

I would like to echo what previous speakers have said. I listened to the last two contributions, in particular, and I find myself in agreement with them. It might well be because of an accident of geography as much as anything else, given that I represent a constituency which has borne a disproportionate burden. Every state has a burden to bear in accommodating recipients or beneficiaries of temporary protection, just as every area of a state has. However, that burden has not been spread equally across the State, n…

I thank Deputy Shanahan and all his colleagues in the Regional Group for giving us the opportunity to discuss this very important issue. In my constituency, as in his and those of all in that group, including Deputies Berry and Lowry, small businesses are under pressure, hospitality businesses in particular. I will focus a little on County Clare. Businesses there are under pressure for two reasons, one of which is of the Government's making and one that is not. The Government has increased the costs for small busin…