The most effective way to do anything about this is to try to implement, as quickly as we can, the policy position adopted recently by the Government in respect of direct construction of State-owned centres in parallel with the private sector, which is providing the majority of accommodation to date. The problem, as we just discussed with respect to the EU asylum pact, is that there are unprecedented levels of migration across Europe and the world. Many political parties in many countries have risen on the strength…

The idea of the only hotel being used is something the Government acknowledges we do not want to do.

I am saying that alternative development has to happen.

I have no doubt that will also be opposed. I have no doubt about that. I am realistic about it. For any party in this House that aspires to be in government-----

-----this will be an ongoing issue.

It is not that simple.

I appreciate the Deputy's commitment to the protection of our habitats, flora and fauna. I am not in a position to bring clarity to an exact timeline for new guidelines on wind farms. I acknowledge it has been an issue for quite some time. I will revert to the Minister about the specific issues the Deputy raised about the guidelines.

I love the way Kerry people always endeavour to look after the best interests of Cork.

Yes, particularly. I was in the Cork passport office just before Christmas. It is an excellent office. Generally speaking, it is at this time of year that people are beginning to make their queries and so on. The timelines have gone well in the past year and a half. The online application is very efficient at the moment and the passport service responds. I will come back to the Deputy on whether we are in the business of alerting people about expiry - I do not think we are - and on the machinery that is required fo…

We are always eager to look after Kerry.

Is this in terms of engagement?

I will raise the issues raised by the Deputy with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. There should be engagement with communities. There has to be. I will pursue that. On the earlier point, given the rain that is falling we should not be short of water. I put that question to Uisce Éireann when I was Taoiseach a number of years ago. All of us, collectively as a society, should collect water when it rains and store it. If we get a notice this summer saying we need to reduce our water usage, it will be some moment …

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It has been on the agenda at the last two British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meetings. We are endeavouring to progress it but we have not been in a position to bring it to conclusion in respect of the specific recommendation that was made, of which I am supportive. The Executive has now been formed. I am sure the justice minister in the Executive has views on it as well. I expect it to be on the agenda at the next British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting.

Deputy Kerrane raised the issue of 18 children with no school places for special classes. I will talk to the Minister for Education about that. Much progress has been made in the last three years. Seven new special schools have been established and there has been a massive expansion of SNAs and special education teachers. The basic principle is that children who need a place should be given one, and not just any place but one that is appropriate to the individual child's needs. I will talk to the Minister in respec…

Táim sásta a bheith anseo inniu chun tús a chur leis na hóráidí seo a bhaineann leis an gcosc a chuireadh le tobac 20 bliain ó shin. I am very pleased to be here to reflect on the 20th anniversary of the prohibition on smoking in the workplace, one of the most significant and memorable days in my own public life. For the past two decades, since 29 March 2004, we have become accustomed to breathing in fresh air indoors. It is almost impossible for anyone who came to adulthood after that point to comprehend that befo…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom i dtosach báire mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Leo Varadkar a rinne sárobair ar son na tíre mar Thaoiseach. Ceannaire ab ea é a bhí sásta comhoibriú leis na páirtithe eile sa Rialtas seo agus d'éirigh linn dul chun cinn mór a dhéanamh le blianta beaga anuas. D'oibrigh Leo go dian dícheallach Domhnach is dálach ar son mhuintir na tíre seo agus thuig sé na dualgais a bhí air agus an tábhacht a bhí ann na dualgais sin a chomhlíonadh. Tá meas agam ar Leo agus guím g…

-----but our Constitution could not be clearer. Each Member of this Dáil carries a mandate for a full term, and the choice of all officeholders can change throughout this mandate. I confess that I have been amazed by the brazenness of the largest Opposition party on this matter, given that "I will be seeking support at the Sinn Féin convention" has long been one of the emptiest and most meaningless phrases ever uttered. Of relevance today is that while it is attacking the democratic legitimacy of this vote, the par…

In fact, today, no Opposition party, large or small, has a leader who went through a competitive election before assuming the role. We will have more time during the debate on the nomination of Ministers to discuss substantive policy matters and the range of work which will be our focus during the rest of this Dáil's mandate. We have significant work to do over the next 12 months and we are determined to do it. At this critical moment when we face often dramatic challenges at home and internationally, instead of qu…

On a personal level, I congratulate Deputy Harris, his wife, Caoimhe, his family and his supporters. Particularly for Saoirse and Cillian, this will be a day they will remember differently as time evolves. It is a very special moment for them and for Mary and Bart as well. We all know that nobody can succeed in making a real impact in our public life by themselves. Just as the tough times are shared, so too are moments such as these. I wish Simon's family the greatest enjoyment of this moment and of this day. I hav…

Déanaim comhghairdeas arís leis an Taoiseach nua, Simon Harris. Táim ag obair le Simon sa Rialtas seo le ceithre bliana anuas, agus mórchuid oibre le déanamh fós ag an gcomhrialtas as seo go ceann bliana. Táim ag súil le leanúint de bheith ag obair le Simon agus le hEamon. Leanfaimid orainn le hobair an Rialtais seo ar mhaithe le muintir na hÉireann, agus an rud is tábhachtaí ná clár an Rialtais a chomhlíonadh. An dualgas atá orainn ná é a chomhlíonadh agus a chur i bhfeidhm. As I stated earlier during the debate o…