I will answer one question while noting the Deputy's concern about the potential flooding of the Blackwater Valley, which we will take steps to assess. On Palestine, the Government is working with all the regional partners in the neighbourhood on restoring the humanitarian corridor and calling for an immediate ceasefire to enable humanitarian goods to get in. On the broader issue, we announced an extra €13 million in funding via the UN agencies last evening, on top of the €16 million of core funding we give. We sup…

I accept that rail transport and district heating will make significant respective contributions to the climate change agenda. A bit more work is needed. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications recently brought a document to the Government on a policy framework for district heating. However, there is the size of the country and other factors to take into account. There is one development in Tallaght, Dublin, that has been successful. There could be another at Poolbeg but we need local actors to…

I would have thought that answer was readily available. If the Deputy is saying the project is accepted, it probably is going ahead. A total of 95 projects are under way at the moment between design and construction. The various flood relief schemes are at different stages, with some in planning, some in design and some under construction. A total of 53 have been completed and there is approximately €1.3 billion for this purpose in the national development plan. However, I will check the matter out for the Deputy.

As I said, we will examine the existing schemes to ensure they are fit for purpose in respect of the flooding event in Midleton, Glanmire, parts of Cork city and west Waterford. The Government will move on that. The Deputy outlined the broader issues, including the damage to road surfaces and so forth. Again, I pay tribute to all the local volunteers who did so much work to help people at a very distressing time.

The Deputy has raised this issue previously in different ways and he has done it now in a way that has flummoxed me in terms of a response. I presume he is not asking me to interfere with the judicial arm of the State.

It always has to be, in any execution of public policy. I accept the Deputy's points on that and I know the Ministers for Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are aware of his concerns. We will see what we can do and I will get back to the Deputy.

One month's rain fell in a number of hours. That will have extraordinary impacts; there is no doubt about that. We do need flood relief schemes in place and they are at various stages. As the Deputy knows, the Bandon one has been especially effective. The Civil Defence, for example, is a volunteer organisation that was out yesterday and we should salute its response. It had pumping, sandbagging and transport for evacuees and it set up rest centres. It had general assistance for homeowners and businesses and has cre…

I would endorse everything the Deputy said, and it is an issue. When issues of this kind get to a judicial review, the community and society loses. We should be able to try to work out these issues. Blackpool has had a lot of flooding and the Deputy is correct in that it is undermining investment and the proper development of that community. It is a community with a great history and tradition in Cork. I endorse everything the Deputy said.

Níl an t-eolas cruinn agam ó thaobh cén am a bheidh an Bille réidh. Tá siad ag obair ar an mBille agus déanfaidh mé fiosrú air sin. Tá a fhios agam cad atá á rá ag an Teachta. Ina thuairim bhí an dealramh ar an scéal go mbeadh na toghcháin ar siúl leis na toghcháin áitiúla agus go mbeadh an reachtaíocht réidh agus tríd na Tithe roimhe sin. Déanfaidh mé fiosrú air sin agus beidh mé ar ais chuig an Teachta.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will discuss with the Minister for Social Protection the continuation of the statutory instrument.

I move: That Dáil Éireann: — unreservedly condemns the brutal attack by Hamas in Israel on Saturday, 7th October last, indiscriminately, and systematically targeting civilians, and resulting in over 1,400 deaths; — utterly condemns the hospital bombing that occurred last evening; — echoes the call of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza, who are suffering the appalling consequences of violence; — calls for im…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the tragic and shocking events we are witnessing in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in the aftermath of the heinous attack by Hamas on Israel. I am well aware of the high level of engagement with this issue across this House. In this regard, the Government has tabled a motion on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, which I dealt with earlier in commending it to the House. At the outset, I reiterate the Government's sincere co…

On my behalf and that of the Government and the people of Ireland, I convey heartfelt condolences to the family of Kim Damti in Ireland and Israel. This was an horrific, indiscriminate, random and barbarous attack on the Israeli people resulting in up to 1,300 people, including Kim, losing their lives. Anyone looking at the photograph of Kim in the media in recent days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression. She was a young 22-year-old with her full life ahead of her only for it to be cu…

I can deal with it in the supplementary answer.

Is "throw in the towel" the Deputy's new phrase?

I heard it the other day. There were one or two other phrases-----

-----that become the norm during opposition, such as "missed opportunity", etc.

The bottom line is that the Deputy has not acknowledged the fact that there have been unprecedented and record levels of investment in the last three years in our health services. He has ignored the fact that we have come through a one in a century global pandemic, which has had a huge impact on our health service and continues to have an impact on our health services with, yes, dramatic increases-----

-----in attendances, treatments and people requiring interventions. We have not been found wanting-----

We have not been found wanting over the last three years-----