I banned it.

Yes, because it was useless. What was in place was just a charade.

It is very difficult to do.

It is problematic when we do not have it. I do not dispute the points the Deputy is making. I hope, however, that the Minister's Bill will deal with the issue in respect of the agriculture industry.

I have dealt with Deputy Devlin's question about Santa.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, together. My most recent formal meeting with church leaders took place on 15 April 2021, when I met with the leaders of the all-island Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Irish Council of Churches. We discussed the ongoing contribution to peacebuilding and the ongoing work churches undertake at community level in Northern Ireland. Both the church leaders and I recog…

I agree with Deputy McDonald and join her in expressing our sympathies and our thanks for the work Derek did. As for the redress scheme, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, wrote to the churches seeking a contribution to the redress scheme. My understanding is that legislation is still going through the Houses, or perhaps it has gone through already. I note the Deputy's concerns about some aspects of the legislation. The point about the Adoption Authority is a fair one. I read about that during the week. I have spoken t…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 27, inclusive, together. The Government recognises the importance of regular engagement with all sectors of society. In recent months I have had a number of engagements with social partners in a variety of formats. This includes through mechanisms such as the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which brings together representatives of employers and trade unions with Ministers to exchange views on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market and which are o…

Deputy McDonald raised the Mater Hospital long Covid unit. That is a matter for the Mater and the HSE. I do not know what is behind all this or what is going on in there in terms of the various sets of relationships. I know the Minister is here. My understanding was that it was going to be continued but that is a matter on which we will engage with the HSE to see what the real story is. It is uisce faoi thalamh, b'fhéidir.

Is deacair a dhéanamh amach cad atá ar siúl. Deputy Devlin mentioned the fuel allowance for the over-70s. It is a very good idea to have a publicity campaign to ensure that people are aware of the increased eligibility thresholds in order that people who heretofore did not qualify will avail of the free fuel allowance. It is a very good idea, in terms of the publicity campaign, to make sure people are aware of the increased eligibility thresholds such that those who did not qualify heretofore for the free fuel allo…

Sorry?

Deputy Bríd Smith raised the issue of the employment regulation order for the security industry. Again, that is in the courts. We do not intervene in the courts. The comparison made is false because there was no court case regarding the banking decisions. The matter arose from a review carried out concerning the banks themselves, particularly those not owned by the State and in which we have no involvement. We do not get involved in court cases normally but we are keeping a very strong watching brief on the matter …

I apologise. The high-level review group on collective bargaining made substantial proposals, as the Deputy knows. The Tánaiste and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment propose to work with the partners to have them implemented throughout 2023.

Gabhaim buíochas le muintir Aylward agus le Helena, Bob, Triona agus Mark ach go háirithe. Táimid go léir anseo chun ár meas a léiriú ar fhear grámhar a raibh sárthuiscint aige ar a mhuintir sa dáilcheantar Cheatharlach agus Chill Chainnigh. Is maith is eol dúinn go léir go raibh Bobby go huile is go hiomlán ar a shuaimhneas i measc a phobail ina cheantar féin. Is fíor an tseanfhocal a deir nach bhfuil aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin agus ba é sin dearcadh Bhobby. Thuig sé tábhacht na gcomharsan agus fiúntas an ph…

I move: That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD. The Minister took up office at one of the most difficult moments in our modern history. The largest public health crisis and fastest moving recession to ever hit our country had brought a sudden halt to most aspects of economic and social life. It was a moment of great uncertainty about the future, and for every Minister. They were responsible for making sure public services kept functioning and …

This is unfortunately a very populist moment we live in. It is increasingly hard for even the most important issues to be debated in a serious way. For example, during the roll-out of the vaccines, even one of the most successful programmes in the world was relentlessly attacked in political and media circles for failing to deliver everything immediately. According to this approach, until everything has been achieved nothing can be acknowledged and there is no such thing as a complex answer. There is a clear and wi…

Our plans address every element of housing provision, starting with the most basic of training for more craftspeople to build and renovate homes. Thousands of new apprenticeships are in place and people are being trained in new and urgently needed skills, including those who will support our programme to insulate social and private housing to reduce energy bills permanently and help meet climate targets. As a result of our policies, there are today 20,000 more people working in construction than before the pandemic…

Reform of planning laws is an essential part of delivering more homes and faster. We must protect the right of individuals to be heard and for legitimate concerns to require the revision of projects. However, the balance to date has made Ireland an outlier in how long and how often legitimate projects are delayed. This must change and it will change with the new legislation which we will be publishing shortly. Priority will be given to speeding up decisions relating to social, affordable and cost-rental housing. It…

A Chathaoirligh agus a hiar-Chathaoirligh, a Sheanadóirí agus a hiar-Sheanadóirí agus a dhaoine uaisle go léir, is pribhléid mhór domsa a bheith anseo libh inniu chun aitheantas a thabhairt do chomóradh 100 bliain den chéad chruinniú a bhí ag Seanad Éireann. Le deich mbliana anuas, eagraíodh clár éagsúil leathan ag comóradh ócáidí agus pearsantachtaí iontacha agus tábhachtacha ag tréimhse lárnach chinniúnach inár stair. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach ag an am céanna an deis a thapú chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar ár n-institiú…

I appreciate Deputy McDonald raising the issue and the manner in which she has raised it. We did all agree that we would commit to getting the legislation through the House before the recess, particularly in light of Vicky's passing and her strong exhortation that we would fulfil all of the recommendations arising out of the Scally review and the expert reference group that dealt with interval cancer. The report was published in October 2020 and the legislation is in line with this report. We must remember that the…