I have said to Deputy Howlin on a number of occasions that the Government is positively disposed towards the Bill.

We are positively disposed to the Bill.

That is very unfair.

I thank the Deputy for raising the topical issue of the cost of living. In the earlier part of his contribution, the Deputy referred to the impact that rising costs have had on a particular company in his county. I acknowledge that. Inflation has risen significantly around the world in recent months, mainly driven by higher energy prices. Because of the Ukraine-Russia war, costs are likely to go up even more in the short term. Inflation in Ireland was 5.5% in December and eased to 5% in January. The cost of electri…

On 22 February, the Northern Ireland Minister of Health, Robin Swann, launched a public consultation on the introduction of minimum unit pricing there, with a closing date of 17 May.

He said he has been greatly encouraged by the positive evidence coming out about the introduction of minimum unit pricing in other jurisdictions and believes its introduction in Northern Ireland has the potential to reduce the harms relating to alcohol consumption. It is a public health measure designed to reduce harms arising out of alcohol consumption.

I fully agree with the Deputy that the utility companies have to respond in a proper way to companies and households that are in difficulty. There are various mechanisms in place whereby households that are in arrears or are in difficulty in respect of paying bills and so forth can be switched off. The utility companies have developed policies in that respect. Likewise, in terms of the utility companies the Deputy identified, meaningful and flexible approaches and responses should be developed by them in the curren…

In Ireland in particular, as in other European countries, a lot of expenditure has been allocated by Government to cushion the blows and support businesses during the Covid crisis and as we emerge from it.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I share her admiration for all who work in the community and voluntary sector, particularly those working under the aegis of Tusla, which provides a range of services, as the Deputy said, right across the board, including family resource centres, home-based supports, supporting early school leavers and much more. The fundamental point is that in the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, under which Tusla was established, it is stipulated very clearly that the funding arrangeme…

I accept the Deputy’s genuine commitment to this sector and I have been engaged with many of the bodies over the years on the services they provide. Funding has been significantly increased and in the most recent budget, apart from the additional funding that was provided to Tusla by the Minister following the discussion on the Estimates, further funding of about €650,000 was provided from the dormant accounts programme to family resource centres in 2021. A further €1 million in dormant accounts funding also went t…

There has been intervention, as I explained to the House earlier. An extra €10 million was allocated in the budget, which is available to provide for dental services on an interim basis to medical card holders. There have been discussions between the Irish Dental Association, private contractors and the State, which represents the people and which wants to do the best for the people. It is time an interim solution was found based on the money that has already been allocated, and I would appeal to the Irish Dental A…

You would never know.

I am a strong supporter of this and I know the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, has been a strong advocate for one body if that is the will of all concerned.

We should then resource that adequately. Based on the funding that was recently allocated to sporting bodies, we would see strong funding allocated to women’s Gaelic football and camogie across the length and breadth of the country-----

-----and to women’s rugby and soccer as well. We will not be found wanting, and nor was the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, in allocating the largest amount of funding for sports ever. This includes clubs as well, which are important to communities.

Yes. Well-----

It would be more than a few bob.

In my days as Minister for Education, I was responsible for bringing in early intervention classes, especially language classes, in national schools, which proved to be highly effective in terms of outcomes for children with language difficulties, in particular, or other difficulties. I am a passionate believer in early intervention. I will discuss this with the Minister for Education. The National Council for Special Education has statutory remit and freedom to commission reviews and to put forward policies. We ha…

The Deputy was correct in saying that the company received very substantial funding from Government through EWSS and other aviation supports, both for airlines and airports, during Covid-19. The airlines took a huge hit, as we know, throughout the pandemic. That has to be acknowledged as well. However, the successful way to retain good quality employees, staff and so on is to reward them and acknowledge their contribution during Covid-19. It was not their particular fault-----

-----and there are mechanisms. We do not engage here in operational decisions of companies but, clearly, from basic principles and values, workers' efforts should be acknowledged.