What we do not need are serial objections, as the Deputy's party have made, to developments in Tallaght, Donabate and right across.

Sinn Féin has objected to the building of around 6,000 houses.

It has objected to them and voted against them being built. That, to me, is hypocrisy-----

-----when put in contrast with the huge crisis that we have in terms of housing supply.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Again, the issue is a very serious one. Rents are too high for people. There are not enough houses out there. We can see from the from the Daft report there are not enough apartments to rent. There is not enough housing out there to buy. The whole purpose of the Government policy over the past 12 months and since we came into office has been to increase the supply of housing dramatically. A total of 31,000 starts happened in 2021. That is the highest number of housing start…

I have been a long-standing advocate for social housing, along with the Deputy, even when I was in opposition. We are now looking at an unprecedented social housing programme. It is going to take time to build but it is happening right now.

There were 31,000 starts last year. I accept and am glad the Deputy acknowledged the need for private sector investment. It does need to be constrained. We have already brought in planning constraints on funds in terms of housing estates and being able to bulk buy. They cannot do so. From a taxation perspective and a planning position, that has happened. In terms of apartment building, there has been a huge issue for some time in terms of the whole issue around viability of apartment building. The daft.ie report an…

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. This report from the police ombudsman is a very significant one. It is a deeply disturbing report and, as the Deputy stated, the second such report in a matter of weeks. Examining those attacks, in particular that in south Belfast in Sean Graham bookmakers, resulting in many murders and one attempted murder, it has found very strong evidence of investigative and intelligence failures and collusive behaviours by the RUC as defined by the ombudsman, including …

In the first instance, I have told the Deputy what we are doing. I do not agree with the amnesty at all and I do not take it as a likelihood. The Irish Government has entered into discussions with the British Government and all of the parties in Northern Ireland in respect of the proposals that emanated from the British Government last year. We have made it very clear we do not accept any unilateral actions in respect of legacy that would represent a breach of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements.

First of all, proposals were made that cannot be accepted. We have opposed them and have made it very clear to the British Government that there can be an amnesty for nobody. State forces and governments have a higher moral order in how they conduct themselves, as does the government in any state. Equally, no paramilitaries should have an amnesty either in respect of heinous crimes and murders that were committed against very many people. The Deputy is correct in saying people want closure, details and to find out …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and suggest that, given his poetic elegance, by the time I sit down, Eir will have heard this has been raised in Leinster House. I appreciate the seriousness of the matter because connectivity is everything today in the modern era for work, education and quality of life. Eir has announced, as part of its €1 billion capital investment programme, that it plans to invest €500 million to expand its Irish fibre network to some 1.4 million premises in urban areas. In August, Eir …

Again, I thank the Deputy. As I said, we will engage with Eir and the other companies with regard to provision. The world has changed. The Deputy is correct to point out that the late Albert Reynolds was the pioneer in communications-----

-----and bringing Ireland up to a level of communications capacity that was instrumental in foreign direct investment coming into the country as well.

It is very important, therefore, that we get it right with broadband and that we get a high level and high quality of connectivity. That means investment from both the private sector and the State, which is investing very significantly in the intervention areas that are not covered by private sector companies. Those areas are now earmarked in the national broadband plan. The State is putting in a lot of investment, as the Deputy knows. I will engage with the companies and I will raise the issues the Deputy raised t…

In the budget we took a major step forward in providing funding to deal with pay and conditions within the early childcare sector. I agree that career pathways have to be developed in early education and early childcare. The funding has increased dramatically, from approximately €69 million to €207 million through to 2023, to facilitate that. A joint labour committee has been formed and there will be engagement between employers and trade unions. The trade unions will be well aware of the provision. I want the mech…

I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. What she has just raised is very disturbing. The legislation for safe access zones is listed for priority drafting and we have facilitated progression of the Bill the Deputy referred.

As I said yesterday, the agreement of the three parties in the programme for Government was that we would commence a number of citizens' assemblies. Due to Covid-19 we were not in a position to do that. In terms of two of the commitments, one has been established on biodiversity, which is a crisis, and likewise with regard to the Dublin mayor, which had been agreed. As regards drugs policy, it is our view that we will have a citizens' assembly in the latter part of this year. However, that does not mean there is no…

The Deputy is correct that Covid-19 has had a very significant impact and led to delayed diagnoses. Many activities that would have been taking place were suspended, particularly during severe surges of the Omicron, Delta and previous variants. It has had a serious impact with regard to delayed diagnoses and on waiting lists. In response to Covid-19 up to €350 million has been allocated for waiting times and waiting lists. Also, additional funding has been allocated to the national cancer strategy for increasing re…

The Government has provided a range of supports to local authorities. I commend the work done by the Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention team. I do not know from the Deputy's comments whether it has been in touch with the council in Limerick.

The council would be best placed to identify premises that may be available and could be adapted for use by the team there. That is what normally happens across the country.