With the INIS?

Deputy O'Reilly's question about the report on familicide and homicide was first. The justice plan for 2021 commits to publishing the independent research on familicide and domestic homicide reviews, which has been commissioned by the Department of Justice as an important first step in delivering on the programme for Government's commitment to legislate to introduce domestic homicide reviews. This independent study is looking at international best practice in the conduct of domestic homicide reviews with a view to …

I said I would reflect on it. I am not clear where we can take it given the fact that the Garda and GSOC were involved. It is not for me to comment. I commend the Deputy on raising the matter. I know it is in the Village magazine as well, but I think the steps that can be taken are beyond my remit at this stage. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised safeguarding of vulnerable adults. He makes very consistent and fair points in that regard. I know that work is being done in Garda vetting, for example, and extending it to c…

The Commissioner gave his views at an Oireachtas committee.

Given yesterday's exchanges, I think we are in favour of people being allowed freedom of expression.

I only have seconds left.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 18, inclusive, together. The social dialogue unit, part of the economic division in my Department, co-ordinates and supports the Government's overall approach to social dialogue through a variety of mechanisms. These mechanisms includes LEEF, the labour employer economic forum, which engages with representatives of employers and trade unions on economic and employment issues insofar as they affect the labour market. The LEEF has met regularly to facilitate discussions with Gov…

On the last point, I will talk to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine about the strategic plan. The Deputy is right about the need to do everything we possibly can to focus on what works and on food security in particular, which will remain a big challenge globally. That must be reconciled with the climate issues. Food security is still important and Ireland is probably one of the most carbon efficient production systems in Europe, both in dairy and beef. That should not be forgotten. On Deputy Cian O…

Widespread guidance has issued to employers and intensive care facilities have good air quality and so on. Ventilation is important and that has always been advised from the beginning of the pandemic. There have been arguments about the specific types of ventilation and I gave the Deputy the scientific advisory group for emergencies, SAGE's, perspective on HEPA filters yesterday, for example, which was interesting. Deputy Kelly raised the social dialogue. LEEF has a lot of streams to it and it is going well. The av…

I again put on the record of the House the Government's deep appreciation for all those in the emergency services who are doing so much across the country to protect life and limb, especially in the south west at the moment, in helping our communities to cope through Storm Barra. Our emergency services, ESB staff, council employees and community workers are all doing so at considerable personal risk and I pay tribute to the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre for the preparatory work it has been engaged in for …

I do not know if the Deputy heard my initial reply but the funding will be made available if schools wish to purchase HEPA filters in given situations.

I know the Deputy accused us of mixed messaging and so forth. She needs to be very careful before she accuses anyone of mixed messaging. I did watch and hear her as she was beamed in from New York in response to the Government measures, and I was none the wiser at the end of her interview as to whether she approved of those public health measures that the Government decided or not.

This is more of the mixed messaging: “I don't agree with the Government's approach and I won't go against the public health message.” Deputy McDonald could not come out clearly like Michelle O'Neill did in the North. I do not agree necessarily with the stance taken there, where Michelle O'Neill was saying there is no need for any more new restrictions. Deputy MacDonald kind of took the halfway house again. Her hallmark-----

Her utterances and articulation, unfortunately, throughout the pandemic-----

-----have been the hallmark of mixed messaging from the get-go.

I agree with the Deputy’s comments on the centrality and importance of the public health advice during the global pandemic. From the outset of this pandemic, when I was on the Opposition benches in the immediate aftermath of the general election, at the first meeting with public health officials I stated - Deputy Shortall would have been present at that meeting and would have said exactly the same thing - that all of us in this House must accept the centrality of public health advice as a guide to dealing and copin…

Journalists should continue to contact the HSE or the Department of Health to request interviews with public health officials.

Then they should notify the grid and make sure that everyone knows who is appearing on what show at a given time.

To co-ordinate. We need co-ordination, obviously.

The Deputy has been complaining about-----