I thank the Deputy very much indeed for that thoughtful presentation. We will initiate and ensure the State does formally recognise the work of Covid volunteers. I have met many of them in the vaccination centres. The vaccination programme has been unprecedented and very professionally operated, with more than 3.5 million doses now administered. It is an extraordinary achievement so far and we have a long way to go yet. We are highly appreciative of the important work where volunteers across the country have partic…

In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is a very sincere, genuine, diligent and hard-working Minister, who, generally speaking, does everything she possibly can to help Deputies across the House with issues. She travels the length and breadth of the country to try to resolve issues of this kind.

Her commitment cannot be questioned in that regard and nor can her desire to seek a reasonable and effective solution that can be executed and actioned. As I said before, I will meet with Councillor Kieran Bourke and his team. I do not have an issue with that and I will check with my office in terms of the logistics of it. I know Deputy Cahill and others have been in touch about it as well.

It is a relationship that we, as a country, have to rethink in terms of the European Union. Deputies would have complained about the penalty points. Europe has held back €25 million from our seafood funding. I am making the point that it has held it back because we are the last country to sign up to basic frameworks.

We cannot just keep going on the attack-----

-----without more constructive and, in my view, strategic thinking around how we position the Irish fishing industry for the future. That is my point and it is why I want an ongoing dialogue with the industry.

We can all stay in our particular positions and keep firing out the same sorts of assertions and so on while not achieving a whole lot. The issue around the control plan is a further example of that. It is easy to blame the Department and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. I acknowledge that the authority needs reform and its members know that themselves. However, that in itself will not solve the issues.

We need to discuss the issues with the Deputy and others.

I will pursue the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and try to get this sorted once and for all.

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a most important issue. We were all shocked at the scenes and we were absolutely delighted that Christian Eriksen came through. The events illustrated both the fragility of life itself and the importance of first aid, first responders, defibrillators and how what can be perceived to be one of the most difficult of circumstances can be retrieved. I certainly will give thought to what the Deputy said. There has been very significant provision of defibrillators through hard work …

I have spoken to the Minister on the matter. I understand that they are being prepared and finalised. The Minister stated that he expects to have them-----

I know well. That is why I asked the Minister and checked up on where they were. He said they are being finalised.

The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, in the context of the national strategic rail strategy, has included the western rail corridor, particularly the Athenry and Claremorris project, within that overall strategic review. All Oireachtas Members, particularly those from Mayo and Galway, will be interested when we have the results of this review. I will certainly keep a close eye on it. The Minister is anxious to be facilitated but obviously he is waiting. This all-island strategic review has only commenced and we…

It is a fair point. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in the context of the housing for all strategy, will be making provision for the restoration and the bringing back into use of houses currently idle and vacant in rural areas and in towns. The town centre first policy of the Government's programme will also dovetail with that objective, as well as providing resources to incentivise conversion of over-the-shop premises for accommodation purposes. Every single avenue to provide additional un…

The State has supported outdoor hospitality through grants, restart grants and so forth. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage gave supports to local authorities for the pedestrianisation of streets, along with the provision of facilities in various streets across the country. Outdoor hospitality has reopened very well and it has gone down very well. That needs to be acknowledged. The Garda has displayed commendable discretion to date. The Minister has indicated that she will bring forward a regul…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment has been established and first met on 8 July 2020. It has met on a total of 13 occasions, most recently on 27 May. The next meeting is not yet scheduled. The members of the committee are the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport; the Minister for Finance; the Minister for Public Expendi…

To respond to Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, funding will be substantial, at more than €300 million, for the docklands in Cork, which encompasses the south docks as well as the northern side. It will create employment overall in the region, which will be of great significance for the infrastructural works that will facilitate both residential and commercial developments in the Cork docklands of benefit to many people living in the northside of Cork. The Irish Rail investme…

The ESRI has stated that we should, and need to, build up to 33,000 houses a year. On the taxi question, if I may continue, a €6.5 million package was provided last week for taxi, hackney and limousine operators following my meetings with them and my engagement with the Minister for Transport. That involved €3 million for the continued waiver of vehicle licence fees in 2022, €2 million for a once-off motor tax refund scheme specifically for taxi and hackney operators and €1.5 million for a national car test, NCT, f…

These supports include the PUP and enterprise support grants, many of which can be accessed by taxi drivers.

I had to race through the details of the taxi package. It is €6.5 million, not €300. Again, I am always open to engaging with the taxi drivers------