I thank the Deputies for raising these issues. On the points raised by Deputy Kelly, there is no reason partners and family members cannot attend scans and appointments relating to maternity services.

It should not be happening. Clear guidance has been given by the HSE to hospitals. That is clinical guidance. The question is often asked as to who is in charge. In health and in the world of medicine, politicians do not dictate - and have never done so - to medics in terms of clinical guidance. Given that we have had such a successful vaccination programme in hospitals and in view of the fact that the levels of disease are so low, risks are very low. It is difficult to comprehend why these restrictions are remaini…

I am making the point generally. I am not saying it happened in this context. I am making the point generally, which we must acknowledge. We can criticise the health service a lot, but the work it has done in the context of Covid and in the aftermath of the cyberattack has been truly heroic. I must say that. It has stood up to the test and we must say that a bit more because we are always reluctant to affirm the health services because, very often, there is not much to be gained politically by the Opposition genera…

Those resources, coming into the winter period, were very effective and had much impact.

As to the upskilling and recruitment of people, we will continue to work on that. Deputy Paul Murphy stated that it is only a question of whether we use the word “gamble” or the word “choice”. There is a fundamental difference between taking a gamble and making a choice. I say emphatically that I do not gamble with peoples’ lives. I do not gamble with peoples’ health. I want to make that point and refute any implication or innuendo to the contrary. The mandatory hotel quarantining that we introduced has worked in p…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 12, inclusive, together. I joined European Union leaders in Brussels on 24 and 25 May for a special meeting of the European Council. We discussed Covid-19, including ongoing developments on vaccination across Europe, and the roll-out of the EU digital Covid certificate this summer. We reaffirmed our commitment to accelerating vaccine sharing with the aim of donating at least 100 million doses by the end of the year. As agreed in December, we provided guidance to the European Co…

Deputy Kelly raised issues in respect of Belarus. There was great anger at the meeting of the European Council regarding the hijacking of the Ryanair aeroplane and the subsequent treatment of Roman Protasevich and his partner. There was a sense at that meeting that a line had been crossed by the Lukashenko regime and that it was unacceptable. A move was made immediately to initiate strong sanctions against Belarus for its behaviour. In many ways, against the backdrop of President Biden's visit to Europe in the past…

Regarding the Covid-19 certificate, the Deputy's point concerning interoperability with the United States is a good one. We are on target. It is challenging. The Covid-19 certificate is fine and we have PCR tests from different providers etc.. Work is progressing to meet the 19 July target. The idea of Europe and the United States having an interoperable certificate is very important and it is something we are advancing. We are doing that with third countries more generally as well, where vaccination programmes hav…

I just want to make the point, if I may, that unilateral behaviour in respect of international agreements is not acceptable and it is not the course of travel for any country that has signed up to international agreements. A mechanism exists to resolve this issue and it can be resolved with some goodwill and common sense.

First, what has happened to the homeowners in County Donegal, and indeed in counties Mayo, Clare and elsewhere but particularly the vast majority in Donegal, is scandalous. It is devastating for those homeowners. I visited one such home last week owned by the Murtagh family in Raphoe. Last year, I saw the outsides of other houses. What has happened is appalling. We all know the impact it can have on people when one of the key objectives in life to build their family home, and the sweat, toil and effort that entails…

I am just making that point. Generally speaking, we want to do the right thing by those who were let down by the provision of these defective blocks, which have rendered their homes, in many instances, unliveable and have created great anxiety.

We want to help them and we are going to do that.

First, as I said earlier, motions and slogans will not solve this. I had a very good meeting with the Mica Action Group last Thursday. As a result of that, I contacted the Minister again and said, "Let us put in place a process here." The Deputy talks about 100%, but 100% of what? It is not as simple as asserted. That came up in the conversation. There is a whole range of issues we have to discuss in terms of the grant caps, allowable costs, engineering costs, upfront costs and how we can make it easier for the hom…

That is why the Minister has corresponded with the group and spoken to it. He is anxious to get this up and running as quickly as possible. We will also consult the Mica Action Group on its issues and so on.

I make the point that the scheme was entered into in good faith. The Deputy's party colleague welcomed it at the time, as did everybody else.

The Government is absolutely committed to doing the right thing and is going to provide-----

-----exceptional resources to make sure we can make these houses liveable again for the families involved in a way that ensures the kinds of impacts that have been suggested are addressed. Obviously, the working through of the scheme has created a lot of issues, as people have raised. The submission was made to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, at the end of April and he is responding to that now.

I answered the question, in fairness.

With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, this kind of intervention is unprecedented during Leaders' Questions. I will just make the point that I am not exploiting this for political reasons. The Deputy seems to want to exploit every issue for political advancement.

I want to get this issue resolved on behalf of the residents and owners.