I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the debate. I will refer to some of the positives in the amendment to the defective blocks legislation. For example, it is an opportunity for retrospective payments to be made to homeowners who previously hit the scheme cap. This is the extra 10% in most cases. I agree with many of the contributors that the date of 29 March 2024 is very much arbitrary and I request the Minister to look at it. If it were to be changed, it would not be that much more costly. Not …

I wish to ask the Minister about a case that affects a teacher in my constituency. I am reluctant to go into too much detail. I will await the Minister’s response before I pose supplementary questions.

I thank the Minister for that response. At least by her response she is leaving the door open. It is a matter now and I will relate that to the individual to suggest that the person should make a fresh application and follow the procedure. I wish to read into the record that the board of management of the particular school made the decision regarding the granting of critical illness provision, CIP, on the basis of management discretion where exceptional circumstances existed. Appendix B of Circular 0054/2019 was us…

When this application is resubmitted, will it be assessed by the same officials? I am not casting any aspersions because I do not know who the officials are, but I suggest that the Minister recommend that a fresh pair of eyes process the application, rather than the same individuals. If it is the same individuals, they may take up the same entrenched position. My interest, and I am sure the Minister's interest, is to ensure this particular teacher gets a fair hearing. I hope the outcome will be a positive one.

I am very pleased that the House agreed to take these statements at this very appropriate time, namely prior to the run-in to the December Council and the negotiations that will take place, particularly in respect of coastal states, over the coming weeks. I have been in this House since 1981, with the exception of a few short periods, and I believe this is the worst fishing crisis that will have been experienced since the foundation of the State unless something drastic happens in the next few weeks. I can only des…

Ar an chéad dul síos, is mian liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl d’Oifig an Cheann Comhairle as ucht deis a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a ardú mar Shaincheist Thráthúil ag an am seo anocht. I refer to the question of a reduction in pelagic quotas - there are demersal quotas - in particular mackerel, blue whiting and boarfish. Drastic reductions were recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, for 2026. I repeat my gratitude to the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine,…

Europe has been weak in coastal states. The very same Norway will attempt to gain access to fish blue whiting west of Ireland in the next number of weeks. We must oppose that completely and convince Europe to support us in the actions the Minister will take. Market access and trade restrictions for fish products need to be fully applied against Norway, as well as the Faroe Islands and Iceland. That can be done under regulation 1026/2012. It needs to be fully applied by the Commission. We cannot have these coastal s…

At the outset, I want to thank Deputy Ward for bringing forward this Private Members' motion to give us the opportunity for a comprehensive debate, albeit one that is too short. On Friday evening last, there had been no transfer of funds to Donegal. I acknowledge that thanks to the intervention of the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, and the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, that transfer was made on Friday evening and payments went out on Saturday to the many people who were awaiting them. I ha…

My question is to ask the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine about the plans he has to address the Commission's proposals to reduce, drastically, the pelagic total level catches.

An indication of the urgency was the Minister of State travelling to Killybegs last Sunday week to meet representatives of the sector from all parts of the country, from Donegal to Cork. There is no need to outline the utter devastation that will result from the reduction of the mackerel quota by 70% and blue whiting by 41%. Thousands of jobs in the sector will be lost. This is the same sector that paid the price to get Brexit over the line and listened to Michel Barnier telling us fish would not be affected and wo…

At this stage, it is not compensation we want; we want fish. The Minister of State will have to get the European Council to assist him. This is the first time this has happened. I go back to the days of Commissioner Damanaki, who was more in favour of Iceland than the European maritime states. The Minister of State's problem is that he will go into a Council of Ministers meeting and there will be ministers there from non-coastal countries. They will accept the advice of the Commission. He will have to work on them …

The programme for Government pledges to explore the provision of an additional surgical hub for the north west in a timely manner. On 24 February, I attended a meeting with HSE executives, who, after pressing, indicated that Sligo was the preferred choice. Shortly after that, the Minister visited Letterkenny. She came in listening mode. She listened to the professionals there and met the TDs and Oireachtas Members. She had a meeting with the consultants and representatives of the 171 GPs who favour a centre in Lett…

I know I am being squeezed out-----

-----but this is important.

The Ceann Comhairle would appreciate if this-----

Will the Government confirm that a decision was taken in a back room with the Lowry supporters? Was a decision taken that the additional surgical hub would be in Sligo at the expense of Letterkenny?

Lo and behold, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, is here in the House-----

This is important to Donegal.

I do understand it.

I understand it, but the Ceann Comhairle was not as severe with others.