I will press it.

I will speak to amendments Nos. 4 and 5. Here again, we are talking about parliamentary oversight. We are trying to build in flexibility. That is why amendment No. 4 gives the Minister the option in circumstances where we have an urgent need to get approval for statutory instruments, to refer them to the Joint Committee on Health. Amendment No. 5 certainly has merit. What we are asking for is a review of the functions and impact of the provisions of the legislation, including on human rights and mental well-being. …

I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: "(b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (5): "(6) Regulations introduced under the sections of, or amendments made by, this Act may only come into effect following the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas or, where deemed urgent, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health.".".

I move amendment No. 5: In page 5, line 15, after "2022," to insert the following: "and following the laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas of a report, following a review of the functions and impact of the provisions of the Act, including the impact on human rights and mental well-being, at least two weeks before such a resolution is made,".

I move amendment No. 7: In page 5, line 30, after "2022," to insert the following: "and following the laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas of a report, following a review of the functions and impact of the provisions of the Act, including the impact on human rights and mental well-being, at least two weeks before such a resolution is made,". We are into a cycle now of repetition of wording that I have previously raised, so I will, probably, just be pressing my amendments from this point onwards. There is real…

I move amendment No. 9: In page 6, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “(b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (3): “(4) Regulations introduced under the sections of, or amendments made by, this Act may only come into effect following the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas or, where deemed urgent, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health.”.”.

I move amendment No. 10: In page 6, line 6, after “2022,” to insert the following: “and following the laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas of a report, following a review of the functions and impact of the provisions of the Act, including the impact on human rights and mental well-being, at least two weeks before such a resolution is made,”.

Amendment No. 15 is about parliamentary oversight. It would be useful to all of us if we could collect data on the impact of these provisions. The different aspects of the report are broken down very well in the amendment. It should cover information on implementation of these provisions, information on breaches, an assessment of how the public duty of equality and human rights has been reflected in their application, concerns identified and recommendations for improvement, and other such relevant information. Info…

I will be very brief. I was interested in Senator Buttimer's points about the schools and there is a certain logic to what he said. We have to be guided by science and by NPHET, however. Personally, I would be quite reluctant to see that happen. It is incredibly challenging for working families in particular. It is, therefore, far better if we can keep our children in school. I will make the point, which is generally accepted now, that one of the things the Government has not gotten right is the lack of filtration …

I move amendment No. 12: In page 6, line 20, after “2022,” to insert the following: “and following the laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas of a report, following a review of the functions and impact of the provisions of the Act, including the impact on human rights and mental well-being, at least two weeks before such a resolution is made,”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 6, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(c) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (5): “(6) Regulations introduced under the sections of, or amendments made by, this Act may only come into effect following the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas or, where deemed urgent, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health.”.”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 6, between lines 23 and 23, to insert the following: “Report of Minister 5. (1) Any resolution approving or continuing provisions made under the Acts referred to in this Act may not be made unless a report, following a review of the functions and impact of the same, including the impact on human rights and mental well-being, is laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas at least two weeks before such a resolution is made. (2) The report shall include: (a) information on implementatio…

It is nice to see the Minister of State. I thank her for coming to the House. It is good to have this opportunity every year to debate a Bill like this so we can see where we are at with Sláintecare and the commitment all parties in the House gave to phasing out private health insurance and the private health sector, and to working towards a public universal healthcare system where people are treated on the basis of need and not how much money they have in their pockets. The Minister of State set out what the Bill …

It is nice to see the Minister of State again. I was not going to speak on this amendment, but I have been persuaded by what Senator Ruane has said. She is trying to reach a compromise here, and it seems to me to be a reasonable one. What is being sought is for the Minister of State to commit to reports being published each year detailing what percentage of people have been found guilty in the form of anonymised information. That would give us a good feel for what is happening and a sense of the extent of anonymity…

Well said, Senator Garvey. It is always nice to see the Minister of State.

I wish to share with Senator Boylan.

I agree with every word Senator Garvey uttered. I was delighted to hear her calling for a TRIPS waiver. I was delighted to hear Senator O'Loughlin say she supports a TRIPS waiver. I must be clear on this point, however. If a Senator votes for the Government amendment, he or she is voting against a TRIPS waiver. There is no debate about that because the TRIPS waiver is clearly referred to in Senator Higgins's motion and it is not in the amendment. It has been removed by the Government. Colleagues are here from the C…

Well said.

Well said.

I support my colleague, Senator Higgins. We can agree to disagree with the Minister on the ideologies involved, but I am not clear as to why the Minister will not accept this reasonable recommendation. It asks the Minister to lay a report to investigate these matters. Given that we have a housing crisis which has happened entirely on Fine Gael's watch over the past 11 years in government, why would he not want to go ahead with this report? What is he afraid of in terms of what might be discovered?