One of the main problems with the migration issue is the chaos of the Government’s approach to it. The Government does not know what is happening. The answers to many of my parliamentary questions show that the Minister for Justice either did not know the information, was not asking the questions or could not extract the information from the data. We are spending a great deal of money on an expensive process to differentiate between those who need help and those who do not. Those who do not need help are getting de…

What about the 1,000 deportation orders?

I have given the Taoiseach the details.

One of the sentences that has been repeated to me a lot over the past week is that the Government seems not to understand that there is a country outside of the Dublin area. There is a real divide in this country. It is really important to recognise the economic situation, especially in the midlands and north west, which is now a lagging area with lower incomes than the European average. The Government has also loaded fuel tax on people to try to force them out of private cars but has not put public transport infra…

Mary Bartley-Meehan lost her son and husband to Covid-19. When her husband, Ultan, died, his face was discoloured with black, congealed blood. It had become infected and, shockingly, his face had become infested with maggots. The Minister for Health, the Department of Health, the HSE, HIQA and the Ombudsman have all so far refused to investigate what happened. Practically every second night, Mary has nightmares about that infestation. She said to me yesterday that she hopes she does not die without them saying sorr…

Why are there no terms of reference?

Will the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, confirm to me today that there will be an investigation-----

-----with the powers to compel papers and the people before the end of this Government?

Will the health service apologise?

Will there be a Covid investigation that will examine the case in question?

A Covid investigation is a very serious issue and the Government has no plans for one.

The lack of an answer from the Government on a Covid investigation is very unfortunate.

There are no terms of reference and no date at all.

It is disgraceful.

This is very important, a Cheann Comhairle.

There were 2,300 deaths.

Mary Bartley-Meehan lost her son and husband to Covid-19 in Kilbrew Nursing Home within just six weeks of each other. Ultan had dementia. He had carcinoma cancer, which resulted in tumorous wounds on his face and head. He had been a resident in the nursing home since 2019. Mary was shown a video of her husband before he died and it was quite horrific. The side of Ultan's face was discoloured with black, congealed blood. His nails were long and had become black as he had, unknown to himself, been picking at his faci…

I appreciate that but I ask the Minister of State to meet her again to give that apology to her. It is important for her that that happens. The whole situation around the Covid-19 crisis and nursing homes was incredible: 2,323 people died and 27% of all deaths during Covid happened in the nursing homes. They were the ground zero of Covid. The Government moved thousands of people from hospitals into nursing homes, many of whom were not tested for Covid. It had the effect of seeding Covid throughout the nursing home …

I, too, welcome members of the campaign group to the Gallery tonight. I thank them for all the work they have over the years on this. The fact they have had to do it shows that this building and the people who have been in this building for the past five decades have simply not done their jobs. It is the responsibility of the political establishment. It is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and the Minister for Justice to make sure the citizens of this country are protected, are kept safe and if there …

We know that over Christmas the Minister and the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, had a ferocious argument over the health budget. We also know there are significant tensions currently between the Minister's Department and other Departments. Some of these tensions concern overspends by those other Departments. Can the Minister give us information about where these difficulties arise, where the overspends are happening and which Departments are engaging the Minister?