As I mentioned in my opening statement, significant resources have been invested in UHL over recent years. The workforce at UHL has increased by 42%, or 1,161 whole-time equivalents, since the end of 2019. It is accepted that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. Work on a new inpatient block at UHL has commenced, with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, breaking ground on this development. The project consists of a four-storey, 96-bed acute inpatient ward and renal dialysis unit. It involv…

I thank the Acting Chairperson. I wish the people on tour the very best. It is great to see the Public Gallery packed again, as they observe us do our business. I am taking the Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Martin, this morning. As we are all in no doubt, the issue of disinformation is a complex and challenging problem to tackle. It affects many different parts of society. For example, disinformation has been shown to have played a role in the manipulation of public opinion in elections, on …

I wish to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank Deputy Hourigan for raising this issue. The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform introduced special Covid leave with pay for all Civil Service and public sector employees at the start of the pandemic to assist in preventing the onward spread of Covid in work premises. Currently, special Covid leave with pay applies for all cases for the duration of the self-isolation period only. Any p…

I wish to point out that there is an independent secretariat to record all items discussed at Government meetings. I do not want the suggestion to be thrown out that there is anything inappropriate about the Government meeting tech firms. As we all know, and as Senators in this House are acutely aware, politicians in Ireland are very accessible to all strands of society, which is very important to see. As I said in my opening remarks, this information relates to a highly complex issue. We refer to the right to free…

I thank Deputy Hourigan for the very important points she has raised. I will pass them on to the Minister for Health. The Government recognises the significant role of public healthcare workers throughout the pandemic. They have gone beyond the call of duty, working at the front line, in clinically exposed environments treating Covid-positive patients in extremely difficult circumstances. Their efforts continue to be very much appreciated by the Government. Unfortunately, many front-line public health workers contr…

I am aware that this is very important infrastructure which the Senator has raised a number of times. There is a fivefold increase in freight going through Rosslare Europort post Brexit. A number of key connectivity ferry routes have increased which have been discussed at a European level recently. I appreciate that connectivity is critical for it. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place…

It certainly is a priority. We have very clearly pointed out the increase in freight and passenger numbers passing through Rosslare post Brexit. To take advantage of these opportunities, additional infrastructure is needed to connect all the routes together and the strong connectivity that lies between Dublin and the rest of the country. It is a very important project and as I have said, more than €1.1 million has been allocated this year. I will follow up with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to reaffirm how impor…

I thank Senator Lombard for raising this very important issue. I acknowledge the efforts of his community in keeping the area tidy. It is very frustrating if the State is not living up to its side of the bargain when communities are doing so much. I can hear the Senator's frustration on the matter. The relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993. Section 40 of the Act provides that the Minister for Transport has the “gen…

I hear Senator Lombard's frustration in connection with this issue. I will endeavour to talk to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and to liaise with the Senator specifically on a timeline for the legislation that we referenced, which would potentially be a help. This is also to give his community some assurance. He rightly pointed out in his intervention the great work they are doing in living up to their end of the bargain, keeping their area tidy and aesthetically welcoming for tourists, and making the place look very a…

On behalf of the Minister for Health, I would like to respond to Senator Craughwell, who I thank for raising this very important matter. At the outset, I wish to state that the Minister acknowledges that the provision of appropriate audiology services to children and adults is an important aspect of the healthcare system. The provision of such can prevent other health problems and promote greater well-being and community participation for both children and adults, as the Senator rightly outlined. The Health Service…

As the Acting Chair has said, I acknowledge Senator Craughwell discussing his personal experience. It is something I know from my late dad who had great difficulty in hearing. It puts people on the periphery of conversations and puts them out of social discourse with people. This has significant consequences for their ability to fit in and meet people. It has an impact on people's well-being. It is very important. There is proposal to establish a working group comprising the relevant stakeholders to assist with dev…

I thank Senator Gallagher for tabling this very important issue regarding the National Ambulance Service and resourcing in the north east. I will take it on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. As Members of this House are aware, our ambulance service has experienced a significant and unprecedented rise in patient demand in the past two years. Last year a record total of 390,000 calls were received. This surpassed the previous record of more than 366,000 set in 2021. Of these totals, the National Amb…

I thank Senator Gallagher for his very important Commencement matter. As I pointed out, more than €200 million of an unprecedented level of investment was approved in the past year for the National Ambulance Service. This provided for front-line paramedic capacity building, as I outlined in my opening statement, as well as a provision for 27,000 hours through the private ambulance service in order to meet demand. In the response from the senior Minister, I pointed out the increase in services and there is unprecede…

I thank the Deputies for their questions and their kind comments. First, on the temporary protection directive, 72,000 Ukrainian citizens have been welcomed into Ireland. The response has been challenging. We have seen potentially an 1,100%-plus increase in Ukrainian citizens who are availing of international protection or a request for same coming into the State and we are trying to respond to provide shelter on both fronts. In terms of a plan, we are well under way regarding a rapid build trying to provide emerge…

I thank Deputy Howlin for his kind wishes. In the first instance, in regard to the response, "Yes" is the answer to the Deputy's question in terms of the key infrastructure. President Zelenskyy, on the phone call that recently took place with the Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs, underscored the level of investment they need in their SME sector to rebuild the country, of which Ireland has provided €25 million which has been disbursed in the most recent budget. To give a flavour of some of the really importa…

I thank the Members for their questions. In relation to Deputy Mattie McGrath, I understand that the Taoiseach committed to a debate on these issues in the next two weeks during today's Order of Business, if I am not mistaken. Obviously, as a member of the EU, we are to the forefront in meeting our international obligations to ensure that those coming, who are very traumatised and in very difficult circumstances, are provided with shelter and accommodation. That is proving a huge challenge in terms of the logistics…

With regard to Deputy Howlin's contribution, the Taoiseach was very concerned about the Inflation Reduction Act. The Deputy quite rightly referred to state aid and the beneficiaries of that, which is a massive concern for the Government. President von der Leyen said the Commission will issue a package of measures on four key issues - regulatory environment, finance, skills and trade - in the coming days as a response. Competitiveness is key to the EU and we are very much exposed to that, as the Deputy rightly point…

I thank Deputies for their statements and questions. I will now address further issues that were on the agenda of December's European Council meeting. At the meeting, leaders agreed to grant EU candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a real opportunity for Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward and I support their path and the efforts they now need to undertake to deliver their programme of reforms. A new government was formed in Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. I wish President Borjana Krišto, as chai…

I am pleased to introduce the Bill to the Seanad. The Bill has completed its passage through the Dáil and I am keen to have it enacted as early as possible. I thank all Deputies in the Lower House who aided the progression of the Bill to this Stage, as well as Senators for their constructive support and input into pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. It is always heartening to work in a collegial way with colleagues of all parties and none to make politics more inclusive. I believe that this Bill, short as it is, …

I thank Members for their very kind wishes, for the work the House has done in assisting me in trying to deliver on some of these key proposals, such as the Moorhead report and, obviously, the Bill before us, and for ensuring the Bill's swift passage through the House. I will refer to a few points that were raised. In response to Senator Dolan, the draft regulations provide for a review mechanism. It is very important we would review the operation of the mechanism and see how it is working. As I said to Senator Moy…