On the same issue, I remind the Taoiseach that when this issue was brought to his attention by the Opposition, he said that we had to move on and that it was urgent. Last week, the vote that was scheduled on this was postponed. The Government could have used that week, as the committee requested, to invite representatives of the inshore fishermen and the environmental NGOs to have their say and to try to get this planning framework right. The Government chose not to do so and it wasted a week. I just wanted to put …

It was two weeks ago-----

Two weeks ago.

Apartheid is defined as "inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them". Human Rights Watch has published a key report on this issue, of which I am sure the Minister is aware. It follows reports from Israeli human rights organisations B'Tselem and Yesh Din, not to mentioned respected Palestinian human rights organisations and the concerns of the UN, that Israel is basically op…

In the 1980s, the Dunnes Stores' workers started confronting the apartheid regime then in power in South Africa. Ireland then led the way in taking on that regime. Here we are today, and we cannot even ban goods from the criminal, illegal settlements in the occupied territories. That is what we have become. From a giant in the 1980s, we have become a minnow. The challenge now is for the Minister to stand up to this apartheid state, as Ireland has done in the past.

I ask the Minister to urgently review the defective concrete blocks scheme as it applies in Donegal. He will be aware that a large number of families have engaged with the scheme, which is simply not fit for purpose. I ask him to listen to the many voices from Donegal he is hearing and to urgently carry out a review of the scheme to see how it can be made fit for purpose and help families to make their homes safe. These are families that have waited many years for a scheme to protect them

As the Minister knows, the Mica Action Group campaigned for many years. The Minister referred to the pyrite scheme for families in Dublin and north Leinster. That scheme was 100% funded. We in Donegal have always felt let down in that our scheme was 90% funded. We were, however, relieved to have some type of a scheme. The difficulty right now is that the limits for a complete rebuild of one's home meant that it is just not economic. The families not only have to make up the remaining 10%, but pay VAT. Why is that? …

VAT is a sore point, but there is also the replacement issue. The Minister talked about keeping the original windows and doors in the houses. Why can these people not avail of a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grant? They are building new homes, but the Minister wants to build them to standards from 20 years ago. The scheme is not fit for purpose, which we have been telling him for the past year. He needs to start listening to the large number of families involved. I could send him two emails I recei…

Some 45 minutes has been scheduled on Thursday for the Opposition to engage on the national marine planning framework, NMPF. As the Taoiseach knows, serious concern was conveyed to the Government through the Business Committee from a range of Opposition Members, including Sinn Féin. The NMPF is a major planning framework. It has legal consequences for our coastal communities, inshore fishermen, environmental NGOs and a range of organisations that want to have their say and come before the Oireachtas committee to do…

That is an absolutely derisory response.

It was a draft plan.

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 198, the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017, which lapsed on the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil, shall be restored to the Order Paper at Order for Committee Stage.”

The Tánaiste, as a former Minister for Health, will be aware that, in County Donegal, we have iCARE on the Inishowen Peninsula and Bluestack Special Needs Foundation in south Donegal. For the past 20 years, both organisations have provided a vital service to children with disabilities and their families in north and south Donegal. They did so without State funding for a long time but, in recent years, €36,000 has gone to each organisation. However, it is only a fraction of what they need. The Minister of State with…

I will comment on the same issue as Deputy Tóibín. The Deputy is a member of the Regional Independent Group. The Whip of that group is Deputy Naughten, a very able Whip. I have seen some political postings in recent days and I wish to make it clear that a presentation, which made it clear that the Dáil would return to a three-day week, was made to all Deputies last week. That is being worked on. It is a logistical challenge. I must be fair and say that was presented to all Deputies. It must be known to Deputy Tóibí…

A Cheann Comhairle-----

I wish to raise a point of order. Microphones, for the second week in a row-----

Why does the Taoiseach's microphone remain on when he continues to speak for 30 or 40 seconds? For the second week in a row, various leaders have had their microphones turned off.

I ask that this be clarified.

Why are microphones being turned off when the Taoiseach's microphone remains on? Why are microphones being turned off?

Who turned off the microphones?