I follow up on an issue raised earlier by Deputy Naughten concerning European reference networks, ERNs. I note the Tánaiste’s comments and welcome that he believes the ERNs need to be resourced and supported in upcoming Estimates processes but these ERNs cannot be sustained on the goodwill of clinical leads and consultants alone, as is the case now. Yesterday. the cross-party committee on rare diseases met with Dr. Cormac McCarthy and Dr. Atif Awan, who outlined to us the critical role ERNs should play in the care …

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. As the Minister of State knows, St. Stephen's Hospital in Glanmire, County Cork, is the location for one of three new elective hospitals in the country, with the others in Galway and Dublin. We finally got word approximately six months ago that Glanmire was the preferred site in Cork. That process took far too long. At the time, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, stated that he wanted to take this by the …

I thank the Minister of State for her response. Perhaps we can talk later about the meeting the Minister had. Perhaps the Minister of State can tell me the exact details of it. This has been a long time coming. It is going to be a major project in my constituency. I had selfishly hoped that the announcement of this hospital would trigger the start of development of the north ring road, for which we have been waiting 25 years, but alas that did not happen. We all know the planning issues for roads and all the differ…

I ask the Tánaiste to furnish the House with a report on the planned consultative forum on security and defence.

While the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces predates the Russian invasion of Ukraine it does mention the threat Russia poses. It states, "Ireland’s global geostrategic environment, looking out to 2030, will be characterised by intensified great power competition." In an era of intensified great power competition, the commission report states that Ireland can expect, among other things, "A growing ambition of the EU and some of its Member States to pursue strategic autonomy and for the EU to continue ai…

I have two more supplementary questions. Other nations in the EU, such as Finland and Sweden, have decided to join NATO. Will the Tánaiste tell us his thoughts on other neutral nations such as Austria, Cyprus and Malta and any other neutral nation he might want to refer to, with regard to how the question is being debated in their own parliaments and countries? I am trying to ascertain if it is similar to what is happening here. While NATO has been united since President Biden took office, what does the Tánaiste th…

We were here a few months ago seeking the latest update on this project. I have no doubt we will be here again looking for further updates the next time the Minister of State is taking questions in the Chamber. We welcome the update he has provided. People are getting frustrated. Their frustration does not necessarily stem from the process. The process is the process and it has to happen. There are various legal processes that have to happen. There were issues with the tender and it had to be readvertised. We under…

The Government is going to deliver this scheme. Fair enough, we might all wish that it had happened many months sooner, but this scheme is going to be delivered. I would welcome it if the Minister of State could give reassurance to people. I was listening to his discussion with Deputy Conway-Walsh earlier. Obviously, there are difficulties in other parts of the country with OPW schemes. I ask the Minister of State to reaffirm the commitment that this will be delivered on time.

It must be said that the Minister of State himself did come on-site a number of months ago, just as the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, did before him, and that has to be welcomed. Both of them reiterated on site to the people they met that day, residents and businesses, that money is not an issue. The issues concerned the process that was being undertaken initially and then, subsequently, the tender. The rules and regulations are there and need to be respected. Deputy Colm Burke makes one valid point. We are lit…

I welcome many of the programmes the Taoiseach mentioned, especially the Croí Cónaithe scheme,. The latter will be beneficial going forward. One of the biggest barriers we are still experiencing in County Cork is the provision of wastewater treatment plants when it comes to servicing new housing estates in smaller villages outside the city boundary such as Carraig na bhFear, where we are happy to be opening a new school shortly. There is a large brownfield site in the middle of the village that cannot be serviced. …

We are all very concerned about developments in Sudan over recent weeks. It is a very concerning time for all Irish citizens and their families as the situation there has been very fluid and unpredictable. The partnership and help that we have received from the French, Swedes and Spanish, as the Minister mentioned, demonstrates what being in the EU is all about and we should be very grateful to our EU colleagues for their ongoing support in that regard. The Minister will be aware of recent criticism with regard to …

I believe the Tánaiste just spoke there, as well as in the media recently, about joining a wider group of EU member states. He mentioned a possibility of a pan-European response in the future. In regard to that, will he expand on the development of such a strategy? Has he had any discussions at European level in that regard? How would he envisage such an arrangement working into the future?

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - to discuss the need for a public consultation on the nationalisation of domestic waste management services in Ireland. Deputy Bernard Durkan - to discuss services at Naas General Hospital. Deputy Michael Moynihan - to discuss the future of the courthouse building and complex in Kanturk, County Cork. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - to di…

I will start on a positive note. The dramatic expansion of the school transport scheme in recent years has brought more students into the fold in terms of being able to get a bus to school. That is welcome. Last year, while there were teething problems with the expanded scheme, it ensured more kids than ever before got to school. Despite the problems with drivers, routes and the usual palaver that happens every year, more children got to school. That is most welcome. I welcome the fact we are persisting with keepin…

I thank the Minister of State. I am raising the issue today because the deadline is tomorrow. The case I am highlighting is just one of the dozens throughout the country with various anomalies. The reality is that the people in the area I am speaking about have given up applying because they know they fall outside the criteria and they are unlikely to get a concessionary ticket. It is very hard for me to demonstrate the demand when people have given up hope of getting a seat. This issue did not appear overnight. It…

It is that time of year again. The school transport deadline is this Friday. I welcome the enhanced programme we have run since Covid began. We have extended the programme. I also welcome that the extension for the eligibility, from closest to second closest school, is to be maintained in this year's programme. However, the full review is not complete and will not be complete in time for September's intake. It will allow anomalies, such as the lack of a school bus, for example, from Watergrasshill to Fermoy, persis…

Sorry, Deputy Tóibín. We are moving on to the next slot.

Deputy Tóibín, we are moving on to the next lot of questions. Take your seat.

The next lot of questions is on the European Council meeting. Sorry, Deputy. I have overindulged you. We have gone three minutes over.

Excuse me. We have gone three minutes over. There are other people waiting here for the next lot of questions. We have definite time. We need to move on.