It must be acknowledged that there have been a number of interventions. As the Minister has said, they can never go far enough to address fully the real crisis that is out there at the moment, but a number of targeted measures have been undertaken, including the VAT cut on gas and electricity, excise reductions and the additional lump sum for a certain cohort of fuel allowance recipients. I will follow up on that. I am probably straying into the territory of the Department of Social Protection or even the Departmen…

That is a point I was going to mention. I do not believe many people are aware of the discretion their local welfare officer may be able to show them. There is a role for us and a role for Government. As the Minister said, the Citizens Information Board is always very good, helpful and informative. However, some kind of campaign is warranted. People are feeling the pinch and now would be a good time for such a campaign. If I may again stray across the water to the UK, a similar debate is ongoing with regard to addr…

I am glad the Tánaiste is present. Given that he is a former Minister for Health, he may be able to provide some insight on the ongoing difficulties about rare diseases and orphan drugs, and, in particular, the commitment in the programme for Government for a successor to the national rare disease plan. In addition, I am also interested in the publication - this has not yet happened - of the Mazars report, which will hopefully give us some insight into the health technology assessment process and how we are lacking…

I thank Deputy Shanahan. The next slot is a Government slot and Deputy Ó Cathasaigh.

I thank the Deputy for sticking to the substance of the motion, which relates to carbon budgets and not to carbon tax. Some people watching the debate at home might have been confused by earlier contributions.

I call on Deputy Mattie McGrath from the Rural Independent Group, who is sharing time with Deputies Michael Healy-Rae, Michael Collins, O’Donoghue and Nolan.

Last week, following the announcement of the retirement of the Chief Medical Officer, I noted that the list of the CMO's accomplishments included the publication of the previous national rare disease plan. The plan was published in 2014 and extended until 2018. Since then, the old national rare disease plan has not been replaced. That made me wonder what we have done in the past four years about the publication of a new plan. A new plan is important because there are approximately 300,000 people in Ireland who suff…

I thank the Minister of State for the response. I am conscious it is not his responsibility or area of expertise but there are some things I have an issue with in the response. One is that the HSE has approved 52 new medicines, including Zolgensma. Many of these new drugs were approved through the Benelux arrangement the Minister of State referenced in his response. He went on to say about 97 new medicinal indications including treatments for rare diseases will be approved by the European Medicines Agency, EMA, in …

I join with the Minister of State’s closing words there that Ireland indeed stands with Ukraine. We have sincerely felt that across all parties in the Dáil over the past few months. At this point over 4 million refugees have now fled Ukraine across borders into Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, and so on. This country has welcomed people with open arms and we have embraced anybody who has wanted to come here. This is unanimous from listening to people today. We have provided accommodation and social welfare supports for p…

Tomorrow is a big day for the people of Cork and Limerick, given that the route selection for the M20 will finally conclude. We all know the story of the old Cork-Limerick road, how dangerous it is and how many accidents and fatalities there have been there over the years. Will the Taoiseach give the best assurance he can that this road will proceed this time?

Táim ag tógáil na ceiste seo ar son an Teachta Haughey. To what extent is car theft a growing problem right across the country, particularly in my constituency, on the north side of Cork city?

It needs to be acknowledged that the Garda Commissioner does have a budget of more than €2 billion at his disposal now. In addition to that, the 1,200 new trainees and staff members are most welcome and will obviously help to battle crime generally right across the country. On the specific question of car theft, approximately 10,000 vehicles a year are either stolen or broken into. The equivalent estimated figure in the UK is approximately 110,000. Cars being broken into is therefore quite a prevalent problem. In h…

Gabhaim buíochas arís leis an Aire Stáit. The real motivation behind putting down this question was not just to get a picture of the number of vehicles stolen because the vast majority, something like 80%, of stolen vehicles are recovered within 48 hours. The motivation was also to get a picture of the number of vehicles that are just broken into or from which people's possessions are stolen. Whether the cars in question are parked overnight or outside of churches or cemeteries or whatever the case may be, a litany…

Can the Minister detail progress regarding the development and implementation of the autism innovation strategy?

I thank the Minister of State for her response. Work on the strategy was announced last December and was obviously very welcome. I understand when the strategy is rolled out and devised it will at all junctures try to advance the rights of people with autism and address the challenges and barriers they face. Nonetheless, we all know the pressures and challenges faced by people with autism and their families, and they are significant. I hope that as the strategy evolves, and with input from all stakeholders, we can …

I thank the Minister of State. I have a follow-up question specifically on the strategy oversight and advisory group. I ask the Minister of State to clarify who specifically will be members of the group, if she has that information at this point. Is it possible or the intention of the Government to establish the autism innovation strategy on a legislative footing? With the indulgence of the Acting Chairman, I have not had a chance to ask the Minister of State publicly about the court case some weeks ago as a result…

This morning we woke up to good news in Cork; that a new special school is to be temporarily established in Rochestown and that the school sites in St. Killian’s Special School, Mayfield and Carrigaline Community Special School will be extended. This is great news for special education provision in Cork in the Minister’s constituency and in my constituency, respectively. In light of the decision two weeks ago on the standard operating procedure, SOP, assessment being undertaken by the HSE, can the Minister tell me …

Aontaím leis na cainteoirí a labhair níos luaithe. Bhíos ag éisteacht leis an díospóireacht thuas staighre. Is rud coimpléascach é seo. Ag an am céanna, tá sé an-tábhachtach agus aontaím leis an mbéim atá na cainteoirí eile tar éis a chur ar an tábhacht sin. Is annamh an rud é le feiscint go bhfuil beagnach gach duine ag aontú faoi na prionsabail sa Bhille seo. I welcome that this legislation is finally making its way through the Houses. It is much-needed and long awaited. For the first time, all forms of assisted …

Cork Life Centre, with its many stakeholders, has spent years engaging with the Department of Education on proper funding for its service. Following negotiations during the summer of 2021, in which the Taoiseach and I were involved, the centre accepted an interim funding agreement with the Department based on a commitment that talks would continue and a framework would be put in place to provide for sustainable payment and security of jobs at the centre. Will the Taoiseach update us on the framework? Will he provid…

In a slight deviation from my question, will the Minister consider including a member of the Higher Education Colleges Association, HECA, as a representative on the National Skills Council and the regional skills forums?