In a month's time, Irish delegates will be sitting down with their international counterparts at the UN Conference of the Parties, COP26, in Glasgow to face what is the greatest global challenge of our generation. We will be sitting down with some countries that are emitting less than one tenth of the greenhouse gas emissions of developed countries like our own. Does the Minister expect the Irish climate action plan will be published before then and will we be making a contribution in solidarity with those countrie…

One of the challenges facing the Government is achieving a step change in early childhood policy. The current policy is hampering children and frustrating parents and many providers and staff. Does the Tánaiste envisage there being some initiatives in budget 2022? More importantly, when will we see the childhood service development agency and the beginning of recognition in city and county planning of the needs of early childhood? When will we see public assets being more widely available to fill gaps in early chil…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to support Simon Coveney. Simon made a mistake, for which he has been fully accountable. His integrity is absolutely beyond question. His record of outstanding service is open to anyone to inspect. Katherine Zappone is not a crony when it comes to defending LGBT rights and history will show that. These facts are not lost on Sinn Féin. That is why it has shifted its attack tonight. It seeks to destroy Simon Coveney's career to create a political platform to attack ever…

I welcome this Bill. It is important that a tax like this be updated regularly. We are eight years on from the original evaluation in 2013. There is never a good time to update the valuations but we saw the consequence of not doing that. The revaluation of commercial property caused untold controversy because valuations that had been set years ago on the basis of rental values were suddenly changed to try to catch up with the reality of the marketplace. That caused serious consternation. The Minister is right to mo…

Did I concede too soon?

I thank the Minister of State for bringing forward the Bill so promptly. I know this idea has had a long history and was strongly resisted within the Department over many years. It is a credit to the Minister of State and the Government at large that this was pushed through because we have long seen in Ireland a very expensive and inaccessible system of examinership that has not facilitated viable companies to come through difficult periods. It is absolutely appropriate at this time that we would seek to bring forw…

At this point, we have completed a series of pilots, which to my knowledge have generated no Covid cases, at sporting events, entertainment events and so on. The last of the pilot events is occurring this week. Are we now in a position to make decisions about a more permanent approach to these open-air events, where it would appear people can safely assemble, having had tests or having been vaccinated?

I listened to Deputy Boyd Barrett with interest. I suppose the real difference between his idealism and what he would call my pragmatism is that he gets 18 minutes to pontificate and I only get three. I will have to use my time very carefully.

I welcome a number of provisions in the Bill but I would like the Minister to indicate the start dates for them. The 50% provision for family purchase in new developments is very welcome, as is the 10% quota for affordable housing. Contrary to others, I welcome the shared equity scheme because it will bring into the market the people who have been locked out because they are just over the income margins and cannot get on the housing ladder. We have to do something special for them. The site subsidy is to be increas…

I am sure the Taoiseach is appreciative, as I am, of the way in which the gardaí have effectively conducted policing throughout Covid. However, the Central Statistics Office figures issued recently show that while generally, crime rates are down by a third, crime with weapons has increased by 25%, particularly knife crime. Assault rates are almost as high as they were before the pandemic and sexual assault remains as high as it was before the pandemic. There are worrying signs of increased aggression and sometimes …

It is good to hear that the centre will be built to the highest standards but has there been a review of cyber-vulnerability in the context of consolidating in one centre? It seems to involve exposure to greater risk. What is the view of the Minister in respect of centres other than the top four he mentioned? For example, the State has been exposed in terms of a lack of e-health capability which could have been invaluable in the course of the pandemic. Is there an element where health will soon be integrated into a…

May I raise a point on the last question?

This question relates to the Civil Service renewal plan for 2030, which seeks to provide evidence-informed policymaking, harness innovation and build an organisation for the future. What are the concrete targets the Minister is setting for delivery under this strategy?

I welcome the plan. However, does the Minister share my concern that, at this stage, there is only one concrete target set out in the plan, which is that there be 90% availability online of services? Does he agree that some higher ambitions need to be set out, particularly in the context of innovation? Should there be a concrete figure for the amount of money that will go to innovative practices within the public service? Should we have concrete targets in respect of investment in leadership and skill capability to…

Very briefly, will the Minister consider lifting the 10% carry-over restriction in respect of capital spending? When a body like Irish Water is already nearly 40% behind in its capital spending, there is a possibility that very important infrastructural projects could be held up in our regions. In respect of Civil Service renewal, is the Minister aware that Enterprise Ireland invests substantially in taking Irish executives to Stanford University and other high-quality centres to develop their leadership skills? Sh…

The Minister may have already answered questions on the ESRI report. Based on an assessment of growth rates and interest rates, the study found that capital investment by the Exchequer could increase by 50% or €47 billion. I would like to hear the Minister's reaction to the report and whether it means the NDP can be a great deal more ambitious than the €120 billion currently set out.

I am a little bit disheartened by the Minister's reply but he did leave a chink there that he is reviewing this. I will move to what used to be called the golden rule, namely, that one only borrows for capital. This is a stringent test on the probity of public spending. Does the Minister agree that we are facing significant capital needs, particularly in climate and housing? Just to illustrate this point, do we not need to see the Land Development Agency build up a land bank in Cork in order that it can become a st…

I fully accept taxes must cover current spending. The issue is whether we should take the opportunity to have higher capital spending. For example, our approach to public investment is in new communities. We see investment in transport, health and education arriving five years after people have occupied their homes, however. That is not a sustainable way to approach public investment. There is an opportunity to shift our dial somewhat at this stage if we can negotiate such an approach at European level.

The establishment of a State developer to use State lands to develop and deliver affordable housing is a breakthrough policy. Will the Tánaiste urge a quick decision on the Minister's request to increase the budget by 50%, which I think is a minimum? Will he arrange for the Land Development Agency, LDA, to publish urgently the supply chain of sites designated for housing and not confine itself to building out existing sites? Will he develop a rapid clearing house so that reluctance of State bodies does not hamper t…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the permission to raise this important issue. If present trends continue, by 2050 it will take three planets for nature to replenish the materials we use each year. The take, make, use and dispose model has got an iron grip on the way we live our lives. That has to change. The care of our planet must be at the heart of Ireland 2040. The food we waste each year in Ireland generates the same emissions as 1 million cars. The plastic that wraps our lives so conveniently is rarely u…