I recognise that causes difficulty for the Deputy and elected representatives in terms of the engagement there. I reiterate that I and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, are happy to engage with the delegation of residents to discuss and address some of the issues. I have to be honest; we need to use this accommodation. The accommodation is suitable. I do not want to be putting inaccurate-----

I am really not patronising you, Deputy.

I thank Deputy Bruton for the question. Some €45 million is provided for under the national development plan for capital investment in childcare. It will be available in 2025 and 2026. This summer, we hope to make the call for capital for 2025. That call will be coming out this summer. In terms of the legislation on the childcare agency, a working group is now coming together which is bringing together elements of the sector to work to advance that legislation. Finally, in terms of expanding capacity and giving mor…

I thank Senator Higgins for tabling the amendment on behalf of Senator Boyhan who texted me earlier to explain why he would not be present today. The decision as to whether an amendment is in order is not made by me or the Department; it is made by the Office of the Cathaoirleach. We will debate whatever amendments we have been told are in order, as will the Senators, and we will not be in a position to debate those that we were told are not in order. We received the notification about what amendments are in order …

I do not know when the Senator received notice. We received the final listings last night. I am sure the Senator will be able to take the matter up with the Office of the Cathaoirleach. I am subject to correction on when we received the list.

Amendments Nos. 1 and 15 are proposed to be taken together as they both seek to include a section in the Bill providing for a report on the operation of the scheme. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to be able to accept these amendments as the Bill already provides for a review of the operation of the scheme under section 49. It sets out two separate reviews that will be conducted on the operation of the scheme. One is an interim review that will take place within two years after the second anniversary of the e…

I feel I have set out the key elements for the reasoning behind the waiver. We are creating a scheme whereby proof of residence within one of these institutions equates with an award. The person applying to the scheme does not need to pay out legal fees, to bring forward proof, or undergo the trauma of having to provide evidence of the specific abuses they underwent in that institution. That is the design of the scheme we brought forward. The requirement of a waiver is only one that applies at the end when an offer…

The waiver applies to an award provided for under the redress scheme.

I will have to come back to the Senator in writing on that one.

The finalised groupings were confirmed to us at lunchtime as well.

With respect to the ambit of the scheme, I believe I did answer the Senator's question in terms of setting out where the scheme lies in terms of the wider response, but if I can try to be more specific for the Senator, as we know, when the commission reported, it set out certain criteria that it regarded would qualify former residents for a form of redress. The commission was not asked specifically to advise on that point but it brought forward certain proposals. These set out a range of potential criteria. It made…

I do not.

I have answered on a number of occasions. I accept that Senators do not agree with my answers but I have answered their questions in quite considerable detail at this point.

The Senator is entitled to his view.

The amendments are out of order so I am not allowed to respond.

No.

First, it is important to note that section 9(3) clearly states the independence of the executive office. That is clearly stated within the legislation. Second, I said very clearly in the Dáil - I may not have stated it on Second Stage in this House - that the staff within the executive office, who are independent in making their determinations, will receive trauma-informed training in recognition that they will be dealing with people who may have had terrible experiences within these institutions. Work is ongoing …

Having a recruitment process that is entirely specialised for this office would create an amount of administration that would severely hamper the effective delivery of the scheme. The key element is the ability of the office to make determinations in an independent manner on the thousands of applications that will come into it. That is the key element. The appointment of staff will be done through the normal Civil Service appointing process, which will enable us to deliver staff swiftly. As I have said before, staf…

I indicated in my previous reply our position and that the work on this has started already. As stated, we will be providing for specific trauma-informed training for officials working in the executive office. I am not sure that legislation is the best place in terms of identifying a specific skill set, but I hear what Senator Higgins says about she or Senator Boyhan bringing forward an amendment. I will reflect on the core point she has made with my officials. That is as much as I can do at this stage. The politic…

I will speak to the section. A substantial number of amendments in this section have been ruled out of order. I did not make that ruling; it was a decision of the Cathaoirleach. I dispute what Senator Gavan said. I spoke at length on section 2 and its various elements and set out the rationale behind the parameters, including the rationale for the period of six months. He may disagree with me but I addressed the matter in some detail. The parameters of the Bill are set out under the Government's decision. Those par…