I add my voice to those of the driving instructors. There should be some interaction to see if we can use a hybrid model and create a system that will allow for people to be test-ready. It would basically be a streamlining of the situation. I had submitted a later question about the theory test. In fairness to the Minister of State, she has answered a fair number of questions or given information about that. We are talking about December for dealing with the driving test backlog. That is on the record and I appreci…

Does the Minister have an updated or guaranteed timeline on the Enterprise service, which is meant to be going to an hourly service? Do we know over what period of time this will definitely be introduced? That service is vital for Dundalk and Drogheda.

We all accept the necessity of dealing with the climate change crisis. We all heard about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report over the summer. We are aware of the situation with which we are dealing. We know we need to make the 2030 and 2050 targets and that renewables are a huge part of this. The byword has to be "sustainability". It is about putting a system and a complete framework in place. Deputy Ó Broin spoke yesterday about this being a once in a generation opportunity. That is true w…

I will start where Deputy Kenny left off in referring to a meeting he and I had recently with relatives of a victim of tragic circumstances and a brutal crime. They spoke about what the Deputy referred to, namely, that they felt left out of the entire process. In fact, they feel they were almost victimised again by the criminal process. We do not have proper formal procedures in place regarding interactions and communications with victims and their families. It is vital when we talk about operating a system that in…

I welcomed some of the things the Minister said. Obviously, we will keenly watch his roadmap regarding the process of review. As some of my colleagues said earlier, we are beyond the need for a review to tighten up and address the weaknesses within FOI. I accept that the whole system should be constantly reviewed. We are in a changing world, particularly regarding technological advances. I also welcome the Minister's statement that he wants to see fewer FOI requests on the basis of greater openness and publication …

I had a short conversation with the Minister about this issue. I have been inundated with messages from farmers and contractors. I suppose it is an unintended consequence of the European directive on single-use plastic, which will affect those involved in growing maize. Is there is anything the State intends to do to mitigate these difficulties?

Alternative means need to be looked at but, like anything, we do not have the transition period we would like. I have spoken to a number of contractors and farmers who have invested in serious plants that can only be used with these types of plastic. We are talking about people who have made an outlay of approximately €80,000. There is a need to engage with the stakeholders. If there are alternatives that are fit for purpose, this discussion needs to be had very quickly. That is the significant issue. There needs t…

I agree with the Minister. Everybody accepts the difficulties that we face regarding plastic, waste and climate change. As a result, we all accept the necessary moves that must be made. It concerns the timeline. I welcome the fact that the Minister has spoken about supports and that the Department is looking at alternatives. I call on him to engage with those people who have contacted me. I would be only too willing to pass on their information. It is about reaching some sort of interim solution for them in order t…

My question is about the mobile phone and broadband task force, which, on the basis of legacy, resides within the Minister's Department. It has been re-tasked. It is a matter of the timeline. Deputy O'Rourke and I recently met representatives of Telecommunications Industry Ireland. That would have included National Broadband Ireland, Eir and others. They really want the body up and running so as to have a clearing house to deal with issues. There are always planning permission and infrastructural issues with major …

I welcome what the Minister stated to the effect that there will be a timeline for the evaluation and that the body in question, with its new tasks, will be back in operation. These organisations and companies are looking for a clearing house for dealing with the issues that exist. We know the situation in respect of National Broadband Ireland. There are two parts to that. One involves delays relating to Covid-19, which we expect to be dealt with in the first six months. Then there is the wider issue of acceleratin…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an bhfoireann uilig as achan rud. I have brought up the issue of the crisis we are facing in public liability insurance with the Tánaiste previously. I welcome that he will work alongside Deputy Doherty on the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill. While payouts and claims are down, premiums are up. I will mention Blackrock Community Centre, which was charged €11,000 for a single year's premium. A GoFundMe campaign sorted out this year's premium but that is not sustainable. We need to do much more…

Táim an-bhuíoch don Cheann Comhairle agus don fhoireann uilig as an obair agus as an gcabhair uilig. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, for taking this. I am sure that he will prove his revolutionary credentials soon. In all seriousness, we are dealing with the US economic blockade of Cuba. Many people in this Chamber and outside in Irish society see this as something that is cruel and has been a failure for 60 years. It has not even delivered what it was meant to do by the people who introduced it. It …

I welcome what the Minister of State has said about support for lifting the embargo. I call on this State to do everything that it can to highlight this issue. In recent days and weeks, we have witnessed the efforts of what I can only call sinister forces attempting to subvert the combined efforts of the Cuban people and Government. It smacks of the old, 1980s, Reagan school of CIA dirty plays. It is of no benefit. We need to move into a new sphere. We have seen the abject failure of America when it has attempted t…

Bhí muid uilig ag lorg plean chun an earnáil fáilteachais a oscailt fá choinne gach aon duine go sábháilte, ach ní sin atá i gceist anseo. Níl cothrom na Féinne anseo do dhaoine óga. Bhí muid an-mhall ag déanamh oibre mar gheall ar rolladh amach vacsaíní do dhaoine óga. Níl go leor oibre déanta mar gheall ar thástáil gasta antigen nó PCR. Rinne an Rialtas praiseach den phlean a cur in iúl do dhaoine agus do na meáin chumarsáide. Níl verifier app ann go fóill do na tithe tábhairne agus na bialanna. Plean dochreidte …

I will follow up on some of the issues that were put eloquently by Deputy Denis Naughten. Like many, I share his concern about the situation as it relates to a husband and wife, and the fact that they could be dealing with a six-year period during which money is being taken from a farm. The whole point is about ensuring that family-owned farms are viable and sustainable, and that we do not absolutely hammer people who find themselves in difficult situations. I know of a case in which someone has applied for the nur…

Can we get clarity on the lack of backdating? When does the clock start for somebody who is already in the system before this legislation is implemented? Will it be possible to backdate the provisions to take anomalies into account to ensure people are not hammered while dealing with this situation, and also to make the farm sustainable?

I wish to ask the Minister the details of funding and supports for family addiction services. I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, about the matter and he will not be shocked that I am looking for details on supports for groups such as the Family Addiction Support Network, FASN, in Dundalk. He attended the network's events previously. The FASN plays a major role in the provision of family supports and also in drug-debt intimidation reporting, which is a significant issue. The network faces closure, and…

I seek clarity. The Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong, but I understand two allocations of moneys were provided, one to be drawn down directly by the HSE, and the other that was issued by the North Eastern Regional Drug Task Force. One was to deal directly with family support services for those affected by addiction. We need to hear about the timeline and the criteria. This is an organisation that everybody, including the State services, recognises as doing necessary work but it is surviving on the bas…

I have arrived in the Chamber directly from a joint policing committee meeting in Dundalk. The Minister of State referred earlier to the Guerin report. Drug-debt intimidation and addiction are major issues. We cannot let organisations like this fail. The FASN is liaising with the HSE, but it is concerned because it has been awaiting the money for a considerable period. We need to get the funding as soon as possible. I return to the same question on the timelines and criteria for funding. There is no doubt that I wi…

This motion calls for a public inquiry into what happened in nursing homes. We all accept that there were failings by the State and other factors that have to be investigated. There are lessons that we have to understand and then there are actions that we have to implement. All of us offer our condolences to the families who have been through absolutely abject tragedy. We also show solidarity with those people who have worked through very difficult periods and did all they could in nursing homes, but the question r…