I also wish the best to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Ministers of State, Deputies Grealish and Michael Healy-Rae. As Deputy Fitzmaurice said, they have a stay of execution but it will be a short one. We spoke previously on some of the issues. Everyone gets the idea of the importance of the agrifood sector and the agricultural sector to Irish society, especially rural Ireland. We know that we need to ensure the sustainability of the family farm. I have no doubt many Deputies have received even more represent…

I might have been better had I used ChatGPT or something else to write a speech for me. I did not and I will go for a more traditional method of dealing with this. In fairness, and I might never say this again over the next four years, I agree with the previous speaker from the opposite bench, especially on the need to look at holding special hearings. We definitely need to look at having a special committee to deal with the issue of AI. When talking about the idea of digital literacy, there would be an issue in th…

We all know about issues like violent crime, organised crime or chaotic crime. We know about the estate management failures that exist. We all deal at times with the Garda, Tusla, the council and intervention services, which have insufficient tools to deal with the cases in front of them. The Drogheda implementation board did good work but could not deal with the issues in front of it. We will wait to see what comes from the community safety forums. I want to deal specifically with one issue that is constantly in f…

I would like to agree with all that has been said on the legacy Act. I imagine there is agreement across this House and beyond that it is utterly unacceptable and some of this relates to the fact that Britain does not want to deal with its particular role in the dirty war that it conducted in Ireland. In my own constituency, in my own town of Dundalk, we are looking at the 50th anniversary in December of the Dundalk bombing which was the same night as Donnelly’s Bar. In Dundalk we lost Hugh Watters and Jack Rooney …

If we are to move anything regarding the constitutional question and unity, there is obviously a huge body of preparatory work that needs to be done. I accept that some work on modelling and comparison has been done by the shared island unit. More needs to be done on that. The Taoiseach gave his answer about the citizens' assembly. I do not care what it is called once it is a forum that allows for a conversation on what a new Ireland could look like. If the Government is against a citizens' assembly, there is an on…

This is the Taoiseach's proposal. Obviously, he is against tax relief for students-----

-----in the North. It is the Government's tax relief.

It is an anomaly that could be dealt with.

Will it come in on budget?

Appropriate school places, particularly for those children with special needs, has to be a priority. I agree with the Minister on that, but the fact is we are now dealing with what has been an abject failure for children and families. It has been stated by many already that we have all been contacted over many years by frustrated parents who cannot get their kids into school places. I have dealt with many who have spoken about their kids and the criteria. Whether it is for mainstream, autism units or special school…

It is Question No. 67 but it is grouped with Question No. 107. Both are in the name of Deputy Ward.

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State the best in their Ministries. The first time I met the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, it was in Dundalk in a previous iteration when I was a councillor dealing with the major flood protection issues facing County Louth and in particular Dundalk itself. I am asking a specific question on natural flood management and other mitigations to protect property in the face of the estimated rising sea levels. We know we need to look at everything that can possibly be done in th…

The reason I submitted this question is probably related to the programme with Richard Boucher-Hayes, which I am sure many of us saw. It referred to the use of absolutely natural protections, which have been used in many places. It is expected, with rising sea and river levels, that we will have flooding. Sometimes we need to accept this, ensure we flood the places where there are few or no houses and ensure dissipation afterwards. It is just a case of ensuring we are considering natural methods. We know there are …

The Minister of State does not need to respond to my next comment. I welcome what he has said. We just need to consider this in all senses. One would be doing something like what I propose only with agreement from a farmer or other relevant person. It would basically be to suit and protect the community overall. I believe I will get an opportunity to elaborate when dealing with the next question.

I am renowned for brief questioning.

This relates to the CFRAM flood risk management plan for County Louth. It is about progress, implementation and ensuring what is proposed will happen. The Minister of State is well aware of the issues that relate to Dundalk and the rest of County Louth. It is a case of ensuring we deal with them as soon as possible. During storms in the part of Dundalk in which I live, we have an issue with getting rid of wastewater. These are all issues that will need to be addressed.

That is okay. I appreciate that. The question was just to get an update. We all know the importance of the issue and I have no doubt that the Minister of State does. It is a matter of ensuring we are not facing and dealing with floods. We will move on.

Anois, an Teachta Nash agus Ceist Uimh. 75. I thank you for your patience.

Ceist Uimh. 83 is in the name of Deputy Nash. We will only get a bit of it done.

Not for the first time, I raise the issue of Irish unity and the necessity for preparatory work. We need a forum to deal with the question of what a new Ireland would look like. I have spoken previously to the Tánaiste about cross-Border issues and he has spoken about the need for a hub to deal with these sorts of issues. Is there any movement in that regard? I have spoken about the taxation issues for remote workers. I recently spoke to the Minister for transport about taxi tour services working cross-Border and h…