We all understand the issue with home care, and we all have constituents coming to us who, even when approved, cannot get home care. It is all about delivering for their family members in their own homes. We know the work that has been done. We know the cross-departmental strategic workforce advisory group, CDSWAG, recommendations. I know this is beyond the Minister of State's remit, but we need those delivered as soon as possible. We know there are questions about the tender figure at this point, and negotiations …

Yes, and 15 in play. We obviously need to look at something like a foreign recruitment drive that will be more successful than this, while accepting that accommodation and other issues have an impact.

Name them.

I was not.

No. When requested. I should probably start by spelling-----

Once more into the breach. I should probably start by spelling neoliberalism but I am not going to put myself to that sort of test right about now.

No. We know exactly where we are with regard to this legislation. The problem we have had with the idea of a windfall tax is that it took the Government a hell of a long time to realise this was the way to go. It was not until the conversation was properly happening within the European Union that we got to where we are now. Correct me if I am wrong, but the fact is that over a three-year period, the Government is providing an allowance for 20% extra profits. Above that, we are talking about 75%. There is an allowan…

I will not go back over the argument that we need a citizens’ assembly or an expanded shared island dialogue. We see the Narrow Water Bridge project is moving on. It and the A5 are necessary pieces of infrastructure which we want to see progress as much as possible. I wish to ask about shared island funding for research projects. We know what it has done in the whole education sphere, educational attainment and the comparisons North and South but we need to be more holistic about the entire society and the economie…

I wish to follow up on migration on the basis that we are all aware of the huge openings there are and the lack of positions we have right across the health service, whether we are talking about those who work in nursing homes, those who work in home care, our speech and language therapists, SLTs, or our occupational therapists, OTs, and we know the issue we have in the building sector. Across Europe, but particularly here, given the crises we have, we need to look in a proper, holistic way at our system in respect…

When the Taoiseach and I discussed this matter previously, he spoke about the engagement he would have with the Joint Committee on Autism’s report. We all know the issues that exist for parents and children who cannot get assessments and necessary therapies. The report makes 109 recommendations on creating a framework for autistic people to live in society, including the necessary cradle-to-the-grave supports. We are far from being at that point, though. It is a question of trying to introduce the idea that, when s…

According to the Taoiseach, the Minister of State will give some sort of update in relation to a number of issues including Serbia and Kosovo. At the Committee on European Union Affairs earlier we were dealing with the western Balkans. We know the story, in the sense that the EU was not necessarily serious about accession for a number of years. There was an element of dealing with the rule of law issues and when the house was in order it would look at who it would allow in. The world has significantly changed. Some…

It is clear that water quality needs to be maintained and improved upon. Here again farmers have their role to play in relation to this. Like many others, I have spoken to many farmers who have agreed with that. The challenge for us in this House is to put in a workable framework to facilitate them in meeting their part and their responsibilities. I am going to deal with the nitrates action plan, and there are a couple of issues. In the first instance it is important that we are honest with farmers and that the wat…

One of many issues I have relates to the Ardee to Castleblayney bypass scheme on the N2 and the fact that an allocation of €600,000 - it does not matter whether that comes from a Minister or TII - was made to Monaghan County Council, which is the lead on the scheme, to meet commitments but it is not sufficient to even cover the design phase. We are talking about a determination that was made to upgrade a road rather than to build a new road or whatever else. It was all making complete sense. What is happening now d…

Mine is a similar issue. Some of the rules on forced retirements and so forth were introduced to address pensions, particularly in the Defence Forces. These rules are from a different time. The Minister has allowed short-term fixes so that particular ranks can stay on beyond 50 years of age, which is welcome. He mentioned the interdepartmental working group. What is its timeline? Could there be a short-term fix as we await the group’s outworking? I hope it can offer a solution. There is a significant retention issu…

I would appreciate that.

We have all been awaiting the all-Ireland rail review. Obviously, we would like to see an executive up and running in the North, and I hope that would not hold it up. I am very glad to hear that either way we will look at the pieces that need to be done from the point of view of moving it on. I was going to ask whether the timeline still applies regarding the increase in the number of Enterprise trains on the Belfast to Dublin route. I think we are in stage 2 of consultation for the DART+ Coastal North route. We al…

Will the Minister detail the work being done with local authorities? He spoke about insurance companies that are working with the local authorities. There was talk of extending this for local community events and festivals. We all know the issues that exist in regard to public liability insurance. This is not the first time we had this discussion. Any updates relating to that would be helpful.

We all see the benefits, where it can be done, of groups coming together. That is not always feasible for all sorts of businesses and organisations. However, we all know the issues that have existed for many years. We can talk just about companies that deal with inflatables, before we deal with the entire remit of adventure tourism and all the stuff in the public domain in regard to risking closure. It is an absolute necessity that pressure is maintained on insurance companies. Obviously, I would like to see Deputy…

I look forward to hearing hopefully good news in regard to those developments. We know they are necessary. There is a huge number of businesses under severe pressure at this point in time in regard to premiums. Local community groups with which I deal, such as the WATCH club in Dundalk that offers tandem bikes to take kids with disabilities and others on the tandem, are having difficulty. Those involved with Cycle Ireland are insured but those dealing with a kid who may show up to an event, are not covered. Hopeful…

I welcome the comments by the Minister, Deputy Harris, on the importance of the role personal assistants play in the further education sector. I know that all the stakeholders, the Department, SOLAS and Fórsa are all hopefully coming to a conclusion. I hope the Minister will meet those who have contacted me from the Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE, Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education and further afield. I also hope we can finally offer justice and proper pay to people who do necessary work for lit…