It is very important we make sure the people who produce the food are protected and that consumers understand the implications when they see a loss leader like that coming into play. We must have a very strict adherence to whatever legislation comes in because sometimes we put in good legislation but we do not enforce it and it takes a long time for it to take effect. The other area I wish to raise relates to the banks and mortgages. It is a bit like everything else in that the interest rates on a mortgage go up bu…

I acknowledge the work Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh, our co-ordinator and administrator, has put into this. I thank my Regional Group colleagues for their input. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, was here earlier. I do not doubt the sincerity of both Ministers or that they want to do something. I read this report, which contains 33 pages. It is a final report which, if I gave it to someone trying to get money for transport, would depress them. It has a lot of flowery language but I do not see any next steps in it. It will go so…

Yes, I am sharing with Deputy Shanahan and the Rural Independent Group.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is important to say a few things about construction. Not everything we hear about construction is bad. There are a hell of a lot of good builders and subcontractors in construction and they are all doing the best they can. Construction is an industry where every site is different and throws up new challenges, and can even be different in respect of the type of ground and building being erected. When we are talking about construction, we need to tackle several eleme…

The question I will raise relates to the European Union regional competitiveness index for 2022, which has been published. This index cites the northern and western area in Ireland as an area in decline and states that it has underperformed in certain areas, including the areas of infrastructure, innovation capability, market size and business innovation. This is not a criticism of anybody but a factual report. The thing about a factual report like this is that we should look at it and see how best we can grasp the…

The Tánaiste has given me everything that is being done. I accept that these things are being done, which is a great credit to everybody who has been involved, but there are areas, such as the question of the ports at Galway, Ros a' Mhíl and Killybegs, that need attention. The IDA has a park in Athenry in my constituency but the land is not serviced. A connection has to be brought from Athenry to a sewage treatment plant in Galway, which is not the right way of doing things and not the right way to strategically pl…

I thank Deputy McGrath. The Independent Group is next. Deputy Connolly has five minutes.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 26 April 2023.

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this proposal. It is important from a security point of view and it shows that we can use technology to increase security and streamline people's passage through airports. It can be very stressful for people to go through airports, given the security measures and so on. It is important that if this technology can be used to provide API, travellers will be able to pass through airport security in a more streamlined manner rather than having to queue up for hours to do …

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important subject. I commend the Government on its announcement this morning in respect of the Croí Cónaithe scheme, something we in the Regional Group have advocated for, and on the fact that development levies are being waived. That creates a bit of buoyancy so that people will get the confidence to build or purchase a house. I want to see them working fairly fast. I hope that, at the end of the day, the local authorities will be paid the development levies monthly,…

I want to ask a question on the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant that were in place in this country but that were ceased. The Ombudsman asked that they be restored ten years ago, in 2013. The primary medical certificate, which is in place at the moment, is not functional and the appeals committee resigned almost two years ago because the system is not fit for purpose. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters, on which I sit, has raised these issues as well but, so far, it has not receive…

I also welcome the fact that this Bill is before the House. It is important that we provide more judges fairly swiftly and that justice is done and seen to be done in a fairly efficient manner. As other speakers have said, a judge alone is not the justice system but is just part of the overall process. We need to have proper, modern courthouses and the backup teams that are required to ensure that justice is done. I know of many cases of people accused of certain things who have been waiting for a long time for jus…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important subject for the sheep farmers and mixed farmers in Galway East. Every night young farmers, parents and families are out trying to look after their sheep in the lambing pens. They do this for nothing. This is an issue of survival. Deputy Naughten mentioned the welfare scheme introduced in 2016. That was prior to Brexit. It was also prior to any of the large rises in the cost of production. An Bord Bia has said publicly that Brexit has had an effect on the pri…

I am pleased to take the opportunity to speak on this very important issue. I have listened all morning to what people on all sides of the House have said. I am not very impressed with the way people are shouting one another down. It is important that we look at this issue of housing in a constructive way. I would challenge the Government that the proposals we made last week and which the Government accepted need to be implemented. There can be no phasing away from that. There are other issues that can help with wh…

I welcome the opportunity to speak. I compliment the Department of Education because any school that has been built, such as Clarin College in Athenry or the Presentation College in Athenry, or other schools I have seen around the place, are absolutely brilliant legacies to have. The problem is that is has taken years to get them to where they are. When they are built, the modern educational facilities we are now providing are a credit to the Department and their expertise. The issue we have right now regarding cos…

Section 39 health workers provide an invaluable service to the State. There is an issue with regard to the fact that they do not get equal pay. We have a situation whereby a strike is going to happen in this sector imminently. That is to have a devastating effect on the health service. I also refer to the deadline for the announcement regarding the provision of home care services and the tender process in this regard. There does not seem to be any urgency with regard to the way the Department is treating this matte…

I compliment Deputy Harkin for introducing this very important Private Members' motion. It is important that we discuss carers and the role they play in society. The level of service they give is often free of charge and is often done as a vocation rather than anything else. They do not seek a lot and we should respect the fact that they believe that this is something you do out of duty. It is important that we also ensure they can be rewarded or supported in financial terms to do that. One of the things we should …

Deputy Carthy needs a break. The issue I want to raise relates to the areas of natural constraint, ANC, payments. Will the Minister initiate a review of cases where a small cohort of farmers were given a 100% penalty for the fact they had not ticked a box when they made their application? Bear in mind this application process began as a manual process, then reverted to an online system. Will the Minister initiate a review? There are not many farmers involved but they are suffering badly because they are getting a 1…

That response does not give any help to the farmers I know in my constituency. There are probably about ten I have on my books at the moment who are getting no money. They are elderly farmers who are computer illiterate and they did not tick the box. In fact, three of those farmers never said a word that they failed to get their grants until their accountant discovered it because they were ashamed of the fact they failed to get their grant. There are rules and regulations and all of that but there also has to be so…

I hear what the Minister of State is saying. It is of little comfort. The funny thing about it is I have been to agriculture appeals with these people and the people who do the appeal do everything manually. They do not do it on computers. They take their notes manually. It it important we realise we are dealing with human beings: small farmers, who may be elderly and some of whom are bachelors living on their own. They have very little income. There is a way around this and that is to review how we can bring these…