I raise the issue of the mother and baby home in Tuam. It has been the subject of a considerable amount of documentation and reports and all kinds of investigations. I would like to know how the legislation on the exhumation of the bodies is progressing and the arrangements the Minister will put in place to consult the residents and locals who might have had a light shone on them that may not be right for them. They are in such close proximity to the site itself.

I thank the Minister. I stated the important point is that the locals be taken into account in whatever legislation is introduced. People close to the site have spent their years protecting it as a shrine and place of worship. They looked after it when the eyes of the world were not on them. They kept it and maintained it as a sacred place. It will be important, when the legislation is introduced, that we take into account the feelings and wishes of the local residents, whose lives have been disrupted considerably …

I appreciate the Minister's concern. I recommend that he visit the site. The former Taoiseach visited it. It was not a big publicity stunt as he made a private visit. If the Minister wishes to visit the site, he should let me know in his own time and I will show it to him. It is important that he visit just to get a sense of the whole place and what is there. It is important that we move along with the legislation as quickly as possible because we need to satisfy the needs of the survivors and those families who ha…

I raise the issue of funding that will be necessary to provide the infrastructure we need to stimulate the economy post Covid. I believe Irish Water, in particular, is a key driver of this infrastructure. Irish Water needs to be financed to ensure vital services such as water and sewerage are available to stimulate growth in houses being built, in providing serviced sites for commercial activity and in ensuring IDA Ireland has serviced sites to attract foreign direct investment and indigenous investment. The progra…

I welcome the Minister's positive words about the development. A significant issue in Galway and other counties is that many housing estates were built with private wastewater treatment plants that are not being taken in charge by Irish Water or by Galway County Council. It is left to the residents to provide the funding to maintain these treatment plants and to provide for future investment to keep them alive. The reality, which I see and know at first hand, is that in many of these estates the treatment plants ar…

First, I offer my congratulations to Deputy McConalogue, who is to be appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine today. It has been said that this is the Taoiseach's third attempt to appoint a Minister to this portfolio. I wish the new Minister the best of luck in his position, which is vital to the economy. I also congratulate Deputy James Browne on his appointment as Minister of State. Agriculture provides 173,000 jobs and accounts for 10% of this country's exports. The position of Minister for Ag…

Following on from Deputy Naughten, the first point I will make is that the Bill is being introduced on the basis that the country needs it and everyone in this country is at risk. The measures are severe, but I accept the view that the Garda needs to have this power to enforce the law to protect us all. I have spoken to some of the gardaí about how they have been handicapped in their work to date and I welcome that this legislation is being brought in to protect our children, our elderly and ourselves. Most importa…