While I do not want to get in the way of a discussion between the Deputy and my colleague the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, I accept the important issue in respect of regeneration. It is not only about the regeneration of homes and flats but also of communities and the importance of getting on with that. I am proud of the progress made. The flats on Dominick Street have now seen significant progress, as have the flats in O'Devaney Gardens, although I am not sure whether her party was always in support of that. As regar…

It is my outreach.

As I said, the tie is more outreach, maybe, to others in this House rather than anything to do with America. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and I thank the new REO for HSE mid-west, Sandra Broderick, for the very good work I believe she is doing in that region, often in a pressurised environment, but also for the constructive suggestions she is putting forward as regards seeking capital approval to identify a greenfield site close to the Dean Maxwell unit. It sounds to me to be very sensible. I…

Because the Social Democrats' amendments do not contemplate some of the points the Housing Commission makes. We need a diversity as regards investment when it comes to housing, and this Government has taken a number of steps, including-----

The Deputy asked me a question; I am just trying to give him my answer. He can like it or not but I am just giving it to him. My answer is as follows: we have taken a number of measures when it comes to protecting homes and newly built homes, including on stamp duty and as regards planning permissions. We also need private investment, though, and rental properties, and we need to look at a diversity of supply. This Government has seen a very significant increase in the number of homes available to buy. That is a tr…

The Deputy can absolutely always argue that we can and should do more regarding the number of people working in the health service. What he cannot dispute is the fact that there are now significantly more people working in the health service than there were only a few years ago. There are actually 27,744 more people working in the health service now than when this Government came to office, including 9,185 more nurses and midwives, 4,160 more health and social care professionals and 3,479 extra doctors and dentists…

There can be only one set of facts.

No. Excuse me for saying "No", a Cheann Comhairle, but the Deputy asked me an important question and it deserves an answer. On the issue about how we better support our student nurses, I am open to having engagement on that. A number of measures have been taken by the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, as regards improving the supports and subsistence, and it will be a matter for a future government after an election to see what more can be done.

I do. I feel we have made a lot of progress as regards the south east and investment in the city and county that I know the Deputy is proud to represent here in the Dáil. There is more to do, and there is always more to do. That is what politics is always about. You never get to the end of the job; you always have more to do. However, we have delivered a university for the south east, we have invested significantly in the north quays, we have significant expansion plans for that university, and that has already bee…

The Harris 2024 hat was me trying to give the Deputy a helpful tip to get the posters ready this year and not wait until next year, but I will talk to him-----

I was just trying to help the Deputy, but that is okay.

I thank the Deputy because he has raised an important issue regarding Covid. There was engagement, as he said, with parties across this House. I would describe it as good engagement. It predated my time-----

I was told it was good engagement, and I believe lots of parties made suggestions. There were draft terms of reference, and an excellent independent chair has been appointed. We will need to keep these matters under review. We have had a history in this House of establishing statutory and non-statutory inquiries, and sometimes one has worked better than the other. The Dr. Gabriel Scally evaluation was non-statutory and got answers and, I think, won the confidence of many people who engaged with it. It will be for t…

We are more optimistic in the dying days. I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue affecting his constituents, namely the diet supplement for people on special diets, including coeliacs. I am not across the detail but I will raise the matter directly with the relevant Minister, Deputy Humphreys, today and ask her to revert to the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and, indeed, acknowledging that we have seen an expansion of several services in Monaghan hospital. I take seriously the issue he has raised because the hospital does have an important role to play in the overall delivery of health services in the region. I have been in it myself and I will raise directly with the HSE and the Minister for Health the issue of the seven beds.

I thank the Deputy. That was an important, timely and seasonal reminder. I was in a number of pharmacies over the past couple of weeks and saw that some were participating in the roll-out of the vaccination programme, along with GPs, health clinics and the like, and in reaching to a number of services. That is really important. The more people who get vaccinated in advance of the flu season, the better. It will certainly stand to them. However, it will not stand to them alone; it will also stand to the population a…

That is very gracious. Just in case I do not get an opportunity to do so in the future – I may or may not – may I wish everybody who is retiring from this House before the next election, of all political parties, the very best? I believe politics is a noble service and everybody, of all political persuasions, comes here with the intention of doing good for their community and country. I join the Deputy in congratulating and thanking Deputy Stanton and others right across the House. I thank him for reminding me of t…

I thank the Deputy. The Government has invested historic amounts to support the post office network, including an allocation of €30 million, but I do take the point the Deputy has raised regarding issues in his constituency and I will ask the relevant Minister to contact the chief executive of An Post on these specific matters.

It is an all-Wicklow shootout. I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am pleased the issue was resolved for Blessington. I am aware of the issue related to Newtown football club and I will work with the Deputy on the matter. I am aware that the club’s appeal is being considered and I will link with her on it.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I will ask the Minister for further and higher education to look specifically into that issue she raised. I take the importance that she made of the particular issue around the Gaeltacht and supporting the Irish language and Irish language guidelines as well. The Deputy and I had these exchanges before in my last role but I believe where we need to get to is much more State-owned or university-owned accommodation. I am sure we will all be putting forward our proposals …