Thanks, Deputy Durkan. Unfortunately, I cannot do that because I do not have that level of knowledge. I acknowledge that the Deputy has raised the issue of what he calls parental alienation on a very regular basis. What I know is that the Minister for Justice has just completed and published a very substantial piece of work in respect of how our family courts operate and how the voices and rights of children are at the centre of all that happens. This is a piece of work that I know the Deputy welcomes. The key will…

I thank the Deputy for raising these matters. As a constituency TD, I know the importance of the oral hearing, whatever way that takes place, be it virtually or in person, in terms of the person or someone on his or her behalf having the ability to put across the case in a way we cannot always capture in written form on an application form. I will seek an update from the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on that and on waiting times for carer’s allowance appeals.

My thanks to Deputy Farrell for raising this issue. She and I agree on the need to reduce the costs of going to college and barriers to education. As she said, we made progress on reducing fees, albeit on a cost-of-living and, therefore, temporary basis. Even as Taoiseach, any announcement in respect of these matters will be a matter for budget day, but I will revert to the Deputy.

I agree with Deputy Shanahan fully and I join with him in praising her courage. I thank Ms Bláthnaid Raleigh for speaking out yesterday after enduring the most horrific and unimaginable assault. There are no words to capture what she went through. Her words when she spoke out yesterday, including about the need for men to speak out and the lack of men speaking out on this, are words that should ring right throughout this House and throughout Irish society today. I know we all agree on that. I fully agree with the D…

In response to Deputy Collins on Shannonvale and the need for the sewerage scheme, I will make immediate inquiries and will revert to the Deputy. I thank him for raising the issue. I fully agree with Deputy Mac Lochlainn on the point that the Common Fisheries Policy rules should apply without fear or favour to fishermen, trawlers and to everything of all sizes, regardless of size. I will raise this specific issue which the Deputy has brought to my attention with the Minister for agriculture, as I am not across the …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination generally meets in advance of Government meetings and its next meeting is scheduled for 8 July 2024. I am a member of the committee, with the Tánaiste and the leader of the Green Party. The Secretary General to the Government, my chiefs of staff and chiefs of staff for the Tánaiste and the leader of the Green Party also sit in on meetings. The committee reviews the agenda of Government meetings, discusses…

I will do my very best. It seems the question about when the Government co-ordination committee meets is just a jumping-off point. I will do my best to answer a variety of important questions. First, as to Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, I will certainly ensure there is a response issued to that organisation which has written to me on behalf of family-owned nursing homes around the national vetting scheme, the portal and a number of other issues it raised. We have obviously acknowledged it. It is out for views on i…

I did.

I raised the Middle East on a number of occasions with President von der Leyen. I spoke to her again over the weekend specifically on funding for the Palestinian Authority. Fundamentally, President Von der Leyen's view gets misrepresented. She is in favour of an immediate ceasefire, she has increased humanitarian aid, she believes in a two-state solution, she believes-----

I do not agree with the position of the European institutions on the association agreement because it needs to be reviewed. That requires the courage of European prime ministers and presidents to join with me and the Spanish Prime Minister in making that call.

I respectfully disagree with Deputy McDonald on that. I will continue my work in speaking up for the Palestinian people. They, their President and their ambassador to Ireland know that. Deputy Wynne raised the Ukrainian refugee situation at Loop Head and the relocation of those refugees. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to come back to the Deputy on this issue. The Deputy has specifically outlined a number of challenges in County Clare that deserve consideration from the Department. As to the brown water i…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 15, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. NESC is currently working in four main areas. Throughout 2023, NESC engaged in a programme of activities to mark its establishment in 1973. This is an opportunity to look forward and to consider how the council can continue to find solutions to complex and challenging economic, social an…

I will start with that issue. The short answer on that is that I agree. I met with ICTU last week at the Labour Employer Economic Forum. It is not for me to speak for the unions but it is fair to say this was a very pressing issue for them. They are right to be. It is important that when unions are good enough to come to the table, some of the issues they highlight as a priority do get that sense of priority from the forum too. I have asked for intensive engagement between them and the Department of Enterprise, Tra…

I will raise that and particularly the issues it raised with the Deputy about some of the changes it needs. I am happy to revert in writing. On Deputy Barry’s question, yes, I would encourage a company to take seriously the recommendations and findings of an OECD body and a national contact point as well. I will make inquiries with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the issue regarding the company that he highlighted. On Deputy Boyd Barrett’s issue, I do not want to repeat points I made here earl…

No-----

-----because the Government’s intention was always to allow for every cent of funding to go into the health clinic in the west quad, including a number of new schools in TU Dublin. That is separate and distinct to the work we are doing with many other public sites and the extra capital that we put into the Land Development Agency. The Deputy has a different view from me on whether the Land Development Agency should even exist.

However, the Land Development Agency is delivering a number of projects on public lands. It is unfair to suggest that the DIT buildings were ever intended for anything other than the purpose of providing funding for TU Dublin.

How would the Deputy plug the hole? That might be for a longer conversation but the situation is that those funds are required for a number of projects in TU Dublin on what they call the west quad.

I would also point out that the decision has only been made in relation to not transferring to the Land Development Agency. What actually happens with the site in terms of ownership and the provision of housing, should it be housing, and the composition of that is a matter for further planning applications and so on. There has been a jump and a presumption that either there will be no social and affordable housing. That is not the same as saying that a site will not be transferred to the Land Development Agency.

No, the Government made a decision on Part 9 of the Land Development Agency Act. That is entirely correct. Respectfully, there would not be a Land Development Agency if it was up to the Deputy because she does not believe in it.