I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, together. At its meeting on 10 April, the Government established ten Cabinet committees as follows: children and education and disability; economy and investment; environment and climate action; EU and international affairs; Government co-ordination; health; housing; migration, integration and Ukraine; Northern Ireland; and social affairs and public services. I am a member of all Cabinet committees, as are the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan. There is no …

I thank colleagues for the range of questions. I join Deputy Smith in thanking all our emergency and uniformed services who have kept the country safe on many occasions in different ways. The Border communities the Deputy represents are particularly acutely aware of the huge level of service provided by those people. I echo those words. I know Dún Uí Néill barracks because I have been there with the Deputy. Cavan Institute is benefiting from a small piece of it. I take that point and the Deputy's view that the form…

I am grateful to have the opportunity to expand on this important issue because it is always important when it comes to housing - one of the biggest intergenerational challenges of our time - that the Government is willing to listen and to respond. Something we did not hear from the previous speaker is that we live in a country where every working day, we see so many homes being built, where so far this year every working day we see around 350 new homes being built and where every week around 500 young people and c…

That is not accurate.

In Boston.

It is entirely possible, although it might be a new one on Deputy McDonald, to be able to report progress in an area of societal challenge and still wish to do more in that area. I travel around the country, as I am sure does the Deputy, most of the time anyway. As she travels around the country, I am sure she sees plenty of examples of new homes being built. I am sure she knocks on the doors of people who have moved into new homes. I am sure she probably meets hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have benefit…

We still wish to do more. Fewer than 1% of residential property transactions saw the higher rate of stamp duty. I want to see more. I want to see it reviewed. The Government intends to review it in the context of the budget.

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this very important issue. Like her, I too welcome the fact that today Ireland will recognise the State of Palestine. It is a significant moment, an historic moment and an important moment to recognise that you cannot have a two-state solution without recognising two states. Also, I hope to create a positive momentum towards more countries now recognising the State of Palestine. I know that there are others actively considering it and today I repeat my calls to them to join us thro…

It is not rhetoric.

I am not calling the EU out. We are part of the EU. We joined it, are members of it and are around the table. What I am doing every single day with colleagues across Government, including the Tánaiste, is working at a European level to help bring about the actions that need to happen. Europe has not covered itself in glory in relation to this humanitarian catastrophe. I am very clear in relation to that. Mistakes have been made. Condemnation is not enough. There needs to be clear action. It has been the position of…

I thank Deputy Berry for raising this important issue. I absolutely will take that meeting. We would benefit greatly from that expertise and listening to those individuals. I am happy to do that. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of road safety as we face into another bank holiday weekend. Everyone needs to be conscious of what are called the killer behaviours that can take place on Irish roads. The Government and I, working with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and the Ministers, Deputies Ryan and Mc…

I am conscious that I am sitting beside a colleague and a friend, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, who knows all too well how that life-saving service made a massive difference to her own daughter, Tara’s life. This is a service that everyone in Ireland really values. It does absolutely incredible work. We live in a country that is small in geographic size but is in someway vast in terms of the remote ways in which our emergency services endeavour to respond to people in real time at a time we know both response tim…

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Palestine and the horrific humanitarian catastrophe that continues to unfold. I acknowledge her welcome for the fact that this is a proud day for Ireland in recognising the State of Palestine. I also recognise that this is very much something on which the people have led. I very much hear that as I go around the country as I meet people. People I have met have respectfully, forcefully and passionately put forward their view that Ireland must act. Not to be disagreeable, b…

It is the clear position of President von der Leyen that she wishes to see an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East. That is the clear position of Ursula von der Leyen, although Deputy Pringle can shake his head if he wishes. It is the clear position of the conclusions of the April European Council; I was at it and the Deputy was not there.

The ability of Irish people to not be misinformed or misdirected on the position of the European Council, including the President of the European Commission, is important because there is enough misinformation out there at the moment. We need to see an immediate ceasefire and we need to see practical actions to help bring that about. What I have said on behalf of Ireland at the European Council, what I have said this morning, what I will say this evening, what I will say everywhere and in every forum, as will the G…

I have been briefed on the incident which took place in the north inner city this morning. I understand An Garda Síochána has made an arrest. I thank An Garda Síochána for its swift and effective response to this incident, but I am also sure that people who were in that area, particularly children who witnessed this, would be very distressed. Thankfully, nobody came to physical harm, which I know we all welcome, but I understand An Garda Síochána has maintained ongoing patrols in the area, including at both opening…

I get a chance to speak too, if that is okay. I do not think he supports reference rents, incentives for landlords or any private investment fund.

There are 83 recommendations. The Minister has published our view on each one of them.

Maybe the Deputy will do the same in relation to his. We can certainly have that debate but there was a lengthy debate on Housing for All in the House as recently as last week. Unfortunately, some Deputies decided to adopt a position on the report before they read it. To respond to Deputy McGrath, I have never known someone who is against something-----

Deputy Boyd Barrett, the Taoiseach is responding to Deputy McGrath.