I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, together. There are various proposals for constitutional reforms under consideration. However, no final decisions have been made on the timing. I am conscious of the limited time before which a general election will be held next year. Some of the proposed reforms arise from the programme for Government, such as housing and extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State, while others, such as the EU agreement on a uni…

I accept that Deputy McDonald's sincerely-held view is that a change to the triple lock alters military neutrality. I accept that this is her opinion; I do not accept it is a fact. We have a difference in opinion on this. I do not believe it does and neither does the Tánaiste, the Government or the consultative forum. It is entirely possible to be a country that is militarily neutral and that allows its Dáil and Government make decisions regarding peacekeeping without the need for recourse to the UN.

These would be made in line with the UN Charter but outside of recourse to the UN Security Council. There are many people in this country - and we will have this debate-----

We will have an opportunity to bring forward legislation-----

With respect-----

With respect to the Deputy and to everybody in this House, the legislative processes have not come forward. There will be a general scheme and an opportunity for scrutiny. I would at least ask that people see what the Government is proposing before deciding or trying to suggest it is proposing something on military neutrality which it is not. The Tánaiste has been very clear about the importance of military neutrality. I am very clear on that. I am also very clear as to Deputy Boyd Barrett's point when he said the …

I value it as well but there are issues with the triple lock and we can tease them through. We have a difference of opinion and that is okay but it is entirely possible to bring forward legislation that respects our military neutrality and addresses the changing geopolitical situation around the triple lock, the UN Security Council and the fact that there are people and countries on the Council that should not have a veto regarding our peacekeeping missions. That is a legitimate debate to have in this House. As for…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I thank her for raising this very important issue. I join the Ceann Comhairle and the Deputy in welcoming Speaker Poots to Dáil Éireann. It is great to have you here and everyone in this House looks forward to working with you and colleagues and counterparts in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive. I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this extremely important issue. She alluded to the inquest into the death of Aoife Johnston being in progress and I am ver…

No.

I say this respectfully, but it is hard for me to answer the question if, when I use a number or statistic in answering, the Deputy just tells me I am not listening or asks me not to quote statistics at her. When she quotes statistics at me, I reply. When she asks a question, I endeavour to answer. I made the point that context is important. It is important for people in Limerick who are watching this discussion today. The impression is sometimes given that resources are not going into a hospital. This is a hospita…

Hang on a second. Every day, there are many people in that hospital getting very good treatment and there are many incredible people working in it. The Deputy and I have acknowledged that.

I am sorry; I am trying to be helpful. There have been a number of very difficult issues. One of these is before an inquest which neither I nor the Deputy wish to cut across at this point, although we will both have plenty to say when it ends, as is appropriate. However, I accept that there is a need to do a great deal more in Limerick. I am telling the Deputy that I am specifically following up on the safe staffing levels for Limerick, which have been funded. The Minister for Health recently outlined a number of a…

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this issue. I acknowledge that it is an issue she quite rightly raises on a regular basis. I assure her that I wish to show commitment to enhancing specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists. I accept that this is an issue in every community across Ireland. I also agree that there has historically been a lack of publicly funded services for people with eating disorders in Ireland. We are starting from a very low base as regards the…

It is linked.

I fully acknowledge the need to get from three to 20 beds. That is a statement of fact. It is Government policy. It is in the model of care and other policy documents published by the Government and has been endorsed by the HSE mental health bed capacity review. I outlined that this year the area of priority for additional investment into this area is around some of the youth mental health and CAMHS provision. I can send the Deputy a note on what we intend to get done this year. It was interlinked to make the point…

As a result, zero people were waiting for beds yesterday. I needed to say that. The direct answer to the Deputy's question is that we need to get from three to 20 beds. I intend to make more progress on that in the budget. On recruitment, all of this has to be seen in context. Sometimes, the debate in the House is a little skewed. There is not a ban on recruitment to the health service. Some 2,200 more people net will work in the health service - it will probably be more but 2,200 have been funded - at the end of t…

I very much welcome the Deputy's commitment to investment in our water services. I thank him for raising this important issue in the Dáil, as he did last week. Uisce Éireann is working to address the issue of water supplies in Cork city, which I accept is a real issue. There are approximately 600 km of water mains in Cork city. About 50% to 60% of them are made from cast iron and are approximately 100 years old, dating back to the 1920s. Due to the age and deteriorating condition of the pipes, they are prone to bur…

The phrase "under pressure from below" is not one I am particularly familiar with. I certainly believe the way to get things done is through engagement. That might be a difference in political ideology. It is important to engage on these matters. The Deputy is a directly elected Member of this House. He is doing his job in engaging on behalf of his constituents. He corresponded with me on this and I have signed a letter to him today on it. He has raised the issue in the Dáil and I am engaging with Uisce Éireann on …

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Before I had this role, I used to take Leaders' Questions on an interim basis. On foot of that, I know that this is an issue the Deputy raises on a regular basis. I accept her sincerity and bona fides in respect of this matter. I will begin by pointing to some areas we have made progress on. When we talk about population and where we want people to live, we must recognise that people have a say in this too. We have to make it easy for people to want to live, study and w…

I am a little disappointed with that response. Hearts and minds matter because we live in a democracy. The Deputy can wave her hands at me if she wishes, but I am going to speak for a second and am not going be told to stop talking about certain things. I am going to continue to talk about the fact that this Government has proudly invested in Sligo. From time to time, it might suit others to suggest the contrary. I have been up and down the road to Sligo so many times for so many Government announcements. The Minis…