I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. The Government definitely has an open mind on this. There are potentially lessons that can be learned from some of the responses we have put in place to assist people in the humanitarian situations arising in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. I see the excellent use of modular or rapid-build housing in many places such as Backweston and Mahon in County Cork. I raised the use of modern methods of construction as an item at a meeting on housing yesterday. We certainly have an…

I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. As he may be aware, in late 2020, the Department of Social Protection commenced an investigation into the PRSI classification of RTÉ's contractors. RTÉ provided the Department with lists of 695 workers who were engaged on a contract basis in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and these form the basis of the investigation. The scale of the investigation in RTÉ is significant and further workers may be brought into the scope of the investigation as it proceeds. It is in the interests of worke…

I appreciate Deputy Clarke raising the issue and the seriousness of it. The information I put on the record of the House is the information I was given, that an interim plan was discussed with the clinical lead at a meeting last week - that is what my note tells me and I can only relay that to the House - and that hospital management provided a commitment to finalise a solution to address the longer term staffing needs of the service to ensure stability and avoid any impact on paediatric diabetes patients and their…

There is nothing yet. The Government will run until March 2025, but I will get an update from the Minister about the important issue the Deputy raised. I know he has raised it before and that people are looking for timely news about it. I will get him a written note.

While I am not directly familiar with the issue, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, tells me she spoke to the new Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Deputy Thomas Byrne, this morning and he has committed to take a look at the issue. We will revert to the Deputy directly about it.

I appreciate the seriousness of the issue the Deputy raised and the pressure small businesses are under. I intend to work with Government colleagues to see how we can support small businesses. The budget will be published in October. The budget conversations seem to start earlier every year, but I take on board the seriousness of the matter the Deputy raised and I am happy to engage with her as we get closer to budget day. The summer economic statement in June or July will be the next point in budget discussions.

I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising this issue that she raises regularly, as she rightly should. It is a stressful issue for people in Greystones, for parents and specifically for the young people who are wondering what the name of their school will be. I spoke with a school principal in Greystones about this yesterday and to the Minister for Education directly today. We need an urgent update. The Minister shares that view and I will be using my offices to help to bring about clarity and certainty for students in o…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the environment and climate action was formally reconstituted last week. It oversees implementation of the ambitious programme for Government commitments in regard to the environment and climate change. The committee has met on 21 occasions since July 2020, most recently on 22 February. I intend to schedule its next meeting very shortly. The committee considers the wide range of issues that require action in Ireland's transition…

I will do my very best. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I am learning that these questions have covered a wider area than that covered by the tabled questions, which concern when we will hold the next meeting of the Cabinet committee. It will be scheduled shortly. I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his kind wishes. I look forward to working with him. I thank him also for highlighting the importance of electric vehicles. His view is one that I share. I believe it is also one that the Tánaiste shares. We all signed up …

Onshore; my apologies. I will get the Deputy an update on the wind guidelines. I am aware that the Attorney General's advice was being sought. I will ask when we should expect the outcome in that regard and revert to the Deputy directly. I learned a long time ago that it is easier to offer Deputy Ó Murchú a meeting than not do so, so I advise Uisce Éireann to follow the same approach. It is important that State agencies be accessible to elected representatives. Of course, the format in which such meetings can take …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 21, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy and investment was re-established by the Government on 10 April and its next meeting will be scheduled for the coming weeks. The committee last met on 15 February of this year. It comprises the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence and the Ministers for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Transport, Finance, Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform…

I thank the Deputies for the wide range of issues. First, I assure Deputy Barry that the Tánaiste is anything but a quiet man. I have no doubt but that he will give the issue of the water supply and what the Deputy states is a lack of public trust in the water supply his absolute attention. I certainly will follow the matter up with both Uisce Éireann and the Minister for housing. I am happy to come back to Deputy Barry on that issue. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I am clear that there is much more we need to do …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 29, inclusive, together. The previous Taoiseach attended the 60th meeting of the Munich Security Conference, a leading forum for the discussion of security and defence issues, on 16 and 17 February. The then Taoiseach participated in a panel discussion on neutrality where he set out the value of Ireland's military neutrality in a world of increased geopolitical insecurity, including new cyber and hybrid threats. He also highlighted the work of the recent consultative forum on …

There were a lot of very important issues, so let me try to take them. First, in response to Deputy Haughey, on the day on which I assumed this office, I spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to outline Ireland's ongoing support for the people of Ukraine, for their territorial integrity and for the European values of freedom. I had further discussions with European colleagues in Warsaw and Brussels on the importance of Europe continuing to stand in full stead behind Ukraine. The Deputy asked speci…

Sorry, can the Deputy remind me? These questions go far away from the attendance of my predecessor.

I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the record of the House on policing decisions that have been made in another EU member state but I will familiarise myself with the letter that the Deputy says has been sent to me. I have yet to see it. In relation to divestment, I welcome the decision that has been taken by ISIF last week. I appreciate Deputy Ó Murchú's comments about not being overly concerned about how these things are done, as long as these things are done. Let me seek a view from the …

I am from Wicklow.

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Go raibh maith agaibh as ucht bhur gcuid vótaí. Gabhaim buíochas le Peter agus Heather do na focail cineálta. I accept this nomination to serve as Taoiseach and commit to doing everything I can to honour the trust placed in me today. I thank my party, Fine Gael, and our partners in government, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, for their votes, and the Independent TDs who supported my nomination. This is a partnership Government and I intend to lead it in a spirit of unity, co…

Go raibh maith agat a Cheann Comhairle. I beg leave to announce for the information of the Dáil that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be Taoiseach and that he has appointed me accordingly. This Government will need to be both energetic and laser-focused on delivery on housing, health and helping families, farmers, small businesses and on equality of opportunity for all and on empowering people with disabilities, on security and on exerting our influence in the world. With that in mind…

In reappointing Deputy McEntee as Minister for Justice, I am working with her and tasking her to continue her momentum of delivering stronger, safer communities by continuing to fast track legislation to give judges new powers to make sure heinous criminals serve long sentences before they can ever be considered for release.