This debate has thrown up all the different types of "Star Trek" references and every other reference to space and space use. I was thinking about speaking on this motion on my way down to Dublin today. There was an item on the radio about the James Webb telescope which has sent fancy pictures back of the formation of the galaxy many thousands of years ago. It was probably appropriate that the motion of confidence was tabled today instead of this motion because they both hark back to the past and how great it was, …

I have been contacted by many constituents in recent months regarding ongoing issues relating to Bus Éireann. The service has become completely unreliable, with services being cancelled at the last minute and buses not showing up. This particularly affects my constituency of Donegal because it has no train service and buses are the only form of public transport available. In just one day, six services between Dublin and Donegal were cancelled. That is incredible. I have been contacted by people who have missed impo…

Like my colleague, Deputy Connolly, I will put on record my concerns about how this Bill is being brought forward in the rushed way it is, and how it is changing completely between now and Committee Stage next week. This is a real problem. It does not lead to proper democratic oversight of how the Bill progresses. It is symptomatic of how this Government treats the end of term that is now coming up. There will be 19 Bills before the House by the end of this term in July, while from January to July we probably dealt…

The national review of specialist cardiac services was established in 2018 and is due to report soon, according to Minister for Health. He has been saying this in response to parliamentary questions since the start of the year, however. The terms of reference say that the review is, among other things, to ensure that patients have access to a service based on clinical need rather than geographic location. It is imperative that this is recognised in any recommendations in order that County Donegal will not be left b…

This amendment goes to the crux of all of the issues around this Bill and what is happening in connection with it. Unfortunately, I believe this Bill is an attempt to save the State money. That is what it is all about. This sets that out. The Government's original definition of a "dwelling" is that it "means a house and does not include an apartment, maisonette or duplex". Is it that people do not live in these premises, do not own them and do not need to get them fixed and maintained? This is about saving money. I…

This points to the problem with the Bill and flags up the issue that it must be all-inclusive and cover all of the requirements. There is no doubt that if the materials used in making the blocks are the same materials that were used in making the foundations, then that is reality of the situation. If the blocks are dodgy then the foundations could be dodgy as well, and that needs to be looked at also. The time to look at it is when the building is being assessed in the first place. For this reason, I am fully suppo…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “ “standards assessment and compliance report” has the meaning given to it by section 41 ;”. I will not address the amendment because it stands for itself. I want to move on so that we can get through these as quickly as possible to actually get to the ones that the mica people put forward themselves in order that they can be debated.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 8, to delete lines 34 to 37 and substitute the following: “(11) For the purposes of making a recommendation, the Housing Agency shall consult with— (a) the local authority which made the request, and (b) affected homeowners’ representative groups, including nominated competent building professionals (as defined in Part 2 of this Act) and/or academic professionals with expertise in the fields of geology and materials science (of the homeowners’ choice), from the administrative area o…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 8, line 38, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 9, line 1, after “with” to insert the following: “affected homeowners’ representative groups, including nominated competent building professionals (as defined in Part 2 of this Act) and/or academic professionals with expertise in the fields of geology and materials science (of the homeowners’ choice) from the administrative area of the local authority which made the request, and”.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 9, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: “(d) the manner and form of consultation with affected homeowners’ representative groups, including nominated competent building professionals (as defined in Part 2 of this Act) and/or academic professionals with expertise in the fields of geology and materials science (of the homeowners’ choice).”.

I fully support the amendment. The committee showed that IS 465 is not fit for purpose. The mica people had experts there who were worldwide experts on pyrrhotite and other things. Their input could have been listened to and taken on board. IS 465 could be amended to make it worthwhile and fit for purpose. I ask the Minister even at this late stage to consider that because it is vital and goes to the crux of whether the Bill will work.

This amendment is vital to anyone who supports Deputy Cian O’Callaghan in what he said. The Minister stated earlier, in response to a previous amendment, that while he cannot instruct, he can ask. That is something we should be doing. It is vitally important to make sure that the scheme is fit for purpose. In that context, the Minister should ask that a report be provided as quickly as possible. Amendments Nos. 50 and 51 relate to the timelines in which things are meant to happen. Their purpose is to reduce the tim…

The Minister is adamant that this is a much improved scheme and that everybody should accept it on that basis. I do not believe anybody has argued that this is not an improvement on the previous scheme. The problem is that it is not improved enough. The problem is that families are going to have to wait to go through the third iteration of this coming around to actually get redress and to be able to rebuild their homes. What is wrong with this scheme is that the Minister has not gone far enough. He could save a lot…

It will fail people as well.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak to the amendment. It is important. I note there are a number of amendments from other Members that propose to generally achieve the same outcome. I may have a bit of a problem with Deputy Howlin's amendment No. 1 in that I believe the timescale is far too long. This may be because I do not have the benefit of being in the Government and I wonder if some timescales seem to be in a different world on the Government side where one year means two years. I w…

I do not agree with Minister's explanation for why she cannot include this timeline. I accept the timeline I set was too tight, which is fair enough. Then let us have a longer timeline but we need to have a timeline. It does not make any sense not to have it. The Minister's rationale for not having it is completely wrong. She insists on saying that she does not agree with the court, which is fair enough. However, if she did not agree with the Supreme Court in Ireland, she would need to amend the law. This is the su…

I agree with the points made by other Members on the rushing of legislation through the House. It is ridiculous that we are here for months, yet legislation is rushed through in the final few weeks of the Dáil term. I disagree with the rushing through of the mica legislation, in particular. The fact that only two hours are scheduled for Committee and Remaining Stages tomorrow is not right. It is wrong, given that the families affected have put so much effort into putting amendments forward and making this legislati…

We have just seen the vote which allows the Government's belligerent planning of the week's business. When I cast a clinical eye over the Government's legislative programme, I am drawn to the incoherence at the heart of it. It is casual and haphazard, at best. At worst, it is cynical and callous and this is more likely the deliberate intent. Despite the pleas given voice in here by the Opposition from homeowners across the country, which were especially vocal from my constituency of Donegal, to allow more time for …

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this motion. I am very concerned about its proposal to significantly increase Ireland's participation in permanent structured co-operation projects. This motion is seeking approval from the House to increase Ireland’s participation in PESCO projects from one project to a further four military projects. I oppose this completely. PESCO is seen by many, including me, as a precursor to an EU army. I take this opportunity to voice my absolute opposition to the establishment …