I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “ ‘Community Organisation’ means an established, active and representative, residents organisation, based in the locality of the proposed development;”. We will see how we get on. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the House for agreeing to take these amendments out of order. I apologise for not getting here on time. We had a discussion on these amendments on Committee Stage. Amendment No.1 provides that a definition of a commun…

I thank the Minister for his explanation, which raises many further questions. He has spoken about ad hoc meetings taking place with regard to developments in his area, which shows that this is needed.

Yes, we are talking here about ad hoc meetings taking place between communities and developers. We are talking about doing it on a structured level and in a way that ensures it has to take place for developments. My amendment refers to organisations that are "based in the locality of the proposed development". I will use the example of the meetings the Minister had in Santry. The council will know that a residents group in Santry is interested in what is happening there. It will know that if a residents group based…

In June this year, the Data Protection Commission wrote to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in regard to his Department's handling of subject access requests, SARs, from survivors of mother and baby homes. The commission told the Minister: "Concerning SI 82/1989, I have had reason to re-examine the Department's approach to SARs pertaining to health data and I am of the view that the manner in which the Department is handling such requests is not appropriate to the circumstances…

Are you going to bring it forward?

I want to read the following into the record: 6.1 Assessments and care plans ...There is evidence that these plans were updated regularly by staff, management and on occasions by a multidisciplinary team however, the contents of the plans rarely changed, nor did Brandon's behaviour change or improve over this period of time, except during periods of ill health... This can be best understood by comparing the first recorded plan for Brandon in November 2003 with the final available plan twelve years later in January …

We are discussing a health Bill and I listened to other Members who did not strictly adhere to that.

I will connect it up at the end.

I was working towards that-----

-----because it is vitally important. On 6th July 2008, psychiatrist (1) subsequently wrote to the local health manager in the area referencing the 'relocation of residents from Abbeyside...to the 'Stillwater complex' and urging the relocation to take place sooner rather than later. The letter also stated "three residents in particular are at a significant risk of both physical and sexual assault from the other residents" . The letter also stated "one patient requires constant supervision due to a combination of fr…

On Tuesday last, with much fanfare, the Government announced the so-called enhanced mica redress scheme, which is a dubious title, to say the least. There is a promise of primary legislation to follow in terms of implementation of that scheme. While I welcome the inclusion of elements of rental, storage and, vitally, mental health support, for which I have repeatedly called, the elephant in the room is the sliding scale, which was part of the announcement made by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. He failed to m…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “Report on remuneration of Oireachtas political staff 2. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining— (a) progress in relation to resolving the pay claim submitted on behalf of secretarial assistants working in the Oireachtas, (b) progress in relation to the recognition of the work of secretarial assistants as being beyond both the title and description…

I thank the Minister for his response. It is obvious from it that he feels strongly about the situation and he wants to send the clear message that the situation does need to be resolved. I take on board that the Oireachtas Commission and the union must engage with the WRC and come up with a proposal before the Minister has a role in considering it. It is one thing to say it in the House here but it would send a very strong message if the Minister took these amendments on board so that they were written in the legi…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “Report on continuation of provisions of Scheme for Secretarial Assistance 2. The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining— (a) considerations in respect of the replacement of the secretarial assistant grade with the parliamentary assistant grade in respect of those employed by a member of Seanad Éireann, (b) considerations in respect of the replacement …

No.

I will not be long. I have not been here for most of the debate, so I just want to mention that. It is vital that the amendment be supported because all legislation should require a reporting procedure. The Minister will say regulations are published and may be examined in the Oireachtas Library, but they should be brought back to the House here. This is serious legislation and has an impact on people’s lives and the decisions we make here. It is vital to scrutinise it.

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to this Bill. I thank People Before Profit and, in particular, Deputy Paul Murphy, for highlighting this very important issue. I completely support the Workplace Ventilation (Covid-19) Bill. In fact, I am surprised this has not been considered as a serious option prior to now. It is hard to believe anyone would argue against the need for clean air, especially given the fact we are in the midst of a global pandemic due to an airborne virus. We know Covid-19 transmits when p…

I had planned to come in here and cautiously welcome the revisions made in the so-called enhanced mica redress scheme. However, having watched the press conference given by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am shocked at what is emerging, as I was by the Taoiseach's response to an earlier question. It appeared on some levels that the Government had finally listened to the victims of its failures of oversight and regulation and intended legislating for that. However, we will have to keep a watching eye over th…

The Government caused the problem.

No regulation.