In the Local Authority Times, a publication of the Institute of Public Administration, IPA, two researchers came to the following conclusion: Equalisation is a key element of a country’s inter-governmental fiscal arrangements where functions and funding are decentralised to subnational government. Although Ireland is a highly centralised country with limited responsibilities and powers devolved to local authorities horizontal fiscal imbalances exist and persist. Ireland has a system of equalisation transfers but we…

Why is he not here?

If the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, cannot answer, why is he here?

In the previous Dáil, a Wildlife (Amendment) Bill was published and the effect of it was to reconfigure the bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. This Bill first came before the Dáil in 2016 and it was passed by the Dáil in December 2018. It then went into the Seanad on the same day and was passed by the Seanad on 6 November 2019. The final stage was to come back to the Dáil to debate the Seanad amendments but when the election was called, the Bill lapsed. Most Bills are recommitted in the new Dáil but this Bill has no…

Third, is this gone into the MAD file? The Taoiseach knows the definition of the MAD file - the maximum administrative delay, do nothing, buy time and do not deal with the issue.

No.

It is the Bill to reconfigure the NHA bogs and to take some out and put others in.

A situation has arisen for couples who have worked a lifetime, where one was the primary earner and the other stayed at home to rear families and perhaps care for loved ones, and who were in receipt of a contributory pension and a dependent adult allowance, or an increase for a qualified adult, IQA, as it is called in the jargon. Let us take two couples who have saved money. Perhaps they have received a lump sum at the end of an employment or a legacy. The first couple puts this money into the primary earner's bank…

Society always recommends that where one partner is earning, a couple would share joint accounts and the primary earner would not control all the finances. We then say that is fine because the couple has followed our advice. However, we are now cutting their payments for doing what we advised them to do.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with this important issue, with which she is very familiar. I do not want anything I will say to in any way pre-empt or be seen to try to influence An Bord Pleanála. Its decision will be made in due course, but it is imminent. It is what happens after that decision is made, if it is positive, and what processes will follow that I want to address. This project has been in existence for the past 30 years, but the reality is the most recent analysis of Galw…

May I ask for a full transcript of the Minister of State's response because I received only a precis of it? The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced during the week a new process that is to be followed. It seems to have been designed as a clever way of stopping projects such as this. Can the Minister of State outline what that process will entail? In the case of a road, will the process be based on cars, heavy goods vehicles and buses that are fuelled by fossil fuels or, as will happen in the future, vehicles tha…

I am amazed-----

Ceann Comhairle, I must protest.

The Minister made a major announcement about a new carbon test for all big projects. It is obvious that will have a big impact on the Galway road project.

It is totally disrespectful of the House for the Minister of State to come in here today and not have the answer to the most obvious and basic question to which everybody in Galway wants the answer.

As the Ceann Comhairle will know, ní hé sin an chéad uair a d'ardaigh mé an t-ábhar seo. Is minic a d'ardaigh mé é cheana.

Tá mé buíoch den Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach anseo ar maidin. Táimid ag caint ar sheanscéal anseo ar na hoileáin, sé sin, an fhadhb a bhaineann le céibheanna nach bhfuil feiliúnach ar chor ar bith don saol atá ann anois agus don aimsir atá againn anois. Tá an cheist seo thar a bheith práinneach. Tá sé spéisiúil mar idir 1997 agus 2010 ceadaíodh luach €100 milliún de thograí caipitil ar na hoileáin ach ó 2010 i leith go 2021, níor ceadaíodh aon togra os cionn €1 milliún. Tá éigeandáil ann dá bharr sin. Tógfaid…

I have no problem with that but I do not know if the simultaneous translation is available.

Tá a fhios ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle na fadhbanna atá leis sin.

Ní fheicim aon rud anseo. Bíonn muid ag caint air ach ní bhíonn sé ar fáil.