Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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There are 20 speakers and we have 30 minutes so I ask Members to co-operate. I call Deputy Doherty.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday the Central Bank forecast that the Government was set to miss its housing targets each year out to 2025. It expects that each year from now to 2025, the Government will fall over 12,000 homes short of its own target. The world and its dog knows the Government’s targets are woefully short of what is needed to meet demand. This is deeply concerning. The Government has missed its social and affordable targets since 2020. I am sure it will acknowledge that. If this abject failure continues, the housing crisis will deepen further, impacting housing need and the cost of housing as people look to rent and buy. The Minister, along with his party and Fine Gael, created this housing crisis. Our people cannot afford for it to worsen further. Does the Minister accept that the Government’s housing plan is failing and is actually designed to fail? Will he commit, as Sinn Féin has repeatedly called for, to the delivery of 20,000 public homes per year?

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I wish all colleagues happy Pride in advance of the big Dublin Pride parade on Saturday. June marks Pride month. It is 30 years since decriminalisation of homosexuality, but 30 years on, men who were prosecuted before that are still waiting for an official disregard of the abhorrent convictions. Seven years ago, my Labour Party colleague, Deputy Nash, introduced a Bill in the Seanad to put a disregard scheme in place. Since then, Deputy Nash and all of us in the Labour Party have worked alongside LGBTQ activists such as Kieran Rose and Karl Hayden on the establishment of the working group and the disregard scheme. We are very pleased with the announcement by the Government this week on the disregard scheme and really welcome that but we want confirmation that the report will be published without delay and that the necessary legislation for the disregard scheme will be enacted before the end of the year. People who faced prosecution and conviction for consensual sexual activity that has since been decriminalised have been waiting far too long. We also want to see the release of the records around the change in the law. I have raised this with the Taoiseach before. It would be timely to make an announcement on that.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I absolutely agree with the Minister that the report that was released on the sexual exploitation of children in care in this country is deeply shocking and disturbing. However, this is not the first time this issue has been raised. It was first reported last year in The Irish Timesand social workers in Tusla were aware of this since 2020. This is not something that has come to light today.

What has the Government done since it was first notified in 2020 that children who were the responsibility of the State and in the State’s care have been sexually exploited? What has the Government done to protect them? Will the Minister commit to an immediate HIQA investigation into these care facilities as requested by the authors of the report today?

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Young people were to the fore in the protest at UCC this morning. That is not surprising. Young people have the most to lose from the militarisation of the world that the Government wants to join in with. Despite being pushed and dragged out the doors of UCC by gardaí, despite only one speaker out of 80 at this forum being from Generation Z, despite the tut-tutting in Oireachtas corridors from old baldies and grey-heads, young people's voices will be heard. I see the Tánaiste is saying that their arguments were incoherent and not evidence-based. Well, I look at the words on their banner: “NATO wars. Millions dead”. I think there is a lot of evidence for that. There are five speakers at this forum who are pro-NATO or pro-EU militarisation for every one against. Yes, there is a debate going on there but it is not a debate about whether to join the rush to militarise. Rather it is about how we do it and how fast. It is rigged. It is stacked. It is not a real debate. I am confident the Irish people will be a little bit wiser to what is going on here than what the Minister might think.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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The Minister knows precisely the point I am making.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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My voters do not tut-tut young people.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The time is gone.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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It is a rigged debate.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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It is a stacked debate.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Time is up.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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The Minister asked me to reflect on my comments so I would like to clarify -----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I ask the Deputy to reflect quietly. The Deputy will not clarify. Please.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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My supporters do not tut-tut young people.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy was asked to reflect quietly.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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You are a real beauty. That will be remembered, Mick.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I call Deputy Shanahan.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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Reviewing spends on projects such as the Mater Hospital, the Dunkettle Roundabout, the Cork and Dublin runways, the National Children's Hospital, it is clear how important it is to have a Minister to shepherd a project through our cumbersome public spending code. It appears to me that many fine and needed projects that lack ministerial political patronage are left strangled by toxic departmental processes. Fast-track projects suggest Ministers have a VIP lane through the spending code while others are left sitting on the hard shoulder. Large sums earmarked in the budgetary process are never heard of again in this House. The Dáil is never supplied with a list of approved and completed projects. The website, www.whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie, with all its multicoloured glory, can only break down to the nearest billion while parliamentary questions on capital spending only obfuscate rather than illuminate. Does the Minister feel, as I do, that there is a democratic deficit in this House in how we approve capital spending? In the upcoming budget, can he provide more granular detail even if just historical detail on completed projects so that we can see specifically where our money goes?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The Minister visited Tipperary town some years ago with Deputy Cahill and others regarding the bypass for Tipperary town. The people in Tipperary town and the surrounding areas are going grey waiting for this much-needed relief road to get the lorries and trucks out of the town. All the organisations - the chamber, March4Tipp and Jobs for Tipp - as well as Councillor Annemarie Ryan and all the other councillors and everybody else want this bypass. There is a plan for the N24, as the Minister will know, but that is not happening because the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has his foot on it. I want the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to take his foot off it and get the Minister, Deputy McGrath, and others to allocate the funding to provide, on the footprint of that new road, the bypass of Tipperary town in order to allow the people there to live, work, play and breathe clean air and to let the truckers avoid their frustrations and delays. It is a major route from Rosslare right up to Foynes and Galway and it must be done. It is up to the Minister to deliver. There is no point in coming for photo opportunities and photo shoots and not delivering this project. It has to be delivered or everyone will go grey.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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Soon after the last election, Senator Mark Wall proposed a ban on online gambling. A Gambling Regulation Bill was introduced by the Minister for Justice to this House. It passed last December. Obviously, gambling brings in quite a lot of funds to the Exchequer, but there are other ways to earn money. If we can put health warnings on wine bottles now, what is the delay in regulating gambling? You cannot watch a match on television now without being bombarded with advertisements trying to get young people to go online to gamble. The ESRI yesterday said 12,000 people in Ireland have a gambling problem and acknowledged that that figure is understated. We need to act with urgency on this issue.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I was glad to launch the ESRI research into gambling and I can tell the Deputy that Committee Stage of the Bill will be taken on 11 July. The Select Committee on Justice insisted on four hours, a double session, in order that we can clear it off and move it on.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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What about Report and Final Stages?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I am in the hands of the Houses for that but I would hope it would move quite quickly from that point on.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I raise with the Minister the issue of the N22 Cork-Kerry road. I congratulate the Cork team on its heroics last Saturday in ensuring Kerry's safe passage to the all-Ireland quarter-final. We Kerrymen want to become closer to Cork, and we have a fantastic piece of infrastructure in the Macroom bypass. The next section will open between Baile Bhuirne and Macroom very shortly, but the section from Macroom to Ovens and the far side of Macroom, as we would see it, is not clearly a priority at the moment. It needs to be on the agenda. In terms of connectivity in the south-west region, it is a really important project and should now be progressed. As we know, the State has the finances to do it. This is the opportunity to finally give the people of the south-west region the connectivity they need in order that everyone can benefit from the massive engine of the southern economy that is Cork city but also the broad hinterland.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Almost seven years ago, on 21 July 2016, the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill was published. It had passed through the Dáil and Seanad by January 2020. Three amendments were made in the Seanad. The Dáil, as the Minister will know, was dissolved, but it is a simple matter of recommiting a Bill. That has been clarified by the Ceann Comhairle. When will the three amendments passed in the Seanad be brought to this House for debate to finalise this Bill and make it law? It is disgraceful that this is taking so long. I have raised it I do not know how many times during Topical Issues, parliamentary questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation. It is time this matter was brought forward and dealt with as promised.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Will it be in the next term?

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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It is almost three years since the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced the setting up of a group to examine the issue of Celtic tiger-era building defects, and it is almost a year since the Minister for Housing received the final report of the working group recommending the establishment of a redress scheme. Seven months ago, the Government committed in this House to the introduction of such a scheme and, more urgently, the provision of emergency funding for homeowners with building defects to carry out vital fire safety works. Yesterday, as I am sure the Minister will know, the Not Our Fault 100% Redress campaign, supported by the Construction Defects Alliance, held a 24-hour protest outside the Dáil. I spoke to them, and homeowners affected by defects are expressing real frustration at the delay on this issue. When will those homeowners be able to apply for the emergency funding that is required to make their homes safe from the threat of fire? More importantly, when will they have access to apply for inclusion in a full redress scheme?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Minister will know, 90% of people aged 65 and over are living in accommodation in excess of their needs, much of which is very difficult to heat. I believe that initiatives to support right-sizing are crucial as our population grows older. Such initiatives release larger accommodation, which is badly needed, reduce our overall need for new building and have considerable social gains. Would the Minister consider measures that would create such an incentive, for example, disregarding capital release from all means tests, including for the fuel allowance and fair deal schemes and for medical cards, giving some capital acquisitions tax, CAT, concession to the nest egg that might be created by downsizing and otherwise promoting this as a desirable social policy?

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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I am calling for immediate ministerial intervention to help young people on the Beara Peninsula who have intellectual disabilities. They used to have daily transport to CoAction's rehabilitative training, RT, education programme in Bantry provided to them. From tomorrow, though, they will no longer have that transport due to lack of funding. The current transport provider is willing and available to continue the service, the young people availing of it are eager to continue their education and the families are desperately seeking a solution to a situation that is outside their control. In 2023, it is unacceptable that funding for this bus service is not available. These young people will be left at home if funding is not made available immediately. Will the Minister work with the families on finding an immediate solution for the young people in Beara with intellectual disabilities in order that they can continue their education?

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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Many of us met advocates from the Irish Wheelchair Association yesterday. One of the issues they raised was the loss of personal assistants, PAs, and the difficulty in trying to get more. Some of this has to do with pay parity and pensions for workers in sections 38, 39, 56 and 10 bodies in the charity and voluntary sector. These skilled workers are voting with their feet and leaving in their droves, while others are not choosing to enter the sector. For people without PAs, it means losing their independence or not having it in the first place. For some, it will mean having to enter nursing homes instead of staying in their own homes. Will the Minister work with all of his colleagues to address this issue, which is coming down the line and is being raised not just by the Irish Wheelchair Association but by everyone in the voluntary and charity sector?

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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In April 2016, I was told that the HSE proposed to deliver a primary care centre in Tullow, including the townlands of Rathvilly and Hacketstown, using its direct build mechanism. The HSE stated that its capital plan would fund the centre. We are seven years on. I have been in contact with the HSE; I am worn out submitting parliamentary questions on the matter. The HSE has told me that it identified a site last year. People in Tullow, Hacketstown and Rathvilly are disappointed because construction at the site has not started. As the Minister knows, that we are seven years on means the cost of the build will have doubled. I cannot get any information from the HSE.

I wish to raise another issue. I had a few meetings with the Minister for Health regarding an injury clinic for Carlow, given that its population has grown so much. I need information on this matter.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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Recent reports indicate that not only will homes on the Glass Bottle site in Ringsend be unaffordable, but there will be very little social and affordable housing in the first phase. The Irish Glass Bottle Housing Action Group and residents are disappointed and shocked that the 900 social and affordable homes for which they fought may not come to pass. Will the Minister transfer the 20% equity held in the strategic development zone, SDZ, by the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, to Dublin City Council in order to deliver genuinely affordable homes for the Ringsend and Sandymount communities? Will he give a commitment that the 900 social and affordable homes that were agreed will be delivered on site?

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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This week, the Child Law Project celebrated its ten-year anniversary. It has been credited with providing important insights into the otherwise opaque proceedings relating to children in care. The legislation that set up the Child Law Project allows for similar reporting and research on private family law matters to give some transparency and insight into those opaque proceedings. Will the Government commit to providing that transparency in private family law by using the existing legislation to set up a similar body to the Child Law Project? This is essential for transparency in private family law. The issues raised consistently in the Dáil by Deputy Durkan are a perfect example of why this is needed. Perhaps he would not need to be on his feet so much if there was such a body.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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All of those matters are kept under continuous review by the Department of Justice. I am happy to speak to the Deputy about them after this business.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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There was an announcement yesterday about a significant expansion in third level places, which will lead to more doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and vets being trained. That is welcome, but how many additional places will be created in occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychiatry, psychology and physiotherapy? There is a chronic shortage in these professions, particularly among children's disability network teams, CDNTs, where there is a 34% vacancy rate across all community healthcare organisations, CHOs, and a 64% rate on some teams. There are also shortages in primary care and on child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, teams. I hope that the absence of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, from the announcement does not mean that college places for these professions have not been included.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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It is ten days since Tara Mines closed and 2,000 people are facing job losses. Workers are facing a deadline of 14 July before the mines are put under care and maintenance. After that, 650 workers will be laid off. I commend SIPTU on its work in putting solutions to Boliden that could save up to €70 million. Boliden has obviously engaged with the Ministers, Deputies Coveney and Humphreys, on this matter. A key element is the Government's role. Currently, the Government is taking more taxes from energy than ever before.

We have a situation where Ireland has the highest cost base for electricity. Per unit, the cost is double the European average at the moment. What is the Government going to do to reduce inflated electricity costs?

The other issue is that families are now facing a substantial collapse in income, an income cliff edge, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. What social welfare supports will be provided? Will the Government provide Covid-like support for families on top of the social welfare support that is normally given in this situation?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Will the Government reduce the cost base?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Despite everyone's best efforts, we are out of time so we will take the last two speakers together.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise issues with regard to the emergency or 999 call answering service, with centres in Ballyshannon in Donegal and in my own county of Meath, in Navan, employing approximately 75 people. Workers have told me that they have made numerous attempts to have issued addressed with BT Communications Ireland regarding pay and conditions, union recognition and other serious issues but they are getting nowhere and are not being listened to. I understand that workers have written to the company in the last day or two in a last-ditch attempt to get these issues resolved but the company will not engage with unions. Why did the Government award a contract to a company that will not engage with unions in this State?

In many cases, workers are dealing with calls that are not easy to answer. They are the first point of contact for our national emergency services and answer approximately 500 calls over 12-hour shifts. Workers still hope to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue with BT Communications but failing that, they will be looking at all options available to them. We do not want this country to be in a situation where 999 calls are not being answered. I ask the Government to engage with workers and management to sort this out as a matter of urgency.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The appalling rape of a number of women in a HSE-run nursing home has shocked the nation. Why is the Government failing to protect people? A total of 978 incidents were reported to HIQA in 2022 in relation to the care and welfare of older people in nursing homes and other institutions but HIQA has no regulatory remit to investigate or manage any of those individual complaints. The Minister is well aware of this but to date, he has refused to introduce legislation to protect our older people.

In this particular case extremely vulnerable older women were living in fear and dread in the middle of the Covid pandemic, when an evil perpetrator was on the loose in a nursing home. It appears that there are files which show that other women in that institution were also raped. Safeguarding must be our top priority. We must stop paying lip service to our older people and protect them utterly and absolutely.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy O'Dowd for his question. Obviously, my first thoughts are with the family of "Emily" and with Emily herself, who is since deceased. I think of the upset and devastation of the families involved in this absolutely awful trauma and the circulation of the report this week is even more traumatic for them. I am very conscious of all of the issues that have been identified in these reviews which are causing huge distress. There are HSE adult safeguarding policies in place based on zero tolerance and there are ongoing programmes of awareness.

To get to the nub of the Deputy's question, this is a priority for me. We are working on legislation at the moment and I will bring it before the Dáil as soon as it is ready. However, regardless of what legislation is in place, the fact that nine other women were not listened to and not responded to appropriately at the time shows that there must be a step change in how the voice and choice of older people is heard.