Dáil debates
Thursday, 13 July 2023
Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
12:40 pm
Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I agree with the Ceann Comhairle and Tánaiste and thank all the staff and everyone involved in providing the services that allow us to run this House. As the Tánaiste said, they will still be working over the summer but they might not have to deal with all the carry-on that goes on here sometimes. We certainly respect all the work they do. They do a fabulous job which should be acknowledged.
Households are under huge pressure from the cost-of-living crisis. Energy bills are sky high and totally unaffordable. New figures have revealed that over 400,000 household are in arrears. That is up almost 40,000 since February. This is an astronomical sum. It is staggering. Behind these numbers are ordinary workers and families who are desperately trying to pay their bills. They are being stretched to the limit because their pay packets cannot go further. The wholesale cost of gas and electricity came down a long time ago but the companies are not passing it on to consumers. Despite that, the Government has failed to act and has sat on its hands in an effort to cut costs. My question is a simple one. Will the Government finally act to cut energy costs for households?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has acted. Some €12 billion has been provided over the past year and a half, which is 4.5% of our national income, to help households and help people cope with the cost-of-living increases brought about by the war in Ukraine and the inflation that came from the ending of Covid. Those have been in specific tax and expenditure measures. Eight lump-sum payments were arising out of budget 2023 alone. I think it is time for the commercial wholesale prices to be reflected in retail prices by the energy companies. It is about time that started to happen. We understood that there was a time lag just as there was a time lag on the other side. However, it is now time for the energy companies to reflect the significant reduction in energy costs that have happened at the wholesale level. I would point out that Government measures have reduced costs across the board, in health in particular and in education. The most immediate manifestation of that will be the free primary school books scheme that is under way right now. This is the first September when textbooks will be free at primary level. That is an example of the kind of measures we have taken to reduce the pressures and costs on households.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle and his staff and all the wonderful staff here in Leinster House for all the immense work everyone does in keeping the House running smoothly. I wish everyone well as we approach the recess. In December I was honoured to present the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality in my capacity as Cathaoirleach of that committee. We endorsed the Citizens' Assembly recommendation to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to require greater constitutional recognition for the principles of equality and gender equality in particular, to remove sexist language referring to women and mothers in particular as having lives and duties in the home, to introduce meaningful recognition of the value and role of care and of course to create a more inclusive definition of families. On 8 March, International Women's Day, the Taoiseach announced the referendum would be held this November. Our committee had produced a unanimously agreed wording that could be put to the people. We have heard nothing since then as to when the referendum will be held.
I submitted a parliamentary question last week asking the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, whether the referendum would be held in November and I got a very disappointing reply yesterday saying an interdepartmental group has been established, it has been working on policy proposals which will be brought forward for consideration and decision by Government and that the Department will be in a position to update further at that stage. When will the referendum be held? Will it be held in November? It has been delayed so many times. We have been criticised internationally for continuing to have sexist language in the Constitution. We need a more inclusive definition of family and we need to see care valued and recognised in our Constitution. When will it happen?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no issue with the deletion of sexist language. If there was, this would have been resolved a long time ago. The Deputy is a person of some capacity in the legal world and understands the complexities of this. It is not as simple as she has stated. The various wordings that have come forward need rigorous assessment from a constitutional perspective. The balance between the fundamental principles that we enshrine in the Constitution and policy and legislative work of the Parliament and the Executive has to be struck. There has been fairly intensive work under way interdepartmentally but also at Cabinet sub-committee level, with the sub-committee on social affairs working on this with advice from the Office of the Attorney General. Amending the Constitution is a fundamental piece of work. It can be quite complex in itself. We need to get it right. Work is proceeding on that basis.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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No commitment on a date.
Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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Retained firefighters are balloting this week with an indication from their union, SIPTU, to reject the offer. The firefighters are disappointed with the offer that is on the table as it does not address the low value of the retainer and the precarious nature of their pay structure. I do not want to pre-empt the results of the ballot but the feedback I am getting is entirely negative. Given that the Dáil is rising, this is something on which I would like some clarity from the Tánaiste. We are talking about workers who provide a life and death service. We must have a functioning fire service across the country. In my county of Wicklow every firefighter is a retained fire officer. If the offer is rejected, as is the belief of the union, will the Government re-engage with the industrial relations process and get back around the table with these essential workers to find a deal?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This recommendation has emerged from the industrial relations process. The Government has accepted the outcome of the industrial relations process. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of the ballot. The industrial relations process is independent and has come forward with an outcome. The Minister was proactive in all of this. He commissioned the report in the first instance. We have a forthcoming pay agreement which can also become a framework for resolving further issues, in addition to the outcome that has emerged here. We will always work with industrial relations processes. It has to be put on the record that this recommendation came out of fairly significant engagement on all sides.
Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, gave a commitment in the House to another group of essential workers, the water workers, that there would be a referendum on the control and ownership of water and on keeping it in public hands and that there would be a guarantee made over their jobs and conditions, in particular their rostered overtime and extra allowances. They have never, ever received that in writing from the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, or the county and city management association, CCMA, who are their employers. Who is running the show here? What is driving hundreds of workers across 12 local authorities to take strike action today and tomorrow and to have local authorities issue boil-water notices to thousands of households? The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien's, commitment to the workers needs to be translated into actual meaningful commitments by the employers of water workers across the country. We need to see commitments on their terms, conditions and pay and a commitment to a date for a referendum on keeping water in public control.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is very committed to this. Under the framework that has been agreed, there are a number of attractive options for water services workers including full protection of terms and conditions for those who choose to remain in their local authority. For workers in particular, it sets out the options that will become available generally and empowers each worker to decide voluntarily on the option which is best suited to their own individual needs. Other unions have taken a different approach to Unite the Union on this. Recent commitments given by the Minister to water services workers on protection of earnings and allowances, in our view, should provide adequate reassurance to Unite members that they will benefit from the multiple options available to them under the framework. We do not believe there is a need for this industrial action at all.
Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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If it guaranteed, why is the employer not engaging with the union?
Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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Over the years, due to a chronic housing shortage, people have felt compelled to take action to help their family members. In some cases the only option available was to allow a temporary dwelling to be located on the grounds of an existing property.
While not an ideal solution for anyone, it was a desperate attempt to ensure loved ones had a roof over their heads. I am attempting to support and assist many such families in Tipperary who live in daily fear of legal proceedings by the council for permitting an unauthorised dwelling on their property. All of these have valid reasons to retain the accommodation and have heartbreaking stories. Eviction would have horrendous consequences for the people involved. I am not asking for a proliferation of this practice to be allowed in the future. I am asking that there be an amnesty for those who have this type of accommodation in place for many years. I propose that a special licence be issued for a defined period. In the meantime, I am requesting the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to instruct councils to refrain from taking legal action until a complete review of this matter is conducted. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, confirmed to me that he would do that and would ask for a review. I am asking if he could put that on the record of the House, please?
12:50 pm
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the background to the case but I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on this matter. This, obviously, has potential implications for other unauthorised developments and people will have to look at these on a case-by-case basis. No one wants to see anybody evicted from a home if there is no alternative there for those people. Again, I would like to see the background to it. If the Minister has indicated to the Deputy that he will review it, I believe he will do that, and I will talk to the Minister in respect of the issue the Deputy has raised.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I concur with the Ceann Comhairle in thanking all of the staff, from the Secretary General down to the ushers, the gardaí, and everybody in the canteen and catering for looking after us and for being so kind to us during this term and this year.
The old song is "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". Tipperary town needs a bypass and it cannot wait forever and languish. It needs a relief road because the town is choked with lorries, cars and vehicles, fumes and pollution, and God knows. With the March4Tipp, the chamber of commerce, Councillor Annemarie Ryan and everyone else are doing their best. The March4Tipp has disbanded. It did a great job and I salute those involved, but we need a positive outcome by getting funding to build this on the route of the N24. They built that in Cashel 25 years ago. Why can it not be done for Tipperary town? Ministers have visited the town, such as the Minister, Deputy McGrath, and other, and the Tánaiste himself has visited it several times. It has to happen and it cannot languish because the town cannot expand. The town is on the route, the main artery, from Waterford to Galway and the west, and it has to be developed. I ask the Tánaiste to please try to get something done for this town.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know that Deputy Cahill and all of the Deputies in Tipperary have raised this issue. I know that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is also conscious of it and he seems to be more disposed to bypasses of towns like Tipperary town. That is certainly one I am keeping an eye on and I will continue to engage with the Deputies in respect of this particular issue.
Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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On behalf of the Independent Group, I also join with the Ceann Comhairle in thanking the staff of the Houses for their facilitation over the course of the term.
As the Tánaiste will know, several Iceland stores across Ireland have been closed, including the Letterkenny store in my own constituency, after its parent company went into examinership. I welcome here today seven workers from Iceland and their union representative from the Independent Workers Union. I am horrified to learn how the workers have been treated in recent weeks and I express my solidarity with them who have had to endure an extremely difficult couple of weeks with no support or communication from their employers. It is absolutely disgraceful. There have been reports that the company has unilaterally changed its employees' terms and conditions and that some of the workers have still not been paid.
Last month, all imported frozen food of animal origin was very quickly withdrawn from the shelves following a recall under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Yet, when it comes to looking after the rights of workers, we have been very slow to intervene. This is the last day before the recess so this matter needs to be addressed urgently. More than 400 workers are left without wages due to them, including holiday and redundancy pay. Surely, the Tánaiste will agree that this is unacceptable. How will the Tánaiste assist the Iceland workers and how will he ensure all the workers will be paid as soon as possible?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, it is unacceptable that workers would be treated in the way described and outlined by the Deputy with regard to their basic entitlements. Where employees believe their rights have been breached, as the Deputy knows, they have a right to refer the complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. The WRC is obviously independent in the performance of its functions, but that would be one avenue to bring that to completion.
I also know that an examiner has been appointed. That is the court-directed process, and again I cannot prejudge the outcome of that particular process. I believe a High Court hearing is due to take place.
Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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That will take years.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Again, these are two areas, but again, if the role of the WRC or the Labour Court can be used to try to-----
Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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That will take years.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, it will not take years.
Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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They need their wages now.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have to go through the various processes.
Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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Let them pay their wages first. They cannot be expected to wait.
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The State is spending tens of millions of euro in my constituency building state-of-the-art schools, both primary and secondary, which is greatly welcomed by everybody. Next September, however, in spite of that, there is a cohort of young second-level students going into first year who have no place. I have raised this on a number of occasions. Will the Tánaiste contact the Department of Education to see what progress has been made with respect to ensuring a place for these children in September? He can appreciate the stress and worry that these young people are going through because of this.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I am aware of it. A number of parents have contacted me in respect of this, particularly in the Midleton area. We will pursue this issue.
Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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I appeal to the background of the Tánaiste as a historian with this suggestion from my home city of Limerick. As a Corkman I do not expect them to know the detail of Limerick as I would do. The medieval spine of Limerick goes from King John's Castle all the way up to St. John's Hospital. That takes in Nicholas Street, Mary Street, Broad Street and John Street. Limerick city was formed around this medieval spine and, unfortunately, it is in a very poor state. Some good work has been done by the council with respect to Nicholas Street, but the whole length of this, which is about a mile long, right up to St John's Hospital, can and should be refurbished and renovated, and there should be investment in the public realm. There is a great opportunity with the urban regeneration and development fund to look at that spine and I would like the Tánaiste to look at it and, ultimately, to give it his support.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Deputy and I believe he is correct. Most cities should give particular focus to their medieval spines. Both the Vikings and Normans had a very significant impact on Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Dublin, of course. It is interesting that, at times, those medieval spines have not been well preserved architecturally, and some of the reasons for that can relate to development issues and so on. Yes, in short, I would be very supportive of any such measures. I know there are mechanisms and particular vehicles have been established by Limerick City Council, the focus of which has been to develop urban regeneration in Limerick city, and perhaps that could be the vehicle through which these ambitions could be realised.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday I met with the Tesco Dot.Com pickers and drivers and their trade union Mandate. Tesco management have imposed roster changes without consultation, much less any agreement. These changes will cost workers thousands and they are, naturally, extremely extra distressed about this. They told me yesterday that when they are out protesting, management are employing tactics of intimidation, which is making them incredibly fearful. They are worried for their livelihoods, for their jobs, and for their future. I have also raised this with the Taoiseach and with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and both have agreed with me that Tesco should be engaging with Mandate. Will the Tánaiste join with me in condemning any acts of intimidation of workers who are lawfully and legally protesting? Believe me, they have been put in a situation where they have no choice. Will he also join me in calling on Tesco management to negotiate with the trade union Mandate with respect to these roster changes?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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All of these issues should be resolved by negotiation through the established industrial relations machinery, and there is an obligation on employers to engage in such processes. There is no place for intimidation. I always condemn intimidation of any kind against lawful conduct in respect of industrial relations, picketing or taking action that is acceptable. There should be no intimidation and people should not have to fear for their jobs.
1:00 pm
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I would also like to express my thanks to the staff. This is a great place to work,. That is the case because we are served by so many excellent people.
A couple of moments ago, the Tánaiste criticised the leader of the Social Democrats for opposing measures that would address the housing crisis. Leaving aside the fact that the genesis of this housing crisis lies in the failure of the last Fianna Fáil Government to build adequate social housing, does the Tánaiste regret getting all eight of his party's city councillors in Cork, to oppose 16 social housing units on Skehard Road, which is in his neighbourhood, just before the last general election? Does he regret that now in that context?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I never got anybody to reject anything.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I will clarify-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Through the Chair.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Can I clarify? I am happy to withdraw that.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste is on his feet so I ask the Deputy please to take his seat.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With respect, I have been very clear that by a country mile the party that has raised the most objections against housing is Deputy Ó Laoghaire's party.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Not against social housing. Can the Tánaiste give an example of us being against social housing?
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Deputy, please.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, social housing.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Where?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Across the length and breadth of the country.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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What about in Cork? We have not been against any over 20 years.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In Dublin and everywhere, like O'Devaney Gardens.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Did the Tánaiste answer the question? Does he regret it? It was his own brother.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I call Deputy Brendan Smith.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is a false premise.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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There were eight councillors, including the Tánaiste's brother, and every single one of them voted against it. We have not voted against social housing in Cork City Council for 20 years.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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That is enough. Deputy Brendan Smith, please.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Today marks the third anniversary of the disappearance in Portugal of Jean Tighe.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a bitter pill, Donnchadh.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Jean is a member of a very popular-----
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Say that again.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I said you are a bit of a bitter pill. I do not get people to do anything.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I will start again.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry, Deputy Smith. Deputy Ó Laoghaire should take his seat. Maybe he should be somewhere else.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Okay, well then the Tánaiste failed to stop them voting against it in his own neighbourhood.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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You need to respect people. We do not exert military control over people locally in our party.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Tánaiste, please.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Tánaiste is telling me he did not have a conversation with his brother about a Part 8 development in his neighbourhood three weeks before a general election. Come off it.
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is completely out of order.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is wrong and what he is saying is false.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is not a bit false.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is false.
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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This is appalling behaviour.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is false.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Today marks the third anniversary of the disappearance in Portugal of Jean Tighe. Jean is a member of a very popular and highly regarded Cavan family who are friends of mine. The family have sought every possible assistance to locate Jean. As the Tánaiste knows, I have consistently raised this case with his Department and the Department of Justice. The family appreciate the work of Irish statutory agencies. Despite numerous requests, it took until last Monday to get Jean's name on the missing persons database. The Portuguese police must answer as to why it took so long to have her registered as a missing person on its administrative database. The family have not received replies from Portuguese authorities as to whether they requested Jean's bank account records or whether they sought her Facebook and Instagram social media accounts from Meta as part of their investigations. As we all know, these are important and indeed essential investigative and search tools nowadays. What collaboration has there been between the Portuguese police and Interpol? The Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice and all our relevant statutory agencies must insist that the Portuguese authorities answer these very important questions. What we have witnessed to date is totally unacceptable. This investigation must be absolutely comprehensive and thorough. We want to see Jean back with her loving family, who are distraught with the very difficult situation they have been put through over the past three years.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that the circumstances of this case are very difficult and traumatic for the Tighe family. The Deputy has raised this matter with me previously and has been in touch with my officials. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular support to the family. The Embassy of Ireland in Lisbon is engaged with the Portuguese authorities on the case and has raised the family's concerns. The embassy is in ongoing contact with the Garda liaison officer based in Portugal on the case. The family has an appointed family liaison officer in Ireland through An Garda Síochána who assists the family in their contact with the Portuguese police. As with all missing person cases, the responsibility for investigation lies with the relevant policing authority. I am aware of the deep concerns of the family in respect of how the case is being handled. The Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, I acknowledge the Ceann Comhairle's tolerance of me raising again and again numerous issues in the House over the past 12 months, none more so than the intolerable treatment of Irish mothers and their children, and in some cases Irish fathers, who have been subjected to a pseudo-condition or affliction to the effect that they are being deprived of their civil and human rights. In some cases, the extraordinary situation has occurred whereby, even outside this jurisdiction, demands are made of huge amounts of money in order to facilitate what would normally be their rights and entitlements in family law situations. We know that the relevant Minister has changes in hand and this will come about, but there is a situation where decisions have already been made and a means has to be found to address that.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I think I dealt with this case last week when I praised the Deputy's persistence in raising these issues. I cannot interfere with previous court cases, but I know the Minister for Justice is aware of this issue and, as the Deputy said, is looking at how reforms can be introduced.
Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Right now across Ireland, there are 307 medicines in short supply, including tablets people rely on for their blood pressure, cholesterol or mental health and medicines people require to regulate their hormones, their breathing or their insulin. People with medical conditions are facing a record shortage of drugs. That is causing huge anxiety for them, their families and their pharmacists. About 60% of the population will be impacted in some way. This matter has been raised with me by people having trouble accessing medicine, people who are concerned they will not be able to fill prescriptions for their children and by my own local pharmacist. What is the Government doing to bring medicine back into good supply?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There has been a range of issues with some medicines, particularly insulin. The Department of Health has been advised for example, of a shortage of the Fiasp 100 units/ml solution for injection in vial. That is related to diabetes and so on.
In terms of the broader picture, there are global supply chain issues. We have a fairly sophisticated system in Ireland. There have been some issues post Brexit in respect of medicine supplies. The Deputy can rest assured that the Government, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, and others are doing everything they possibly can in respect of shortages. The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages on its website with the details, including the information people require. The medicine shortages framework operated by the HPRA on behalf of the Department of Health aims to prevent, where possible, and mitigate the impact of medicine shortages. The framework allows for a multi-stakeholder response to shortages co-ordinated by the HPRA in close co-operation with the Department, the HSE, the industry and patient representatives. Based on an analysis of data reported by the pharmaceutical industry over several years, the reasons for shortages vary but are primarily due to manufacturing issues. Shortages of medicines are also not unique to Ireland. There is no evidence that shortages disproportionately impact patients in Ireland compared to other countries. We will keep the matter under review.
Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We have seen athletes from the North of Ireland represent Ireland with great pride and passion at every Olympic Games. However, few would know that with regard to sportspeople engaged in athletics - I am talking about running, jumping, throwing and walking - those from the North who have flown the flag for Ireland at the Olympics are barred from representing Ireland at European and world athletic competitions due to a 1938 ruling. That means that people from Cullaville, Drumintee or Newry, only a couple of miles from my house, would not be able to compete for and represent Ireland, particularly runners and others. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, fully support the scrapping of this 1938 rule. This is an issue that Friends of Irish Athletics has been campaigning on for many years. What has the Government done to deliver this important rule change and what will it do to ensure a derogation for the island of Ireland is achieved in order to ensure a quality of participation for all-Ireland athletics?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has clearly been in touch with the Minister and the Minister of State, so he must be aware of their position on this.
Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is about how we move it on.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He can rest assured that we will do whatever we can to progress this. There are obviously wider issues at play. It is not a simple of issue of us unilaterally doing something and bringing effect to this. I will follow up with the Minister and the Minister of State.
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste will know that on retirement, people can now look forward to 20 years of further life. That is five times what our parents could look forward to. It is one of the great success stories.
However, Covid exposed serious weaknesses in how we think about ageing and the supports we put in place. Recently there have been some appalling cases of vulnerable people not being adequately safeguarded. The number of cases of abuse being reported is about 12,000. Many believe the number is 20 times that in reality.
Will we be able to deliver the commission on care and support for older people that is referred to in the programme for Government this year, which will be ten years after the original national positive ageing programme? Will we see a national safeguarding authority developed because our current approach is piecemeal in nature? Can we look forward to the statutory home care scheme? These are really important pillars for the future of positive ageing.
1:10 pm
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is quite right. We have an ageing population. More than 775,000 people are aged over 65. We must also recognise that, as indicated by the World Health Organization, we have highest life expectancy in the EU at 82.5 years. Every day of the week, we provide myriad supports to older people, such as home care, day care and meals on wheels. A total of 330 day care centres have reopened, 46 dementia-specific day services have also reopened and 56,000 people receive home care every day.
I met with Safeguarding Ireland yesterday. We are moving ahead and will be going ahead to open consultation regarding the issue of safeguarding in September. The Law Reform Commission of Ireland is carrying out work for us on that matter at the moment. We are also moving forward with the commission on care. It will not be completed by the end of this year because there is a major amount of work involved. It will probably take up to two years, and we will do it over several modules. We are moving ahead in the context of statutory home care.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I was told previously that the North-South rail strategy was to be published this month in draft form and out for environmental assessment and public comment. A number of us sought a meeting with the Minister for Transport regarding the western rail corridor some time ago because, as the Tánaiste knows, there are significant deficits in infrastructure in the west of Ireland. We never got that meeting. Can the Tánaiste confirm that the rail strategy will be published this month and that we will have some idea of what is in it and an opportunity to comment on it before it is finalised?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the joint North-South rail strategy between the then Northern Ireland Executive and the Government in respect of the all-island rail strategy, I understand the Minister is working towards publishing that notwithstanding the fact that the Executive has not been restored. I would like to consult with the Minister before giving the Deputy a definitive confirmation as to whether it will be published this month.
I am very conscious of the Deputy's commitment to the western rail corridor and have communicated that to the Minister, along with the concerns of other Deputies who are very anxious that this would get the green light. My understanding is that the Minister is well disposed to this. I will pursue both issues on the Deputy's behalf.
Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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Sophie Toscan du Plantier was brutally murdered outside her home in Kealfadda in Goleen - in the parish in which I live - on 23 December 1996. Twenty-seven years on, her death continues to enthrall the world but remains a blight on our island. Sophie's father is now 97 and her mother is 92. They and Sophie's son Pierre Louis want justice immediately in this case in Ireland. The French courts convicted a murderer in absentia. On 29 June 2022, An Garda Síochána announced what it called a cold case review. In the month of Sophie's birthday, can the Government intervene with An Garda Síochána to speed up this review and bring the murderer, who is out there at large, to justice in this country and bring this sad tragic case to an end?
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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The Tánaiste is a proponent of the nature restoration law. I have reservations regarding who will pay for the measures that will inevitably be necessary. I will give two examples. The first relates to agriculture. It is essential to pay farmers properly for their produce if you want them to produce to high environmental standards. I proposed looking at the cost of production and determining the minimum cost of production as part of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said we could not do that because we export to Great Britain. A gap of 60 cent per kilogram has opened between what farmers in Great Britain are paid and what farmers here are paid, even though the majority of our beef goes into that market. If the Government is not going to support farmers for what they are not going to be able to produce as a result of increased environmental standards, will the Government at least make sure they are adequately paid for what they are producing?
There is a marine component to the nature restoration law that is extremely important. If they are lucky enough, families from all over Ireland will be going on holiday and the really lucky ones will get to go to places like Spanish Point and Carrigaholt. However, there are a number of communities that lack sewerage infrastructure that are located beside special areas of conservation, SACs. The local authority has no responsibility and Irish Water is not interested, so there is no sewerage system in Carrigaholt or Spanish Point, which are situated next to SACs. These are communities that want and need to develop. What is the State going to do in the context of putting sewerage systems in place?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the question from Deputy Michael Collins, I have always said that the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is a stain on Irish society, as is the fact that there has not been a resolution of the case.. Our thoughts are with the du Plantier family, particularly in view of the trauma they continue to go through as a result of the unresolved nature of this case. However, the Government cannot intervene with An Garda Síochána with regard to the cold case review that is under way. It would be inappropriate for the Government to ever involve itself in any crime investigation. This is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and that has to be the position.
I am a bit confused by Deputy McNamara's contribution. We are satisfied that the nature restoration law can be done out to 2030 and 2040 utilising State-owned land in terms of restoring nature. It needs to be restored on land, in the marine environment and in urban areas. Everybody talks about rural areas but nature must also be restored in urban areas.. That is why I said State agencies, Bus Connects and the NTA cannot state that they are going to take a slice of an amenity or a public park and use it for a transport corridor. They cannot do this so we need a change of mindset. We need to restore biodiversity. We are losing it too rapidly. One part of carbon tax revenue goes towards funding farmers who are improving environmental standards. I would envisage that in the future we should pay farmers as guardians of our biodiversity and our landscape. We already do this in the context of some schemes, but we need to expand it and provide alternatives that would facilitate native woodlands being brought back. It can be done. A new ombudsman will be appointed as a result of legislation brought in by the Government and championed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will look at pricing issues and transparency. This legislation will provide far greater price transparency in terms of products.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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What about coastal communities without sewers?
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I believe in connecting sewers as much as we can. Irish Water is doing that across the board but there are limitations in terms of what can be done in any one year.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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It has been a century since the State was founded.