Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [25446/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context

2. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [25449/24]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [26970/24]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

4. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [26985/24]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

5. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [27027/24]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination will next meet. [28139/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination generally meets in advance of Government meetings and its next meeting is scheduled for 8 July 2024. I am a member of the committee, with the Tánaiste and the leader of the Green Party. The Secretary General to the Government, my chiefs of staff and chiefs of staff for the Tánaiste and the leader of the Green Party also sit in on meetings. The committee reviews the agenda of Government meetings, discusses political priorities and reviews the activity of Cabinet committees.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Each Deputy has one minute and a half each to make their contributions, beginning with Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I raise an issue with the Taoiseach about which he has received correspondence from the alliance supporting nursing homes. It wrote to the Taoiseach on 21 June 2024 regarding the national vetting service which, I believe, crosses Departments. I imagine that as it is dealt with under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, it has implications across Government with regard to the vetting of people who work with children and vulnerable persons.

The issue raised by the alliance with the Taoiseach in the letter - it has not received anything but the briefest of acknowledgement - is the fact that its organisation, which represents smaller family-run and independent nursing homes, are required to vet their staff. Under the legislation, once one is deemed to be an "relevant organisation" which works in that area, one should receive access to a portal for the National Vetting Bureau where one vets one's staff. It appears that this organisation, the alliance, is being denied that right because it is being monopolised by Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents bigger, sometimes international, operations in the nursing homes sector that receive the vetting from the National Vetting Bureau for nothing, as it is done with public money. Nursing Homes Ireland is charging its members €10 per vetting of people and charging €25 to people who are not members of its organisation. In other words, this organisation is making money out of a publicly-provided vetting service and is excluding others from being able to get the vetting which they should be able to get under the legislation. The alliance describes this as a scandal and as profiteering off the back of public money. They want to know why this is happening because they say that it flies in the face of the legislation. I ask the Taoiseach, therefore, to get back to this organisation.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I remind Deputies that we have seven more contributors with speaking time of one minute and a half each. I call Deputy Paul Murphy to speak now, please.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I want to show the Taoiseach some pictures and I can send them to him. I have a picture here of a series of staples and nails and similarly in this photograph. This is meant to be a picture of the cremated remains of an individual, a guy called Johnny Fox. There are quite a number of staples, nails and screws in his cremated remains. Johnny Fox was the first coach of Rhasidat Adeleke, was the founder of Darkness into Light and he died in April. When his family opened his urn to spread the ashes, they discovered this series of staples and nails in his remains. It was obviously extremely upsetting. I was in touch with his son, Seán, who has said that he cannot grieve because of his trying to get to the bottom of how this could have happened and of how disrespectful it was to their father.

Thus far, the only response they have received from the Dublin Cemeteries Trust is an instruction to waive the cremation costs for the family, which really is not good enough. The family want to get to the bottom of how this could have possibly happened and to ensure that it is not happening to any other family. There does not appear to be any independent regulator to ensure that cremations are being carried out properly and that external items are not remaining in people's urns. The family is also hoping to have a meeting with the Taoiseach, if possible.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

After a revolt by disabled people forced the Government to scrap the hated Green Paper, the Taoiseach pledged to meet disabled persons organisations to discuss an alternative.

On 8 May, the Taoiseach told me that, as Taoiseach, he intended to meet directly with disability groups and that he would be issuing invitations to engage more substantially with them. Having waited six weeks from the time of that commitment, 11 disabled persons organisations wrote to the Taoiseach about this on 18 June. Two weeks on, they have yet to receive a single reply and not even an acknowledgement. Cír Doyle of Neuro Pride Ireland told me that they feel that to be both insulting and disrespectful. I acknowledge that the Taoiseach has met Inclusion Ireland but I am talking about disabled persons organisations here. They want to know what is the story, why the delay and when will he meet them.

I also want to remind the Taoiseach of the situation at St. Killian’s Special School, Mayfield, Cork. Children here continue go without proper assistance from any team of therapists. The school has sourced a team of suitable therapists but the State continues to fail to deliver on the promise of funding to put such an arrangement in place. When will the Taoiseach get this issue sorted?

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is an urgent need for co-ordination on school transport. It is particularly sparse in rural areas and is very limited. A group of parents got together in my constituency to campaign for the introduction of a bus between Bantry and Schull Community College and there are about 35 pupils who need it. Bus Éireann has told me that the children are already covered under the concessionary scheme but there is no direct bus from Bantry to Schull for them to pay a concessionary fare on top of that. There is a clear level of demand there. Great work in recent years has been done on local links and that approach needs to be taken with regard to school buses. I ask for the provision of a school bus service between Bantry and Schull to be considered.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Today, a Canadian tourist who was attacked on O'Connell Street last week has died in hospital. Neno Dolmajian from Montreal was 41 years old. It is a very sad, tragic and heartbreaking occasion for his family and friends and our deepest sympathies go out to his family. It points to a very serious issue that the main street of our capital city is a dangerous and violent place on a regular basis for many people. It is not just the main street of our capital city but people do not feel safe in towns and villages across the country. It is not happening by accident. It is happening because we have the lowest number of gardaí per capita for the past six years, because our prisons are so full that the Minister for Justice has to choose prisoners for early release to make way for new prisoners and because an enormous number of unduly lenient prison sentences are being given at present. It is also because we still have Garda recruitment on the floor with gardaí still being attacked on a daily basis. We also have gardaí leaving because of retirement and they are resigning in larger numbers. I do not believe that this Government has got to the bottom of ensuring that we have a Garda force that is strong enough to be able to keep our towns, cities and the main street of our capital safe.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not know whether the issue of support for Mrs. von der Leyen to have another term of office leading the European Commission came up at the Taoiseach's Cabinet committee on Government co-ordination. The Taoiseach might advise us whether it did. I find it absolutely extraordinary that a Government that professes to be serious about Palestinian rights would weigh in behind von der Leyen for a second term. His explanation earlier notwithstanding, it is scandalous and certainly does not represent the sentiment of Irish people, or people internationally for that matter, who increasingly recognise that Israeli impunity must end, that Israel must be held to account and that leaders who are absolutely determined and serious on that point are needed. I ask him to clarify to the House whether he has raised the issue of Israel with von der Leyen. Has he raised that subject? Has he confronted her outrageous behaviour in standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel and with a deranged Israeli Government that is hell bent on the destruction of Palestinian lives? Can he give us that clarity? Did he have that conversation and what was the nature of that conversation? What did the Taoiseach say to her and how did she respond?

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to raise the issue of the co-ordination of Ukrainian refugees in County Clare. For the last 18 months, 21 refugees have been located in Loop Head. Loop Head, by the admission of Clare County Council, is a community in terminal population decline. It has seen 21 individuals being integrated into that very peripheral community, six of whom are children in school and four are pensioners. There are 11 others, of whom two have work. Others are studying English lessons in Kilrush. All involved are deeply upset by the letter of notice they received. The owner of the bed and breakfast accommodation has invested a huge amount of money to ensure the building is compliant. We have also seen the same situation unfold in Shannon. The key criticisms are the communication methods, the lack of notice and the information as to where they are being relocated. There is another point, in that they are being relocated into communities such as Lisdoonvarna in north Clare, which has already seen its population increase exponentially; it has tripled in the past 18 months. There are concerns coming from north Clare but then there are also concerns coming from Loop Head. Loop Head wants to keep these people there. They have been a huge positive attribute to the community, which has seen a lot of funding coming their way.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am going to bring up my yearly issue of the brown water in Dundalk. It is not the first time I have brought it up with the Taoiseach. It is a particular issue of increased manganese in the water supply reacting with chlorine, which leads to the water being incredibly brown. It also means this impacts on any repairs that get fixed or any flushing teams operating in other areas. Following my own interaction with the Taoiseach, I had a decent enough interaction with Irish Water at a high enough level. I have been informed there is a pilot scheme currently going into place at Cavanhill treatment plant to remove the manganese. If this pilot scheme works - and we will know by the end of the summer if it does - all works can then be completed by 2026. If it does not work, there is definitely a workable solution but that will take until 2028 to be completed. I wish to make sure that the Government will provide the resources to ensure we get this done as quickly as possible. This has been an ongoing issue and it is not good enough for the people of Dundalk. While there may be other issues around water pressure and old infrastructure, this is a vital issue which needs to be dealt with. I welcome the works that have been done. We just need to make sure the resources are there to make sure it happens as quickly as possible.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will give the Taoiseach a considerable amount of time to answer all of those questions.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will do my very best. It seems the question about when the Government co-ordination committee meets is just a jumping-off point. I will do my best to answer a variety of important questions.

First, as to Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, I will certainly ensure there is a response issued to that organisation which has written to me on behalf of family-owned nursing homes around the national vetting scheme, the portal and a number of other issues it raised. We have obviously acknowledged it. It is out for views on it to relevant Departments and I will get back to that organisation. I thank it for its correspondence.

As for Deputy Murphy's question, I can only sympathise with the family and friends of Johnny Fox. I can only imagine how proud he must have been of Rhasidat Adeleke, who is doing our country so incredibly proud. We are all excited to see what she is going to do in Paris. The Deputy has just outlined an incredibly traumatic situation to the Dáil. It is one on which I am not suitably qualified to comment right now but I will see what advice I can give to the family via the Deputy in this regard. I can only imagine how absolutely upsetting it must have been. I will make some inquiries and revert to the Deputy.

I say to Deputy Barry that I am absolutely determined to meet disability organisations. I have, as the Deputy acknowledged in his own statement, begun those meetings with a variety of representative groups. I am very happy to engage with the 11 organisation which have written to me. While I do not say this rudely, two weeks is not an unreasonable time for me to be able to get back to people, schedule things and the like. I absolutely intend to meet them. Indeed, I will be chairing a Cabinet committee on disability again this Thursday. I am eager to continue to meet organisations and I will do that. I will also follow up for the Deputy in relation to St. Killian's Special School, Mayfield, County Cork, on the issue he raised about therapy supports, the progress the school has made and the frustration it is finding in getting that loop closed.

I thank Deputy Cairns for her fair point about the need for a co-ordinated approach across Government on the issue of school transport. The Deputy rightly mentioned the progress that can be made with Local Link. It is even more frustrating for parents and school communities when they see how certain things can be done outside the school transport system. While I could point to the big reform planned on school transport, some of which is starting on a pilot basis this September, the Deputy has raised a particular issue of school transport from Bantry to Schull Community College. I will specifically raise this issue with both Bus Éireann and the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and ask they come back to Deputy Cairns on the matter.

I join with Deputy Tóibín in expressing my absolute sympathy to the family and friends of the Canadian tourist who has just passed. I obviously have been in the Dáil since that news broke. It is a heartbreaking situation. Out of respect to the family, I do not wish to conflate it with broader issues around safety and Garda numbers, but I can, of course, point to progress we are making on Garda recruitment and training. However, for the here and now, that is an extraordinarily devastating situation for the family affected.

As for Deputy McDonald's question, while I am not sure if the issue was raised at the co-ordination meeting, I have of course spoken to my coalition colleagues in relation to President von der Leyen. The Deputy and I have a different view on this, clearly. I respect that fact. I point out to Deputy McDonald that at the European Council, people across the political spectrum, including socialist prime ministers and presidents, backed the re-nomination of President von der Leyen. She was also the lead candidate for a political grouping in the European election that won the most seats in the European Parliament. It is important there is correlation between the votes of people.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Did the Taoiseach raise the issue of Israel with her?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I did.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What did she say?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I raised the Middle East on a number of occasions with President von der Leyen. I spoke to her again over the weekend specifically on funding for the Palestinian Authority. Fundamentally, President Von der Leyen's view gets misrepresented. She is in favour of an immediate ceasefire, she has increased humanitarian aid, she believes in a two-state solution, she believes-----

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Her position has been made pretty clear.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not agree with the position of the European institutions on the association agreement because it needs to be reviewed. That requires the courage of European prime ministers and presidents to join with me and the Spanish Prime Minister in making that call.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It also requires a change of leadership in the European Commission.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I respectfully disagree with Deputy McDonald on that. I will continue my work in speaking up for the Palestinian people. They, their President and their ambassador to Ireland know that.

Deputy Wynne raised the Ukrainian refugee situation at Loop Head and the relocation of those refugees. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to come back to the Deputy on this issue. The Deputy has specifically outlined a number of challenges in County Clare that deserve consideration from the Department.

As to the brown water issue in Dundalk, which Deputy Ó Murchú has raised with me on a number of occasions, I am pleased the meeting with Irish Water went well. I will certainly work with him as Head of Government to make sure any resources required are in place.