Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call the Government Chief Whip to move the proposal for this week's business, in accordance with Standing Order 35.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Appointment of Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (without debate)

- Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (without debate)

- Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)

- Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Second Stage) (to conclude after first round and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Spending of Public Funds by Government, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 1 hr and 57 mins and any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)

- Motion re Opt-in to legislative proposal on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement (to conclude within 57 minutes)

- Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to commence no earlier than 4 p.m. and to conclude within 60 minutes)

- Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 60 minutes)

- Planning and Development Bill 2023 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 3 hours)

- Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Report and Final Stages) (to adjourn either at 11 p.m. or after 1 hour, whichever is the later)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024, selected by the Rural Independent Group.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (back from Committee, without debate)

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (to conclude within 1 hr 52 mins)

- Statements to mark World Mental Health Day: Making Mental Health a Priority for Everyone (not to exceed 2 hrs 27 mins)

Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Report entitled “Report on Energy Poverty 2024”.

Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business:

In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) shall not be taken, with consequential effect of the commencement time of Government business; and

(ii) the time allotted to Government business shall be in accordance with the arrangements for Second Stage of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, private members’ business, Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and topical issues;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Appointment of Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 shall be taken without debate;

4. the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate; and

5. the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the proceedings on Second Stage of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024:

(i) on the conclusion of the first speaking round in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for Second Stage and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, providing for two minutes for non-aligned members, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply, which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and

(ii) any division claimed on the proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill on Wednesday.

In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time which may be taken later than 8.45 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024, or where those proceedings conclude within the allocated time, on the conclusion thereof; and

(ii) oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) shall not be taken, and the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) shall take place at the time when oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business;

2. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 170(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and 2 minutes;

3. in relation to proceedings on Second Stage of the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024, the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the first speaking round shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by— (a) the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for Second Stage, save that the times shall be halved in each case, and

(b) the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, in relation to 2 minutes for non-aligned members; and (ii) on the conclusion of the first speaking round, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply, which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion: Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage of the Bill on Wednesday;

4. the proceedings on the Motion re Opt-in to legislative proposal on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 57 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(i) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:- - opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State - 10 minutes;

- speech by representative of Sinn Féin - 10 minutes;

- speeches by representatives of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People-Before-Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Independent Group - 5 minutes per party or group;

- speeches by non-aligned members – 2 minutes; and

- a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and (ii) members may share time;

5. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024 shall be taken no earlier than 4 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after one hour by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications;

6. the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after one hour by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage;

7. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Planning and Development Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after three hours and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and

8. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 11.00 p.m. or after 1 hour, whichever is the later.

In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(i) topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 37 may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of Government business; and

(ii) the proceedings on the Motion re Report entitled “Report on Energy Poverty 2024” may be taken earlier than 8.12 p.m., and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of topical issues, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hours and 52 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(i) the arrangements for the speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 1 hour and 40 minutes, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, providing for two minutes for non-aligned members;

(ii) following the speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(iii) members may share time; and

4. the Statements to mark World Mental Health Day: Making Mental Health a Priority for Everyone shall commence no earlier than 2.30 p.m. and shall not exceed 2 hours and 27 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(i) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023, providing for two minutes for non-aligned members;

(ii) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(iii) members may share time.

A Cheann Comhairle, considering the issue of child abuse committed by a member of Sinn Féin, the furnishing of character references for that person by Sinn Féin staff, and the Sinn Féin leadership team's continued involvement with that person, it would be only right that we would convene a meeting of the Business Committee with immediate effect to organise statements in the Dáil.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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You are playing politics now.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What is the Minister of State proposing at this point? Is she proposing that we suspend the House?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What about the rest of the Order of Business?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose that the Business Committee meet to discuss the timings around statements on this very important issue.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, but I presume we will do that in the course of the day. You are not proposing-----

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I can come back to do that. If the Business Committee wants to meet and agree a time, I can come back in and propose a motion.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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But what about the rest of the Order of Business?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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What about-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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You only want to play politics.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Stop, please, Deputy.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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We can proceed with-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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It is obvious.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please, Deputy.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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-----the rest of the order, as scheduled.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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She is amending the business of the day.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please let me clarify with the Government Chief Whip.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Thank you.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are you proposing that we suspend pending-----

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I want to move the schedule as agreed at the Business Committee, but I think it would be important that the Business Committee would meet to discuss this important issue of statements.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Wait now. Do not all start at the one time. To be clear, the Chief Whip is proposing the Order of Business as originally put to us but she wants-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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To change it.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----the Business Committee to meet to amend it.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Okay.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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She wants to have her cake and eat it.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The proposal is perfectly reasonable.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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A Cheann Comhairle-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will take Sinn Féin, please. I will take everybody in order.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Well, am I speaking to the Order of Business or-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Order of Business, yes.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Thank you. First of all, if you will indulge me, a Cheann Comhairle, if the Government wants to schedule statements on the important issues of child protection and safeguarding, that is in its gift. I want to be clear that, for our part, these unauthorised references to which the Minister of State has referred were unacceptable and reprehensible.

Action has been taken. The two individuals concerned have lost their jobs and are no longer members of Sinn Féin, and that is as it should be. We take these matters very, very seriously indeed. I have taken swift action by way of response. In the course of our statements, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the parties of Government will have to also make clear what sanctions they have adopted in cases in which very senior members of their parties have written character references for convicted rapists and child abusers.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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References enabled further access to children.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I will be interested to hear what action you took. I am sure the parties will avail of that opportunity.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Those references enabled access for a paedophile to children in sight of Deputy McDonald's leadership.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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We will wait to see what the Government will do on that. Transparency goes both ways, ladies and gentlemen.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Do not try to bully us on this.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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On the Order of Business, I wish to raise the issue of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and events as they have unfolded in Lebanon. We are now one year into this absolute catastrophe. Hell still reigns down on innocent civilian and refugee populations. We are now in a situation in which our own peacekeepers are really in the way of danger. The Taoiseach has left the Chamber. He will meet with President Biden in Washington. I can only hope he will say to him directly that the United States must stop arming and funding Israel's war machine-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are out of time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----as we witness an ongoing genocide. He is not here to answer that.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are out of time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I put it to the Chief Whip and the Government that we need time to discuss what is happening in the Middle East, not least the situation of our own peacekeepers.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I want to cut across this to-and-fro on this, remembering that there are child victims when we discuss child protection issues and serious matters which have arisen in respect of Sinn Féin's handling of offences of child sex abuse by an employee. I propose to the House that we make time available this week for statements on child protection issues. We should simply vote, or indeed agree by consensus, to make time available this week to hear statements on child protection and the procedures within political parties for managing child protection issues.

Last week, I put to the Taoiseach a Bill that we in the Labour Party have drafted to make unincorporated associations accountable for paying redress where abuse has been committed by members or by those under the power of those organisations. That Bill would apply not only to religious orders, but also to political parties. It is important we debate how best we can ensure accountability and appropriate responses within our parties where instances occur.

As my colleague, Deputy Nash, has said, this is not the first time we have seen concerns about the main Opposition party in particular. Former Labour Party Senator, Máiría Cahill, has been very courageous in disclosing what happened in her case. We can cut across matters. While I hear what the Chief Whip has said, we should now agree in this House, perhaps without a vote, to take those statements this week.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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As we speak, I am conscious there are more than 30 Irish peacekeepers in an outpost in southern Lebanon who have placed themselves in harm’s way in the name of peace. We were all fairly stunned and watched in horror at the images that came through in recent days of a Merkava Mark IV tank lying right outside their base. That particular tank could not operate without the American-made engine which sits within it. Today, the Taoiseach is going off to meet Joe Biden. It would have been appropriate for the Taoiseach to give an update to the House on the statements he intends to make to President Biden as he sits in front of him. It is an opportunity to remind him of the United States' obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in upholding UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to draw a line very clearly that any infringement on our peacekeepers will not be tolerated. We have a responsibility in this regard. The Taoiseach cannot go to Washington and be meek. He needs to be assertive and he needs to bring back a commitment-----

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Gannon could have raised this issue during Leaders' Questions. He had a slot with the Taoiseach and he did not ask him to answer those questions.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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What is Deputy Farrell talking about?

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Gannon knows the Taoiseach is not going to be here to answer those questions.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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Does Deputy Farrell not think this is an important issue? The Taoiseach walked out of the room.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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No, he did not.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Gannon could have asked him about this issue during Leaders' Questions.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to wait, please. Can we have order, please?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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We have a new Taoiseach.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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This is pointless grandstanding.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Let Deputy O'Callaghan finish, please.

Deputies:

It is Deputy Gannon.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I find it very disheartening that the Fine Gael TD does not believe it is important or that peacekeepers deserve appropriate time-----

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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It has nothing to do with the issue; it has to do with the Deputy's timing. The Deputy had loads of time to deal with it.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Come on. We are not turning this into a free-for-all.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is just grandstanding now.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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It is important and I would like to see a statement on the matter.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am very happy to support the call for statements on child protection. They should take place this week. It is a serious issue. However, we have asked for some time for the Government to allow for a discussion and questions to the Minister on the use of Shannon by the US military and the use of Irish airspace for the transport of weapons from the US to Israel to kill children in Gaza and Lebanon, as Israel has been doing in Gaza for a year and is doing in Lebanon now, and also on the fact that Israel is now using Irish troops and other peacekeeping troops as human shields, deliberately trying to bring attacks on Irish troops. We need a serious discussion about that. It is shameful that the Taoiseach is going to the US essentially to celebrate the Biden presidency when it is US weapons that have killed those children in Gaza, are killing children in Lebanon and are being fired in Lebanon to try to draw fire onto Irish troops, endangering their lives. The Taoiseach and other members of the Government should be here explaining why we are still enabling the US military which is doing that, or why weapons go through Irish airspace to commit those crimes.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Of course we in the Rural Independents agree with the request for time to debate offences against children and the whole issue in this regard, but there are many issues that we want to discuss here that the Government will not discuss. The Chief Whip could have had an incorporeal meeting of the Business Committee before sabotaging our business here today. She did not even move the Order of Business until the Ceann Comhairle reminded her of the business of the Government. That is the fact of it. Of course we want the debate but we want Tusla to be included in it and the pernicious and vicious way it is treating families and the missing children from State care. Will they be included at all? Is this all a political game to attack Sinn Féin? That is what it seems to be. There are children missing from State care, and Tusla is out of order and behaving illegally up and down the country daily, terrorising mothers and parents. It is shameful. I want that included in the debate as well.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I fully support the call for a debate on the situation in Lebanon and Gaza. That is vital. Also, we should ask the Government to withdraw the Planning and Development Bill. Six-hundred and twenty seven amendments have come back from the Seanad but it is proposed to have only three hours of debate tomorrow. It is ridiculous to allow such a big Bill to go through in that way. If the Government is looking for time for the motion being talked about, the Planning and Development Bill could be removed from the schedule. That would provide the time for the other debates as well.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Hear, hear.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The schedule has been set for the week, but if there is agreement in the House, time could potentially be found to discuss child safety and ensure every party has an opportunity to set out its procedures to ensure it. Child safety is paramount, whether it is in a political party or another type of organisation.

The safety of the troops in Lebanon is paramount. There is daily engagement between the Tánaiste and representatives of UNIFIL and others who are assessing the situation daily. On the question Deputy Boyd Barrett raised, I am happy to speak with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, to see whether statements can be facilitated at a later stage. However, I understand there is a lot of legislation to pass this week, and the schedule as set is what has been agreed to date.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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What about Tusla?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are the proposed arrangements for this week’s business agreed to?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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No.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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Not agreed.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The trolley crisis has become an all-year scandal on the watch of this Government. A total of 98 patients were counted by nurses on trolleys and chairs at Cork University Hospital this morning, many of them elderly and quite unwell. This is a record, according to the INMO. A total of 118 were counted at University Hospital Limerick, which continues to be a disaster zone. In the five budgets under this Government, it has failed to tackle overcrowding in our hospitals. Níl an Rialtas tar éis aon dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sna cáinaisnéisí atá caite. Tá trí rud de dhíth ar an Rialtas. The Government needs to task HIQA with choosing a suitable location for the second emergency department in the mid-west, fast-track additional bed capacity for hospitals like Limerick and Cork and support GPs and community healthcare to take pressure off our acute hospitals. Does the Minister accept this is an emergency? Will the Government treat it as an emergency that we are facing this situation so early in this season?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A record amount of funding is going into health, which means we are making progress in reducing the number of patients on trolleys nationwide. The Minister for Health chairs monthly meetings with senior HSE figures to drive improved performance. There has been a significant reduction in the cumulative daily 8 a.m. trolley count over the first eight months of 2024, with numbers down 11% to over 9,000 when compared with the same period. This has been achieved despite an increase in the number of patients presenting to emergency departments, with comparative analysis for January to August 2024 compared with the same period showing an increase of 9% in overall attendance. Far fewer older patients experienced long waiting lists in emergency departments this year, with the number of patients aged 75 or over waiting more than 24 hours falling by 13%. The Minister is doing everything he can to continue to reduce those numbers but overall we are making progress and want to do more.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Tomorrow the Government will guillotine through the Planning and Development Bill even though it is one of the most important Bills this Dáil will consider because planning will determine our capacity to resolve the housing crisis, the energy crisis and, indeed, transport infrastructure. Ironically, under our planning laws, if a council or local authority made a decision the way the Dáil will make its decisions on the Planning and Development Bill, the decision would be quashed. We have real concerns about the Bill concentrating power in the hands of the Minister. We know Seanad amendments will now introduce a class of strategic infrastructure to be exempt from normal protocols. These strategic infrastructure projects include liquified natural gas, LNG - a deeply harmful fossil fuel. As Sinéad Mercier and Amy Strecker pointed out in The Irish Times yesterday, LNG infrastructure can hardly be considered strategic in a climate crisis. Although we have such a short time for debate tomorrow, will the Government at least enable all the LNG amendments to be debated so that we will have the opportunity to consider them in this House?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We must appreciate that this Bill has had over 170 hours of debate, which is more than I have seen for any Bill during my time in this House. Deputies and Senators have had the opportunity to raise all of these matters on various Stages. The most important thing I hear from constituents, developers and those working in this sector is they need many of these amendments and this legislation to be able to build more homes for people to be able to move into. Be it building social, private or affordable homes or addressing the long delays in our planning system, this Bill will assist in dealing with many of the challenges people face. The time that has been given is the time that has been given. A total of 170 hours have already been spent on the Bill. We need to move on and enact it and get more houses built.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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None of us need a reminder about the destruction caused by the economic crash, out of which Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide were combined to form IBRC and NAMA was formed to deal with the loans of the pillar banks. IBRC was the biggest liquidation in the history of the State. Both organisations dealt with very high-profile cases and individuals. I recently attended a meeting of the finance committee, which is carrying out pre-legislative scrutiny of legislation providing for the wind-up of both IBRC and NAMA. My expectation was that some of the records would eventually make their way to the National Archives.

I asked questions about that. I expected that journalists and academics in the future would be able to access these primary sources and the history of both organisations would be written in time. After all, people paid a very heavy price for this. The response to my questions was that none of the records would make their way to the National Archives and they would all be destroyed. There would be no trace left of this trail of destruction. What does the Minister think should happen to those records? Should they make their way to the National Archives?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is extremely important we learn from the mistakes of the past and that we learn from the past, whether it is the banking crisis or any other issue. There are times when certain information cannot be put in the public domain, and while I am not clear why that decision has been taken, I have no doubt the Minister can explain or provide information on why those decisions have been taken. We should learn from the mistakes of the past but sometimes it is not possible to provide certain information or certain details.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Government is deceiving the public about the reference to addressing the crises in our health service. It claimed there was no recruitment embargo. Last week, health workers from all health unions were protesting about the pay and numbers strategy, an effective embargo which means we have unsafe staffing levels in our hospitals. In my own area, we had a meeting with many workers and other people from St. Michael’s Hospital, Loughlinstown hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital, all citing chronic understaffing and the inability of those hospitals to recruit people for vital posts in community and hospital care because of the pay and numbers embargo being imposed by the Government. Is the Government going to scrap this effective recruitment embargo? Will it bring in the patient safety licensing Bill to ensure proper safe staffing levels in our health system, something this Government promised it would introduce in 2018 but has refused to do?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We have provided significant investment since 2020, with more than €56 million allocated specifically to the HSE for the implementation of the safe nurse staffing framework. This is on a phased basis nationally. Our health service has been funded again this year to expand its overall numbers but also to do so next year. However, it is important the HSE operates within its budget levels. We all have to within our Departments. Whether it is justice, housing or health, we all have to work within those budgets.

That said, there is unprecedented levels of investment going into our health service. As of August 2024, there were 27,900 more staff working in our health service than at the beginning of 2020. That is a 23% increase, including 9,300 nurses and midwives, in excess of 4,000 health and social care professionals, and more than 3,300 doctors. The Ministers for Health and public expenditure again agreed a record budget this year which will allow again for the recruitment of further staff. While we all want to do more, we must work within our budgets. We have seen an unprecedented increase in staffing across the health sector.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I raise the issue of housing aid for older people and the mobility and housing adaption grants. I welcome the announcement by the Ministers that they will increase the income thresholds and the level of funding available to local authorities to provide additional money for the works that need to be carried out. The grants will increase by 30% and I believe the income threshold will increase by 25%. It is something I have been advocating for. My only problem with it is the announcement was made and will be implemented some time in quarter 1 of next year. In the meantime, people are coming to me who have made applications and who are wondering if they will qualify for the higher grants or if they will be assessed under the older grants. If someone has put in an application which has not been dealt with and the new grants are brought in, under which regime will they be assessed? Will the Minister consider bringing the whole thing forward so that anyone applying from now on could benefit from this much-needed increase in funding?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I think we all agree how important the adaptation grants are and how beneficial they are to so many people. The increase in thresholds and the changes are to make sure more people can avail of these vital supports. I cannot give the Deputy an answer on his request regarding the timelines but I can raise it directly with the Minister and ask him to get back to the Deputy about it.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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We are all acutely aware of the shortage of GPs in Ireland and especially in rural Ireland, but the shortage of dentists and the few remaining in the medical card scheme is very frightening and scary. In some places, people have to travel three counties to get a dentist under the scheme. Remuneration has not been reorganised or reviewed in four decades. I salute dentists like Daniel O’Connell in Clonmel who have remained in the scheme, but many have chosen not to simply because it is unaffordable. What they get would not even cover the cost of anaesthetic. It is a very specialised area. It is important for everyone’s health but our children especially need treatment at an early age. It is shameful that this has not been looked at in the budget or in any shape, make or form. When will the Government review the stipend paid to dentists under the medical card scheme? It is so overdue and necessary.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I fully agree. It is absolutely essential we have the appropriate number of dentists to be able to provide a vital service to people, children and adults alike. The figures I just mentioned about a 23% increase of staff overall for our health service includes 9,300 nurses and midwives, 4,000 health and social care but also 3,300 doctors and dentists, so funding has been provided to increase the overall numbers. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly on his specific question.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I raise once again the issue of the reinstatement of the 9% VAT rate on the food part of the hospitality sector. I know a decision has been taken in the budget but the finance Bill can still be amended. I am asking the Government to consider this. My own experience in Sligo-Leitrim shows very clearly that small, indigenous Irish-owned cafés and restaurants, many with a local or unique food offering, are the ones most likely to close because of the increased cost of doing business. I am asking if the Government will pause raising the VAT rate for just a year so that the Departments of enterprise and tourism could properly assess the increase in the VAT so that any decision taken would be based on the best possible evidence and deliver the best possible outcome.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I think we all agree and know that so often our small businesses, our coffee shops or cafés, are what makes Ireland a wonderful place to visit but also for people to live. You do not get in many other countries that kind of service or the kinds of cafés and shops we have. This Government is absolutely committed to supporting them and making sure not only that those businesses are sustained but also that they can grow. That is why significant investment is going into those businesses in the budget. Just today, the Cabinet signed off on €170 million to ensure the €4,000 direct payment goes to those businesses. This acknowledges the pressure they are under and the increase in the cost base overall. A body of work is being done to see how we can not only pause some of the areas we were going to progress, acknowledging the impact on those businesses, but also to see if we can do more to support those who work for them. We are acutely conscious of the challenges. I am very aware of many in my constituency as well. I believe the Government is doing everything it can to support them.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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We should spare a thought today for the people of Bantry in west Cork who have once again experienced devastating flooding in their town. The people of Bantry are angry and frustrated. As politicians and, certainly, Ministers, we must get on the ground and see at first hand the damage that has been done, but to be honest, speaking to the locals there, they do not want to see any more ministerial visits or any more politicians calling to their door. What they want to see now is action. After the 2020 event, a flood relief scheme was sanctioned. That is more than four years ago. We need to see that delivered. What is needed is very simple: new, bigger culverts through the town of Bantry. The people of Bantry want to see us cut through the red tape, bureaucracy and paperwork and get this flood relief scheme delivered. Furthermore, any relief funding or support funding for these businesses needs to be easy to access.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In relation to my Department of Social Protection, I brought a memorandum to the Cabinet today to provide supports to householders who have been impacted and who do not have insurance to cover such events. The Minister, Deputy Burke, also brought a memorandum to the Cabinet on supports for businesses. Those are the supports we are putting in place. The Deputy is right that a scheme is in place.

I understand it is quite complicated in Bantry because the water came up from under the ground into the businesses. It was not from another source. Measures are planned but possibly they are being held up by the process or there may be objections to it. I am not sure about that, but I know the Minister of State, Kieran O'Donnell, was on the ground and met with various people.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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I raise the issue of the lack of gardaí in parts of my constituency. Inchicore has been without a community garda for many months. There seem to be internal delays in the Garda in appointing new people who are expressing interest in this. All of this extra funding for gardaí is being made available but my constituents want to know when we will see these gardaí on the streets. The length of time it is taking to appoint a new community garda highlights that there are many things we need to do, apart from the funding. What else will the Government do to ensure there are gardaí on the street to protect people?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy one of my top priorities has been to increase the number of gardaí overall as well as to get our college up and running, having had to close it because of Covid-19 and the health challenges there. To increase numbers and get recruitment back to what it was, I have done a number of things. I have provided significant funding, increased the age at which people can join and doubled the allowance people get when they go into the college. We are making sure we can keep more gardaí until 62, if that is what they choose. As well as that, I have increased funding for staff. Having more staff frees up gardaí to go out on the front line. For the first time in seven years, a recruitment campaign for a new Garda Reserve opened this year and funding has been provided in the budget.

The majority of our new recruits have gone to Dublin. That is not excluding other parts of the country but is an acknowledgement by the Garda Commissioner and the teams that, given the huge population, a huge proportion of gardaí have gone to those areas. It is a matter for the local chief superintendent and the teams as to where they are allocated. The more gardaí we have, the more positions like this can be filled, and that will continue to be a priority.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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It is very frustrating for newly qualified speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who have taken unpaid placements and attended interviews in Athlone at their own expense to still be in limbo, having been offered jobs during the summer but not having had a chance to take them up. A three-card trick has been played by the Government in announcing the embargo has been lifted. It is doubly frustrating for those therapists and for families to see staffing levels in Kerry of 37% for occupational therapists, where staff can barely maintain the service and cannot tackle the waiting list, and 50% for physiotherapists, while in Killarney the acute list has gone from six to 28 weeks, delaying recovery further and keeping beds full. When will the money announced by the Government be apportioned? Will priority be given to areas such as Kerry where the staffing levels are so low?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to begin by saying disabilities never had an embargo on recruiting OTs, physios, speech and language or for any form of therapy. Funding going from the Department to the HSE will be centrally allocated to each of the RHOs, which have sole responsibility for apportioning it according to the needs within their structure. If interviews have been done, I have no doubt the allocation of those jobs is under way as we speak.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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My question is similar. I want to speak about the CDNT in Carlow. Carlow has a population of more than 60,000 but in the CDNT there is one nurse manager, one dietitian, two physiotherapists, two social workers, one nurse, 1.7 SLTs and no occupational therapists. In excess of 100 children in Carlow are awaiting speech and language therapy and 170 waiting for OT. The Minister of State knows early intervention is key. There are also 282 adults who have been waiting for physio over the past year and a half. The HSE tells me it is because of recruitment challenges but that is not acceptable. I have families ringing me every day. It is coming up on the doors every day in Carlow, and then there is the embargo in the HSE. We really are hitting a crisis. What can the Minister of State do for the CDNT in Carlow?

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising a similar issue to the previous contributor. It is important to reiterate there was never an embargo on recruitment in disabilities. In CDNT teams, we have 700 vacant posts which are fully funded and there is a continuous recruitment campaign under way. Regarding adult multidisciplinary teams, we have in the budget, for the first time ever, a pathway to ensuring therapists can be recruited onto such teams. It is a priority.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Recently, we have heard very worrying revelations involving the Sinn Féin Party and its knowledge of serious and disturbing child sexual abuse crimes. We now know this party, which operates across the Border from Dublin, knew somebody under investigation for serious crimes involving children was moved from working for the party to working for a charity where the person had access to children. Does the Minister for Justice agree that the Leader of the Opposition should make a statement in the Dáil regarding her party's record on child protection?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I fully support the Deputy's call for the Leader of the Opposition to make a statement on recent claims concerning individuals in her party, particularly where it has become clear that child safety was not paramount and children were potentially put at further risk because of the actions and decisions of that party. It is essential child safety is to the fore of everything we do. I support the Deputy's calls and the Business Committee may meet later today to perhaps discuss it.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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We have heard questions from previous Deputies on the issue of people with disabilities, and this is related to that. One of the main reasons some of us got involved in politics was to ensure people with disabilities are safer, feel safer and are protected in their everyday environment. For Dublin, that means walking down the street safely. We are in the middle of implementing BusConnects and the Dublin transport plan. For all of that to work, we need safety on our streets. Anything implementable and enforceable and which does not put further pressure on Garda resources must be welcome. Can we get an update on progress in the roll-out of red light traffic cameras across the country? Work has been done in recent months on a review of such cameras for the city.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I will have to come back to the Deputy on that.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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Yesterday marked two years since the Creeslough tragedy that shocked and devastated the community of Creeslough, the entire county of Donegal and the nation. I do not think anyone in the country will forget hearing that day of the tragic event that claimed ten lives and affected the lives of so many in Donegal. Its impact is still felt in Creeslough today. Shockingly, two years on the community is still waiting for answers about what happened to their loved ones. The Minister has said she will meet with the families but that is not enough. These families deserve answers. I call on the Minister to ensure a public inquiry takes place as soon as possible. We cannot leave these people waiting the way we did with the Stardust families. Justice delayed is justice denied. Will the Minister ensure a public inquiry into the deaths of those ten people who died in Creeslough two years ago will take place?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the week that is in it and the time that has passed since that national tragedy. I am clear, as I think we all are, that families must get answers as to what happened to their loved ones and that we must ensure this never happens to any family again. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a Garda investigation under way. I have been assured by the Garda Commissioner that a file will be sent to the DPP. Work is under way through the energy regulator review and through the HSA. It is important this body of work is allowed to be completed and, especially, the Garda file sent before any further decisions are taken. I have said I will meet with the families. I want to listen to them and hear exactly what they have to say, but it is important the work already under way be completed before any further decisions are taken.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Wicklow is synonymous with TV and film production, with Ardmore and Ashford film studios continuing to invest in the county and bring more opportunities. The planned Greystones media campus affords a strategic opportunity to create additional meaningful, well-paid jobs in Wicklow, meet industry demands and help grow the sector.

Both the Government and the taxpayer are stakeholders in this campus. Despite announcements of more than €300 million two years ago, including €24 million of taxpayers' money in investment in the development of the campus and work commencing at that time, work has since ground to a complete standstill. What actions are being taken by the Government to get this project back up and running? The approach being taken currently, a hands-off one, is not working. We need this investment and this project. What is being done?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy rightly pointed out, this is an area we can be rightly proud of given the work and companies that have flourished in recent years. There has been significant investment in our arts sector overall, including our studio and film sector. In this year's budget there was a specific recognition of the work they do, the jobs they create but also what they add to our overall cultural gift, I suppose. On the specific question the Deputy asked about the project, I will have to go to the relevant Minister and ask her to come back to him directly.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The Social Action Group Rathmore day services have been in operation almost 32 years. They have grown and expanded to a state-of-the-art facility and are often referred to as the gold standard for the type of services provided. However, this year and next the services face substantial financial difficulty, with projections of a €62,000 deficit this year and a €68,000 one next year. Furthermore, the services have borne the cost of providing section 39 workers with the necessary increment agreed by the workplace committee in advance and they are seeking reimbursement for that. The services serve a huge hinterland in east Kerry and into Cork. The services provided ensure many elderly people can continue to live at home, which saves the State huge costs in return.

Just two years ago the board and local HSE management were looking at expanding the service from five days to six.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are way over time.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Now, if the services are not provided with the necessary costs to keep going, the group will have to seriously consider a reduction in services.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Deputy, we are way over time.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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This is a voluntarily run charitable status organisation-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The question, Deputy.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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-----and I am asking that the Government, Department of Health and HSE intervene positively here to ensure-----

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This sounds like a Topical Issue.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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-----the service continues-----

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Come on now.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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-----as it currently is.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Can we just have clarification on whether this is disability or older people, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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No, the question has been asked now. We will have to deal with the ambiguity.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Either way, on the section 39 pay that was agreed last year, the HSE is finalising its KOSI applications at the moment, so that funding should be making its way to the staff as we speak. For other details I will talk to the Deputy outside.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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There is a very serious staffing crisis in the oncology department of University Hospital Limerick as a result of it having lost 30 nurses, who have not been replaced despite the fact the embargo is not supposed to be operable at UHL anymore. The consequences of this are very serious. It means gravely ill patients have to wait for unconscionable periods of time for essential treatments such as chemotherapy. I have been approached by families of people who have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer who have not managed to get chemotherapy yet after six weeks' delay. Sometimes when people get to the end of the waiting period, the date is postponed again. The same thing applies to people who are waiting for scans to ascertain whether their cancer is in remission. I appreciate the huge investment this Government has made in University Hospital Limerick, but this is a very serious crisis affecting some very vulnerable people and I want to know what the Government's proposals are to alleviate the situation.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy has rightly acknowledged, there has been significant investment in UHL in recent years, including a 59% increase in funding, a 58% increase in the region overall in the satellite hospitals, as well as a 42% increase in the staff specifically. I do not have the exact details for the oncology area the Deputy mentioned, but of course we want to ensure that investment is going into all elements of the hospital and that anybody who is waiting for appointments or treatment can be addressed. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly on the question.