Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Vol. 1053 No. 5

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)

I move:

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024 (back from Committee) (without debate)

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

- Statements to mark Europe Day (not to exceed 2 hrs 27 mins)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Affordable Housing, selected by Sinn Féin.

Thursday's business shall be Statements on Progressing Special Education Provision (not to exceed 3 hrs 32 mins).

Thursday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Challenges facing the Childcare and Nursing Home Sectors, selected by the Independent Group.

Proposed Arrangements for this week's business:

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 extent that, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 34A(1)—

(i) private members’ business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Statements to mark Europe Day;

(ii) questions pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) to a Minister other than the Taoiseach shall not be taken; and

(iii) the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 37 which shall be taken on the conclusion of private members’ business;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2024 shall be taken without debate;

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

4. the Statements to mark Europe Day 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 135 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.

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) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 102 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 160 shall be taken;

(ii) private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 159(1) and Standing Order 169 shall be taken for 2 hours and 2 minutes on the conclusion of the Statements on Progressing Special Education Provision; and

(iii) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and

2. the Statements on Progressing Special Education Provision shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 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 200 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.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed?

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

It is not agreed.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy McDonald.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

Last week, when the Taoiseach was challenged about the tent city that had grown up on Mount Street, he said the law of the land must be applied and that this would not be repeated. Yet, here we are, and it has been repeated, this time along the Grand Canal where there are now some 100 tents. It is an outrage that any human being would be living in a tent on the side of the street or on a canal bank. However, this is certainly a monument to the Government's abject failure to manage this situation. I ask, therefore, that we have statements from the Ministers, Deputies O'Gorman and McEntee, and that questions are taken from Members of this House.

The situation, and I can speak directly for Dublin, is that the population's confidence in the Government to manage a very challenging situation is now entirely set at zero, and all the evidence of its failure is there to see. It is a deplorable, disgraceful situation, and we need the two Ministers to make statements and take questions from Members.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

We do need to have statements on the Government's policy to ensure adequate accommodation is in place for those who come here seeking refuge. I was back at Percy Place this morning, having been there yesterday. The numbers of those forced to sleep in tents have increased over those days. I commend the local volunteers who have been providing support. Clearly, this is inhumane and unsustainable, and the Government has failed to offer the coherent plan that is needed longer term to provide accommodation. Today, at the IPAS office in Mount Street, a notice has been put up advising those who are now in tented accommodation that they can have an increased daily expense allowance if they leave that tented accommodation. This is clearly a desperate stopgap attempt to move people on without any reality in the provision of longer term accommodation. We need to hear from the Government, particularly from the Taoiseach, as to how it proposes to implement the Catherine Day report, its own commissioned report, which last year recommended six reception and intervention centres with adequate capacity to give accommodation and shelter to those who come here seeking refuge.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

The Social Democrats also believe we need to have statements and a discussion in the Dáil on the process for asylum seekers and the tents that are cropping up around the city. All the Government's policies have done to date is move tents from one part of the city to another. The Taoiseach can shake his head but that is all that has happened.

The Taoiseach

That is completely wrong.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

What is the Taoiseach's plan? What is he going to do? Clearly, Government policy is failing the men who are in tents, the communities where the tents are cropping up and the local businesses. What is the Government's plan and when is it going to implement it? What it has done to date is not good enough. The Social Democrats called for a full audit of IPAS and Ukrainian accommodation to see if there were any gaps in the system. At the time, there was no objection from the Government to that motion. Where is that audit and when will we see those figures?

Deputy Bríd Smith

It has been nearly two weeks since the Tánaiste was given the go-ahead to bring legislation before the Dáil to get rid of the triple lock in the context of our neutrality, and we have not seen that legislation. He will not answer questions directly on it. I have done my best to extract from him very important information for the Irish public as to why he is proposing it and where he intends troops should go if he removes the triple lock that maintains our neutrality. We need to discuss it. We cannot be left in a position where we sit here and a Bill comes before us, probably without debate, when we do not have a preparatory, long discussion in the House that is elected to represent the country on something that is fundamental to our constitutional position, our history and our rights. Very important, in the current state the world is in and the possibility of war breaking out, where does it leave us? We need that discussion on the triple lock and we need answers from the Tánaiste.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

It is amazing how the tide changes in here when a local or European election comes along. We would not be allowed to mention the word "migrant" in debates here over the past eight or ten months. Our motion opposing the migration pact was voted down last week. The Minister for Justice told Senator Keogan today and me last week that the Government would not publish the Attorney General's advice or, indeed, the interdepartmental advice on the questions we have about this migration pact. It took eight years of gestation in the European Parliament and Commission, and we are expected to come back here next week and we might get a few extra hours. We had committee for three hours on the first day two weeks ago, and we had committee last week when the usual suspects, the NGOs, were rounded up to answer questions and tell us all we were so well off that we should have more and more migration.

When is the Government going to muzzle the NGOs, try to get them out of its way and stop allowing them to take all the money - €6 billion they are costing - to give us all a lecture last week at the committee? We had no officials from the Department of Justice to answer questions. That is what pre-legislative scrutiny is about. This is a farce, and I call on the Government to have a proper and meaningful debate here and to publish all the AG and interdepartmental advice, which we know it has. Did it learn anything from the referendums? It might have got rid of its Taoiseach as a fall guy. It withheld information from the public and it is doing that now again with this.

The Taoiseach

Just to be very clear, what we did on Mount Street had a very positive impact. A total of 290 more people got accommodation and access to sanitation and we managed to avert a public health near-emergency. I am very pleased with that multi-agency response. I continue to believe it was the right action to take.

I became Taoiseach four weeks ago. I took charge of this situation. There had been, in my view, a tacit acceptance by many State agencies that the situation on Mount Street could just continue and was just a new norm. That was not right. I thought there was a consensus in this House. Good action was taken by good government in terms of the work of agencies, and I welcome that.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

People were back later.

The Taoiseach

It is absolutely true that a situation has now arisen in respect of the Grand Canal. Last week in this House, I stood here and told the Deputy we had to deal with Mount Street. I am telling him now that we will deal with the Grand Canal. Action will be taken. I accept Deputy Bacik's bona fides on this matter, knowing it is in her constituency as well.

I need to say this: we have to have a broader discussion about migration that is not just about accommodation. If it is solely one about accommodation, we will find ourselves in a situation-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Government will not allow debates.

The Taoiseach

-----where we provide more accommodation and that accommodation will fill up. We also need to be very honest about this. We now have some parties in this House talking about not being in favour of open borders. Deputy McDonald used to say there was no such thing as an open borders policy. I would like her to identify for me which open border on the island of Ireland she would like to now close, as it did not come up in my conversations in Belfast last week. The Government has worked with Sinn Féin and others on the common travel area.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

Is that the Taoiseach's answer to my question? Jesus.

The Taoiseach

Sinn Féin's local election candidates are delivering leaflets promising that it will end the open border policy. I do not know what that means. Will Deputy McDonald please explain it?

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

They are not, actually.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

That is not true.

Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

It is true.

The Taoiseach

There is a video of the very fine Deputy beside her saying Sinn Féin is against it. I look forward to the debate we will have in this House on an open border policy because there are no open-----

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

May I, a Cheann Comhairle?

An Ceann Comhairle

No.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

The Taoiseach made a specific point regarding literature, but-----

The Taoiseach

The only open border-----

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

-----it was factually not true.

An Ceann Comhairle

That has nothing to do with the Order of Business.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Was that true, Taoiseach?

Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

It absolutely is true.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

No. It is factually-----

Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

It is true.

The Taoiseach

Sorry, I do not know what is going on here.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not in order-----

The Taoiseach

Even the rest of the Opposition thinks it is true.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am sorry. It is not in order to accuse the Taoiseach of telling untruths.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

It is not in order to tell untruths.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Make an apology.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is not in order. Deputy Ó Laoghaire should resume his seat, please.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

He should go back and watch the video he made.

The Taoiseach

He was in the video.

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

He was in the video standing outside on the plinth.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

The Taoiseach stated-----

Deputy Darragh O'Brien

Was it AI generated?

(Interruptions).

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

-----that Sinn Féin candidates-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Ó Laoghaire, le do thoil, will you please resume your seat?

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

The Taoiseach stated that Sinn Féin candidates were delivering leaflets-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy-----

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

-----saying Sinn Féin would end open borders, and that is not true.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy, will you resume your seat? Thank you.

The Taoiseach

To assist the House, I will rephrase. The Sinn Féin Deputy sitting beside Deputy McDonald appears in a video on the plinth offering to close open borders.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

No.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

That is not true either.

The Taoiseach

I want to know which open borders were meant, because we cannot go around-----

(Interruptions).

The Taoiseach

In a desperate attempt to keep Sinn Féin's coalition of opposition together, it is trying to play to people's worst fears. We need an honest debate around migration-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

We cannot have one in this House.

The Taoiseach

-----and that is what we are actually going to have.

Regarding the triple lock legislation, the Ceann Comhairle might advise, but I do not believe there has ever been a Bill before this House that was not debated. That is not how this House works. Of course, there will be plenty of debate. There is no legislation to share with the House yet, as the Tánaiste only got permission to draft legislation.

We are happy to have a debate on migration, but the next substantive debate-----

Deputy Bríd Smith

Will it be after or before the election?

The Taoiseach

-----should be on the migration pact. I look forward to that, too.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to?

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Not agreed.

Question put: "That the proposed arrangements for this week's business be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 74; Níl, 59; Staon, 0.

Tá

• Berry, Cathal.
• Brophy, Colm.
• Browne, James.
• Bruton, Richard.
• Burke, Colm.
• Burke, Peter.
• Butler, Mary.
• Byrne, Thomas.
• Cahill, Jackie.
• Calleary, Dara.
• Cannon, Ciarán.
• Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
• Chambers, Jack.
• Collins, Niall.
• Connolly, Catherine.
• Costello, Patrick.
• Coveney, Simon.
• Crowe, Cathal.
• Devlin, Cormac.
• Dillon, Alan.
• Duffy, Francis Noel.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• Farrell, Alan.
• Feighan, Frankie.
• Flaherty, Joe.
• Flanagan, Charles.
• Fleming, Sean.
• Foley, Norma.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Harris, Simon.
• Haughey, Seán.
• Heydon, Martin.
• Higgins, Emer.
• Humphreys, Heather.
• Kehoe, Paul.
• Lahart, John.
• Lawless, James.
• Leddin, Brian.
• Lowry, Michael.
• Madigan, Josepha.
• Martin, Catherine.
• Matthews, Steven.
• McAuliffe, Paul.
• McConalogue, Charlie.
• McEntee, Helen.
• McGrath, Michael.
• Moynihan, Aindrias.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Naughten, Denis.
• Naughton, Hildegarde.
• Noonan, Malcolm.
• O'Brien, Darragh.
• O'Brien, Joe.
• O'Callaghan, Jim.
• O'Connor, James.
• O'Dea, Willie.
• O'Donnell, Kieran.
• O'Dowd, Fergus.
• O'Gorman, Roderic.
• O'Sullivan, Christopher.
• O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
• Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• Phelan, John Paul.
• Rabbitte, Anne.
• Richmond, Neale.
• Ring, Michael.
• Ryan, Eamon.
• Shanahan, Matt.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Smyth, Ossian.
• Stanton, David.
• Troy, Robert.
• Varadkar, Leo.

Níl

• Andrews, Chris.
• Bacik, Ivana.
• Barry, Mick.
• Boyd Barrett, Richard.
• Browne, Martin.
• Buckley, Pat.
• Canney, Seán.
• Carthy, Matt.
• Clarke, Sorca.
• Conway-Walsh, Rose.
• Cronin, Réada.
• Crowe, Seán.
• Cullinane, David.
• Daly, Pa.
• Doherty, Pearse.
• Donnelly, Paul.
• Ellis, Dessie.
• Farrell, Mairéad.
• Funchion, Kathleen.
• Gannon, Gary.
• Guirke, Johnny.
• Harkin, Marian.
• Healy-Rae, Danny.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kelly, Alan.
• Kenny, Gino.
• Kenny, Martin.
• Kerrane, Claire.
• Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
• McDonald, Mary Lou.
• McGrath, Mattie.
• McNamara, Michael.
• Mitchell, Denise.
• Munster, Imelda.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Murphy, Paul.
• Murphy, Verona.
• Mythen, Johnny.
• Nolan, Carol.
• O'Callaghan, Cian.
• O'Donoghue, Richard.
• O'Reilly, Louise.
• O'Rourke, Darren.
• Ó Broin, Eoin.
• Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
• Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
• Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
• Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
• Pringle, Thomas.
• Ryan, Patricia.
• Sherlock, Sean.
• Shortall, Róisín.
• Smith, Bríd.
• Smith, Duncan.
• Stanley, Brian.
• Tully, Pauline.
• Ward, Mark.
• Whitmore, Jennifer.
• Wynne, Violet-Anne.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Cormac Devlin; Níl, Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Mattie McGrath.

Question declared carried.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

We are now five months into 2024 and the health service still has not published its staffing plan for the year. The Secretary General of the Department of Health confirmed this morning that the moratorium or embargo is still in place and that the strategy is at a political level waiting on a decision from Government. I have lost count of the number of bright, talented young health and social care graduates who have contacted me about the Government's dangerous recruitment embargo. These include a pharmacist from Waterford, a paramedic from Dublin, a physiotherapist from Cork and experienced junior doctors, nurses and therapists. They are living abroad and looking to come home but there are no jobs on offer for them. The INMO has surveyed its membership and 92% believe that patient safety is being compromised because of the embargo. I urge the Taoiseach to lift this very dangerous recruitment embargo and to make that decision now.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy McDonald. As I have said in exchanges with her in the House before, the health service is funded to grow the number of staff this year and to hire more nurses and doctors. Yes, it has to live within its overall workforce ceilings. Of course, it does. All public agencies are meant to. However, funding has been provided for 2,200 new people to work in the public health service, and that number increases to 3,000 when disability services are included.

I have also confirmed in the context of UHL emergency department, which Deputy McDonald raised with me previously, that EDs are exempt from any recruitment restrictions. I will seek clarity as to when the Minister intends to publish his plan.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

As we mark National Bike Week next week, I will be asking Oireachtas Members to get on their bikes and join me outside the front of Leinster House next Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the cycling campaigns to highlight the need to promote cycling and cycling infrastructure. We have seen a recent study by researchers in France showing how much health benefit there is to cycling. For each kilometre travelled by bicycle, the researchers estimate that approximately a euro is saved on social health cost spending. We need to do more to make cycling not only the healthy option, but also the safe option. As we head into bike week, will the Taoiseach commit not just to ensuring new cycleways are introduced, but also to funding safer infrastructure, tackling unsafe driving and tackling road disrepair and poor road infrastructure which puts cyclists at risk?

The Taoiseach

It is a very important issue because we are seeing more and more people cycling, including more younger people and more people cycling to work. Schemes such as the bike to work scheme have worked very well. There are also bikes people can rent across this city and in other places. It is a good way of getting around, it is environmentally friendly and it is good for one's health, both physically and mentally. We are investing a great deal in cycling infrastructure but I will ask the Minister for Transport to specifically respond on the issue around safety and road repair.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

We are in the middle of a housing crisis. We have record rents, record house prices, record numbers of adults living in their childhood bedrooms and record levels of homelessness. Given this, why is the Government incentivising landlords to keep homes empty? A prominent financial adviser has announced that he tells some of his landlord clients to leave rental accommodation vacant for two years because if homes are left empty for two years, rent regulations do not apply. Landlords who do this can jack up their rents far in excess of the 2% cap that is supposed to exist. It really is perverse that the Government is facilitating a loophole that encourages landlords to keep homes empty. Leaving homes empty in the middle of a housing and homelessness crisis should never be an attractive financial option. The Social Democrats are putting forward a Bill to shut down this loophole. Will the Taoiseach support that Bill?

The Taoiseach

We will certainly take a look at the Bill and engage in good faith on it. We have brought in a number of measures to try to ensure vacancy is addressed and that renters are protected through RPZs and other measures. We will look at the Bill in good faith. I am happy to engage and will ask the Minister for housing to do that.

Deputy Bríd Smith

Israel is moving into the next stage of its murderous onslaught in Rafah. There are no words to describe the horrendous outcome we may see where 1.5 million Palestinian people are under bombardment in a small area of land. In the midst of this horrendous scene, it is heartening and uplifting to see students at Trinity College Dublin taking action to insist on divestment, sanctions and an end to co-operation with this genocidal state. The students are doing a great job in working with the authorities in Trinity to force divestment from the Israeli state. Look at us in here. We are well paid and well resourced but we have not done a thing. We talk and talk but have done nothing. I put it back to the Taoiseach to start taking sanctions against Israel and to take a leaf from the books of students who are protesting all over the world to demand sanctions against this onslaught.

Deputy Boyd Barrett has two letters here for the Taoiseach. One is from 356 health workers who have personally signed a letter asking the Taoiseach to, please, do something about Rafah. The other is from Mothers Against Genocide and asks that something be done about the children, because this is a war on children.

Finally, 15 May is Nakba Day. The Taoiseach knows what that means. We have requested that the Palestinian flag be flown at Leinster House on Nakba Day. I want everybody in the House to back that request for the Palestinian flag to be flown for one day. The Ukrainian flag flew for long enough. We are asking that the Palestinian flag be flown on Nakba Day. We hope Trinity College will do the same on that day. It is very important that we act and take a leaf from the books of the students whose courage, bravery and determination is actually getting places and forcing sanctions, not just here but around the world.

The Taoiseach

I will not comment on any individual protest but, more broadly, our universities should reflect on links and divestment.

I note that a number of them are now doing so, which is important.

I do not buy into the idea that this House or this Government has done nothing on the Palestinian situation. I do not believe the Palestinian Authority, and certainly not the Israeli Government, think that is the position of this country either. Whether it is through supporting UNRWA with additional humanitarian aid, whether it is our intention to very shortly recognise the state of Palestine, an issue on which I had a conversation as recently as this weekend with the Spanish Prime Minister, or whether it is the association agreement review that we are seeking at a European level, the Government and the Oireachtas have been very clear in wanting to see an immediate end to all violence, an immediate ceasefire, the aid absolutely flowing and, of course, the release of all the hostages.

Deputy Bríd Smith

But no sanctions. Is the Government insisting on there being no sanctions?

Deputy Michael Lowry

The HSE currently has a plan to use the new community nursing home in Nenagh as a step-down facility to tackle overcrowding from University Hospital Limerick, UHL. This initiative is contentious and controversial as it denies the long-awaited opportunity for the transfer of patients from St. Conlon's community nursing unit, which is deemed by HIQA as unfit for purpose. After consultation with staff and the chairman of the unions, and in a bid to resolve the stand-off, a proposal was put to HSE management to consider an alternative plan. Under this proposal, the upper floor of the new unit would facilitate the transfer and cater for the 23 patients and staff at the existing St. Conlon's home. The other 25 beds on the ground floor would be repurposed on a temporary basis as step-down beds to ease congestion at UHL. The unions and their members have put the HSE on notice that they will not co-operate with the transfer of patients from UHL unless the new unit has an interim dual purpose role. The HSE is resisting this proposal. I request political intervention by the Taoiseach to resolve the impasse.

The Taoiseach

This is a very serious issue and I thank Deputy Lowry for raising it. I will continue to engage with the Minister for Health on this. There are two issues. There is obviously a very serious and acute issue at University Hospital Limerick, on which everyone in this House and most particularly Deputies from the mid-west want to see progress. We all know that. There are also the very strong views of the people of Nenagh on the community nursing unit. The proposals put forward are very much on an interim basis as a step-down, sub-acute and rehabilitation facility. I reiterate that it is on an interim basis. I am aware of the strength of feeling in Nenagh on this issue. Deputy Kelly has also raised this previously. I will ask for engagement by the Minister for Health with Deputy Lowry on this matter.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Last September the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, following only limited consultations, decided to remove four species of duck from the open seasons order, effectively banning their being hunted. This development has led to serious questions about how decisions on issues relating to wildlife and hunting are made and how rural interests, including farmer representatives and the National Association of Regional Game Councils, which does very important work, are consulted and included in the decision-making process. In the past, the National Association of Regional Game Councils had a close working relationship with the Minister and the Minister of State and a lot of good progress was made on conservation schemes, the regeneration of habitats and so on. Since this Government came in, with the green influence again, they have been totally shut out.. NGOs can walk into Ministers' offices any day of the week but these people who are serious stakeholders in preserving our game and nurturing our habitats have been locked out of these processes. This is very serious. It is a slippery slope. They need to be consulted and engaged with in order that we can do things properly.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy McGrath. I will ask the relevant Minister to follow up directly with the Deputy on this matter.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Sure it is he who is the problem.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Faraor, tá orm ospidéal an Chlocháin a ardú arís. Tá sé ardaithe go mion minic agus tá sé fós dúnta. I again raise the issue of Clifden hospital. I am aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done her best on this but I really want the Taoiseach to answer. I have raised the issue so often and despite the Minister of State's best efforts the hospital remains closed and looks like it will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The hospital in Galway city is absolutely at breaking point, with trolleys everywhere. Here we have a hospital in Clifden that was closed inexplicably, with different reasons given depending on who is asked. The worst reason given is that there is no demand. Will the Taoiseach please enlighten me as to when the hospital will open?

The Taoiseach

I have just consulted the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in real time on this issue. I thank Deputy Connolly for her acknowledgement of the Minister of State's work on this. The Minister of State and I very much accept and appreciate that there is a demand here. That excuse - insofar as it is one - does not fly. It is my understanding there is a derogation around staffing as well. The Minister of State is actively working on that and I will certainly lend my support in any way that I can to help.

Deputy Cormac Devlin

We all recognise the importance of the early learning sector. The St. Nicholas Montessori College in Dún Laoghaire told its staff and students last month that it is due to close. The St. Nicholas Montessori College had a very long and proud history of education in this sector and was one of the leading colleges in the country. Obviously this decision has taken staff and students, and indeed their families, by complete surprise and shock. While I acknowledge it was a private educational centre, we need to ensure there are better pathways to a level 8 degree in this sector with degrees awarded under the national framework of qualifications, NFQ. There is a need for engagement with the students to find an appropriate and suitable resolution to this issue and for them to continue on their courses and then qualify with the much-needed qualifications. Will the Taoiseach undertake to engage please, or at least have the relevant officials engage, with the college, the staff and the students?

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Devlin for raising this important matter. I understand the college currently offers three programmes: a bachelor of education in Montessori education which is NFQ level 7; a bachelor of education, honours, in Montessori education at NFQ level 8; and a bachelor of arts in psychology at NFQ level 8. I understand that arrangements have been agreed between St. Nicholas, the National College of Ireland, Griffith College, and Munster Technological University to allow learners enrolled in these programmes to continue their studies. The arrangements to allow the impacted learners to continue their studies have been confirmed to the Department. I have quite a lengthy note on that, which I will send to the Deputy in writing.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

I wish to raise an issue around joint family visa applicants. Like so many of these issues that we get into our offices it goes from the particular to the general once one starts looking at it. A constituent got in touch with my office. He is working at University Hospital Waterford and he is well integrated into both the workforce and the wider community and wants his wife to come and join him here in Ireland. He has applied for the visa. I am advised that visa applications are processed chronologically in the order in which they are received at the respective visa offices. I did a little bit of digging in the background about where we are with that chronology. We are now processing visas that were applied for in June 2023. By contrast, if one was applying for a visa to study here the applications being processed are up to March 2024. There is quite a difference between those two. I would say that 11 months is an awfully long time to wait after an application to have a family member come and join the applicant. So many of the people who are arriving on these work visas are sorely needed within our health system and in our wider economy. We should be expediting their families being able to join them if they are settling down here in the longer term. Will the Taoiseach look at this to see if some resources could help solve that waiting time?

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for raising this important matter on the joint family visa applications. I will talk with the Minister for Justice to see if it is a resourcing issue and if there is any way to assist. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Apprentices have been clear that they feel forgotten by this Government. We have seen how the large waiting lists for off-the-job training impacts on their ability to earn. Large numbers are dropping out and now we have figures that prove only a small minority in the craft apprenticeship sector are finishing in the standard four year period. If we suddenly saw that people on four-year degrees in law, engineering or commerce were now taking five, six or seven years to complete their degrees there would be ructions in here. Heaven and earth would be moved to rectify it. It is simply not good enough that only 16% of plumbing apprentices and 25% of electrical apprentices are completing their apprenticeships in four years. When will there be an urgency to this? When will apprentices finally get the support they need from this Government?

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Farrell. I am just trying to get the most up-to-date figures and I will send them to the Deputy in writing if she does not already have them-----

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

I have them.

The Taoiseach

From my previous role, and also from checking in on this recently, I understand that the plan is still to resolve the backlog issue during the course of this year. The Deputy will be aware there is always a wait time between each phase but when the wait time goes beyond the normal wait time then it is not acceptable. There is a well-funded plan with Solas. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

It is 16%-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I remind Members that we are back to the one-minute contribution. Deputy Ring was a little bit more generous in the Chair. I am not in the same generous humour.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

The spectre of parental alienation still roams across the country and is being used regularly to inflict the maximum amount of punishment on parents and children and continues to be used with increased vigour. I have been promised by the Minister for Justice, who is well-meaning, that she will deliver with regard to a change in regulations to prevent this atrocity from happening. Will the Taoiseach lend his full weight and support to that proposal?

The Taoiseach

The Minister had a brief word with me on this issue today. I understand she is due to receive a report next week and hopes to be then in a position to better update the Deputy. This is an issue we take seriously in terms how the rights of children are protected and how the family courts are transparent, accessible and child and family-friendly. A significant area of reform is underway with regard to this. I will ask the Minister to update the Deputy next week.

Deputy James O'Connor

What is going to be done to speed up the delivery of the Midleton flood relief scheme? We have heard in recent weeks that people may have to wait until 2026 for a planning application to be lodged. I want to state how completely unacceptable this is in the aftermath of one of the greatest natural disasters to ever hit County Cork with more than 600 homes and businesses in Midleton alone flooded. Will the Government look at using the Arterial Drainage Act and increase the speed with which that will be delivered to get this project moving urgently to prevent further flooding in the Midleton area and other parts of east Cork where projects are required?

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising this important matter relating to the Midleton flood relief scheme. The Government will certainly look at every avenue we can to deliver for the protection of the people of Midleton as quickly as possible. I know the level of fear and worry households, businesses and community groups have with regard to the threat of flooding. We have seen an increased frequency of that in recent years so we are very committed to the flood relief scheme for Midleton and I will get the Deputy an update regarding all the various avenues that can be explored.

Deputy Richard Bruton

I welcome the publication last week of the future framework for offshore energy. This was described by the Taoiseach's predecessor as Ireland's Moonshot but it illustrates how much of an onus is on the State to be aligned if it is to deliver this planned approach. There is a seven-stage D map, a marine area consent grid connection, planning approval, state aid-approved auctions, ports and accompanying storage. Does the cross-Government task force have a line of sight on the capacity of the State to deliver on this because it is a big ask in terms of capacity and I do not know whether we have that capacity. One of the significant opportunities of plentiful green energy involves the ICT sector. We have an effective moratorium even on highly strategic data centres, which is another concern for me because it involves the long-term productive use of offshore energy.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Bruton for raising this issue and for his own work in that Department previously on offshore renewable energy. I share the view of my predecessor that this is Ireland's Moonshot where we go from being a net importer of energy to a net exporter of it. It is a significant opportunity for Ireland, Europe, jobs and our economy. I will get the Deputy an update on the work of the cross-Government task force, particularly how we are capacity planning. From my previous role, I know the work being done on the workforce and skills element of it but I will get that whole-of-Government perspective. The issue of data centres is not an easy one but ironically there is a need for progress on this issue to unleash the potential that some of this sector offers. This is an issue Government is continuing to consider.

Deputy Carol Nolan

The recent announcement on ash dieback finally recognised that landowners deserved to be compensated for losses outside their control. However, a number of flaws have been identified in the scheme by Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners. Clearance grants are capped at €2,000 per hectare but quotes for clearance are running at €6,500 per hectare and farmers will have to borrow money to clear the land. Compensation of €5,000 per hectare does not compare with the typical losses of €40,000 per hectare according to independent forestry valuation. What is urgently needed here is a review of this scheme and a timeline for compensation to be rightfully and urgently paid to the affected landowners. Before that can happen, an urgent review must take place.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Nolan for raising the issue. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, has worked really hard on this for a sustained period of time and I am really pleased we have got to the point of having a scheme to provide financial assistance. It has been a very stressful time for so many farmers and foresters. I know the Deputy welcomes the scheme. If the Deputy wants to write to me about the concerns arising in Limerick and Tipperary, I will ask the Minister of State to engage on it.

Deputy Alan Kelly

The streets of my home town Nenagh will be packed on Saturday with people protesting against the Government and the HSE and the scandalous decision to take over our new nursing home, which the Government of which I and the Taoiseach were a part actually funded. On 24 April 2024, I raised this issue with the Taoiseach in this Chamber. I asked him where the loved ones of the 50 families were meant to go. Are they going to just die at home or will they be left in hospitals? Where are they going to go because two wrongs do not make a right? The Taoiseach said I made a logical point. He said that, as a result, the HSE would engage directly with me. The HSE also said that it has engaged directly with staff and residents' families. None of those three things has happened - nada, zilch, none. I can verify that. In fact, statements from the unions have verified that too. Considering none of that has happened and a protest will be held this Saturday, what is the Government and the HSE going to do to ensure this nursing home, which is deserved by the people of that area, who paid their taxes and worked hard, is given to them?

The Taoiseach

I certainly know the importance of the nursing home. As Deputy Kelly said, I was involved in it in a previous role in a Government of which Deputy Kelly was a member. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, also knows the importance of it because we want to provide more nursing home facilities across the country. There is the issue of UHL, which, again, Deputy Kelly knows very well and feels very strongly about. I did say exactly what the Deputy said - that sounds like the transcript - that I believed there should be engagement at local level between the HSE and families, staff, residents and local representatives. I am sorry to hear that this has not happened and I will follow that up with the HSE.

Deputy Alan Kelly

Before Saturday?

The Taoiseach

Before Saturday.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

Recently, there was recognition in this House of a 43-year-long struggle for social justice. We have another one now, which is the Waterford Crystal factory pensions issue, which has been going on for 32 years. It was visited by "Prime Time" last week, which brought up new information that showed there was understanding between the Irish Pensions Trust and the factory workers, where over 400 families were excluded from a pensions annuity option or the transfer of a pension. A case was taken to the ECJ in 2013. These people were excluded because they were not allowed access to the annuity option. Will the Taoiseach ask the Department to have a look at this on behalf of the workers? This has been going on for over 30 years. It is a social justice issue. It has been looked at by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Social Protection but the documentation that is supposed to underpin those people signing away their rights has not been produced in 30 years.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is also raising it with me. I know the issue is very important and that Deputy Shanahan raised it in good faith. I will engage directly with the Ministers involved and come back to Deputy Shanahan.

Deputy Robert Troy

I wish to raise the case of four-year-old girl from my constituency. I will share her name with the Taoiseach afterwards. This young girl suffers from a very rare form of epilepsy. Since October 2023, she has arrested five times and has had to be airlifted by ambulance twice. Thankfully, she has started on a new treatment called Fenfluramine. Unfortunately, the HSE is not funding that and the family has to fund it at a cost of €140 per day. This drug is being used for epilepsy across the EU and Northern Ireland but for some strange reason, it is not being funded by the HSE. No family could sustain that cost on a daily basis and we do need to support families. The Taoiseach is a father and I am a father. What this family is going through is unimaginable. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene to ensure the State will fund this much-needed treatment.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Troy for raising this matter. I cannot imagine what that family is going through with their little four-year-old girl, having to watch her in a very difficult state on many occasions and wanting to do everything right by her. I will certainly talk to the Minister for Health and the HSE about this. Sometimes different avenues can be explored if only a small number of children are involved. I will engage with the HSE and come back to the Deputy if he gives me the details.