Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 2023

Vol. 1035 No. 5

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Deputy David Cullinane

Yesterday in this Chamber, the Taoiseach said the existing cath lab in Waterford is "now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays." He continued:

The next step, which we are committed to making happen, is to ensure there is a service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week and then to build up to a 24-hour service. Previously, we did not have the infrastructure or the staff. We now have the infrastructure.

This is a very emotive issue for the people of the south east, as the Taoiseach knows, and there has been a campaign for a long time. Was that a significant policy change on the part of the Government whereby the Taoiseach announced yesterday that it is now committed, as a matter of policy, to a full 24-hour emergency cardiac service available in the hospital? If so, what are the timelines and what resources will be made available to make that happen?

The Taoiseach

It is not quite that but it is certainly a commitment to extending the hours and improving the services in Waterford.

Deputy David Cullinane

I asked about 24-hour services.

The Taoiseach

We have a second cath lab now in Waterford. It is great that we have it. I visited it in the last few weeks. I want to thank all the Deputies who voted for the budget that paid for it-----

Deputy David Cullinane

I asked whether there has been a policy change.

The Taoiseach

-----but I do not think the Deputy is one of them. The next step, and I discussed this with the management and the doctors when I visited, is to get that second cath lab commissioned and staffed and to extend the hours to a seven-day-a-week service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. That is what they want to do and I support them in wanting to do that.

Deputy David Cullinane

I asked about 24-7 services.

The Taoiseach

Moving to 24-7 is a future step. It needs to be subject to further review and we need to be sure we can staff it, and that is a serious point. We need to be sure it is safe.

Deputy David Cullinane

There has been no policy change.

The Taoiseach

In all of Leinster, there are 2.5 million people, and we have been able to staff only two cath labs 24-7. Asking skilled people to work 24-7 for the rest of their lives is a big ask and it is one that will be hard to do. Certainly, we would like to do it, but the next step, and this is the step we are committed to making happen, is a seven-day service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I want to raise the issue of prospective job losses because this week, news broke of further job cuts from Amazon, with 9,000 jobs on the line internationally, in a second wave of job cuts being announced in addition to the 18,000 announced by Amazon in January that led, as we know, to 70 redundancies in Ireland. Layoffs have already been announced by other companies in the tech sector, such as PayPal, Google, Twitter and so on. We do not yet know how this recent announcement will affect Irish employees, but my thoughts and those of all of us in the Labour Party are with those directly affected and in fear for their livelihoods, particularly in my constituency, which is very much affected by this, with quite a number of tech employers located in Dublin Bay South.

I also commend those in the tech sector who are beginning to unionise. Will the Taoiseach get ahead of the upcoming EU directive and create a right to collective bargaining? Certainly, those who are in unionised sectors are in a much stronger position when it comes to negotiating with employers about, for example, the prospect of voluntary rather than compulsory redundancies being carried out in a particular sector.

The Taoiseach

Legislation will be required in this area to implement the EU directive and turn it into Irish law, and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, are working on that. I do not have a timeline on it.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

This morning, I was at a briefing from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at which the speakers talked about energy poverty and expressed their concerns about what is going to happen to people regarding the high costs of energy. They said that over the course of the past year, the organisation had 230,000 requests of help, including 1,200 a day in December. I would imagine that for those thousands of people, hearing about the €847 million profit of the ESB today must be absolutely gut-wrenching. That increase the ESB has seen is directly as a result of the high wholesale prices in generation. I understand the ESB has recommended an enhanced dividend to be paid to the State of €327 million. However, that will still leave the ESB, according to my calculations, with €231 million in profits this year, which, to me, is an obscene profit for a company to be making in the midst of such an energy crisis. Will the Taoiseach commit to making sure all the ESB's profits come back to the State and are ring-fenced to support those in energy poverty?

The Taoiseach

The ESB recorded a massive profit, of €847 million, as the Deputy said, so we will be taking a large part of that from it, both in terms of the tax on its profits - let us not forget that - and also through the special dividend we are taking this year. We will ring-fence that money to help families and businesses with the high cost of energy, and people have my commitment on that. I do not believe we should reduce the profits of the ESB to zero, for the specific reason that it is profits that build its balance sheet and it is on the basis of that that the ESB invests further. We do need to invest in renewable energy, in the grid and in upgrading our energy infrastructure, and if there are no profits, there is not a balance sheet to support that investment. If the Deputy is committed to climate action and energy security, she will understand the reasons for that.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

This is less than the amount we are expecting in respect of the windfall tax.

Deputy Mick Barry

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is to commence a ballot for industrial action of its members in the coronary care unit of Cork University Hospital. These front-line workers have been forced to work with unsafe staffing levels for far too long. They have also been forced to work with an inappropriate skills mix in their team. If these workers decide to take industrial action, I believe they deserve the support of the Cork public and all who want to see a better health service in this country. Although any potential dispute is a dispute with their direct employer, it is clear this is a national issue. Only last week, for example, a similar ballot commenced at University Hospital Limerick.

The issue of resources for safe staffing in our hospitals is a national issue, a Government issue. What changes does the Taoiseach intend to make on this front?

The Taoiseach

A number of people and different groups in the health service are currently balloting with regard to safe staffing levels. We acknowledge there are many parts of the health service in which staffing is too low. We are happy to engage with unions and representatives on how we can resolve that but we need to put it into a wider context, which is the fact that we are hiring more healthcare staff than ever before, with 6,000 additional doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists hired in the past two or three years. We are increasing staffing levels. Notwithstanding the challenge faced across the world in recruiting and retaining health staff, we have been able to increase the size of our health workforce in the past couple of years and that is a significant achievement. We have among the highest numbers of nurses per head in the developed world now. It is very important, however, that we ensure they are in the right places.

Deputy Cathal Berry

I wish to raise the 58 school building projects throughout the country that are currently on hold due to a lack of funding in the Department of Education. I accept the reason for this is inflation in the cost of construction. A public meeting will be held tonight in Portlaoise regarding Kolbe Special School, which is in particular need and completely worthy of a new premises. When will additional funds come from the central Exchequer into the Department of Education so that all these 58 projects can proceed as planned?

The Taoiseach

I understand the concerns parents and staff have about these school projects. There are one or two such projects in every Deputy's constituency, including my own. It is a matter about which we are all very concerned. As a result of the rising cost of construction and the fact that the Department of Education is doing such a good job on building new schools and extending existing schools, it is running short of money. It will be provided with additional funding shortly to allow those school projects to resume. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, are bottoming out exactly how much is required. I expect there will be an announcement on that in the near future.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

A number of weeks ago, I asked the Taoiseach about Motorsport Ireland and its inability to get insurance. This national organisation contacted the Taoiseach. It gave a briefing in the audiovisual room in Leinster House. I thank the Deputies and Senators who turned up to the briefing. This situation has become completely out of hand since Brexit and Covid. No club can get insurance for events, and there are many major events which are worth a fortune to the communities in question. I have a review here relating to the Faugheen 50 Supporters Club and the value these events have to communities. There are spin-off benefits. The people involved love their sport but they cannot even get a quote from insurance companies. I am asking the Taoiseach and the Department to step in to ensure they can get insurance. They have already lost three months of the season. Clubs in Northern Ireland can get insurance. It is a shame to say that, due to Brexit, clubs cannot get it here. It is a cop-out. These people invest significantly in their bikes and other machines, touring and all that goes with them. The events are a massive boost for each area where races are held. The clubs involved also do a lot of community work, such as fundraising. I ask the Taoiseach to step in and assist them, please. The Government should not stand idly by and let them be put out of business.

The Taoiseach

I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who has responsibility for insurance, to speak to the Deputy on this issue. We have seen an improvement in the past year or so in terms of availability, with people getting quotes for public liability insurance. The costs have not come down but there is greater availability.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

They cannot get a quote.

The Taoiseach

Sometimes there can be difficulties with particular events.

Deputy Joan Collins

Today is United Nations World Water Day, which promotes water services as a fundamental human right. The theme of the day this year is accelerating change. The Taoiseach recently stated on RTÉ that the right to housing referendum would most likely not be taking place this November along with the referendum on gender equality. He said that the Housing Commission has not yet produced the wording. The Government previously stated that the referendum on public water would take place with the housing referendum, yet the Taoiseach made no mention of it. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, informed me by letter last November that we would see the wording of the referendum on public water in early 2023. We are now at the end of March and going into the second quarter of the year. Water services workers are outside the gates of Leinster House today, demanding a referendum, the wording thereof and the date on which it will be held. I have had legislation providing for a public water referendum before the House, with cross-party support, for seven years but have received no replies to questions on when the Bill will progress. I sent a letter to the committee on 7 March but I have not received a response. Is the Taoiseach committed to having a referendum on the public ownership and management of water? If so, when? Will he make sure it happens in November?

The Taoiseach

We are committed to having a referendum on the public ownership of water.

Deputy Joan Collins

In November.

The Taoiseach

We do not have the wording or the date for it yet, so I cannot commit to November. It is important that the wording of any constitutional change is got right.

Deputy Joan Collins

The Government has had seven years to do so.

The Taoiseach

We know why that is. It is because it is open to interpretation by the courts. The power is taken from here to the courts to decide what is possible and what is not. I must say that there are no proposals of which I am aware, from any party in this House, to privatise Irish Water. I understand people want the referendum to give them a reassurance that this will not happen, but we must note that there is no proposal from any party in the House to privatise Irish Water. That is an important point in this context.

Deputy Cathal Crowe

County Clare has played a major role in welcoming Ukrainian refugees and international protection refugees. According to the recent census, 3% of the population of the county are from refugee countries. They have come in and they have been warmly accepted and received. A major problem, however, is that the international protection accommodation services body, IPAS, which is co-ordinating all of this, is not picking up the bills. Some hotels in County Clare are owed moneys going back as far as October or November. Yesterday, a hotel had its water mains shut off by Irish Water because it had not paid bills for several months. These are bills that are to be paid by IPAS and the Government. It is inexplicable that they would not be paid. It will force many of these hoteliers out of the accommodation provision market. We need to pay these bills urgently. I estimate there is approximately €2.5 million owed to hoteliers in County Clare for accommodating refugees for many months. The bills are not being paid and the hoteliers are floundering. The cost to them of providing electricity, water and everything else is rising. We need someone to sign off on these cheques and pay the people what they are owed so that accommodation can continue.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Roderic O'Gorman)

I am aware of the specific instance raised by the Deputy. The hotel in question received a substantial payment last week and we are looking into measures that can be taken to complete other elements of the payment the hotel is owed. My Department has processed a significant number of payments. We are paying €30 million to €35 million per week at present but I recognise that we are still working through a backlog. The amount we are paying per week is increasing significantly. We have taken on a significant number of extra staff from within my Department and we have also contracted in a significant number of additional staff so that we can continue to grow the amount we are paying per week. We will follow up further on the specific instance raised by the Deputy.

Deputy Alan Dillon

The wave of vile abuse, harassment, physical attacks, antisocial behaviour and shoplifting in shops and supermarkets was highlighted on RTÉ "Prime Time" last night. The owners of a business in my constituency of Mayo stated that they are currently going through a pandemic of petty crime, with children as young as primary school age committing these thefts. The Ballina-based owners stated that there are not enough repercussions for young offenders involved in retail crime. When owners report these offences, the perpetrators are released. It is sometimes the case that, within hours, they have returned to the scene of the crime to taunt their victims again. Garda figures show that thefts from shops have increased by 41% in the past 12 months. What legislative changes can be planned to protect the staff and owners of local shops and convenience stores? The owners state that they are losing hundreds, if not thousands, of euro per week as a result of these crimes.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I might ask the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, to speak to him about it directly today. We all believe that shoplifting, larceny and such crimes should be taken seriously. It is not just a case of something being taken from a shop. It jeopardises businesses and, potentially, the employment of the people working in those businesses. In general, retailers operate off small margins, so just one or two items being taken might be the same as eliminating the margins from 20 or 30 items, thus putting the business under pressure, rendering it unable to pay bills it owes to others and making it unable to keep staff on. It is a serious offence and it is important that it is treated seriously.

Deputy Claire Kerrane

I have been contacted by staff in EmployAbility services throughout the State who are worried about the upcoming tendering out of their services. This is due to be published in April. The Taoiseach will know EmployAbility services are unique because they support people with disabilities and long-term illness into employment. There are genuine fears among staff regarding possible changes to that service. Given that EmployAbility services deal with some of the most vulnerable citizens, I ask that a level of certainty regarding the Minister's plan and vision for EmployAbility services going forward be made known before the tender comes up.

These users and the service providers themselves need certainty ahead of the tendering out of this service next month.

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Heather Humphreys)

I thank the Deputy for raising this. I assure her that my officials are engaging and will continue to engage with the staff in EmployAbility services. I acknowledge the good work they carry out. I have visited many of the centres and the work they do in getting people who have disabilities back into work is wonderful. I assure the Deputy that my officials are engaging with them.

Deputy Paul Donnelly

I met last week with the parents and staff of Danu Community Special School. It is clear that the building is not fit for purpose. It has serious design safety issues with students at flight risk on a main road. Its poor design has left the principal without an office. Poor design has left toilets with up to 40% of the classroom space plus a myriad of other design issues.

It is not sufficiently large enough to cope with the number of students with additional needs. Many are unable to access a place until 2024. In fact, there are none this year. There will be one place available in 2024 and one available in 2025 for the entirety of Dublin West. There is no plan for this year's cohort of students.

It is clear that long-term planning needs to start now with regard to children with additional needs in Dublin West and the school of horology is the perfect place. Everybody believes it is a perfect place. I know that some of the Taoiseach's representatives who met with school representatives said the same thing. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to visit the school to see the issues it has at the moment.

The Taoiseach

As the Deputy knows, it is a new special school. It is in addition to the education infrastructure and services we have in Dublin West that we have the special school. I have been to visit with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and I hope to visit again. I acknowledge that the building the school is in is not working out. We are examining whether the former institute of horology in Blanchardstown village could work as an alternative. I cannot make any solid commitment around that at this stage. We are examining that as a potential alternative, however. We will be happy to work with the Deputy on a cross-party basis to see what we can do for the school.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

The appalling and degrading treatment of women who are mothers and their children continues in the family law courts with such vigour and determination that one would be led to believe it is the intention that this can and will continue, which it cannot. It requires now a preliminary inquiry to determine the extent of the problem and the length of time it is expected to continue when it is known it is unconstitutional. The rights of women are being trampled on in a way that has never been known or referred to publicly in my time in this House. It needs a preliminary inquiry to determine the extent of it.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy has raised the matter of alienation on a number of occasions both in the House and with me personally. It is fair to say there are different views on that matter. Ultimately, we cannot interfere in decisions made by the family courts. Perhaps the best thing I can suggest is for Deputy Durkan to engage with the Minister for Justice or perhaps even the Attorney General to explore the issue further. I am not entirely sure how it is best resolved.

Deputy Gino Kenny

There was very good news today for 35 children in the State who live with cystic fibrosis. The families and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland have fought very hard on the injustice of these 35 children not having access to certain drugs. There are huge lessons to be learned, not only with regard to reimbursement but also around companies like Vertex International, the pharmaceutical company that is based in Dublin. This company has made a grotesque amount of profit, particularly on this drug. These profits run not into millions but billions of euro. The lesson must be learned as to why these companies have governments and, more importantly, families over a barrel with regard to accessing these drugs. What lessons are to be learned considering that we have a huge pharmaceutical industry in Ireland?

The Taoiseach

There probably are lessons to be learned. The Deputy may be aware of a recently published report that was commissioned by the Department of Health on a reimbursement system and how it might be improved. Fundamentally, though, there is a real difficulty when a single company develops a new product and new medicine, and it is the only product. That company develops and manufactures it and very often holds the cards. Some people take the view, and the Deputy may take this view, that the Government should just copy it and produce the medicines itself.

Deputy Gino Kenny

I did not say that.

The Taoiseach

In fairness, the Deputy is not saying that. That is the underlying problem; if a single company develops a medicine that it manufactures and controls, it tends to hold a lot of the cards when it comes to negotiating the price.

Deputy Emer Higgins

I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the waiting lists for children's disability services in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 7. Nationally, the Taoiseach will be aware of the huge waiting times for assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children. In my area of CHO 7, the problem is particularly acute. We have some of the longest waiting lists in the country. We have had the reconfiguration of children's disability services, but we are still not seeing an improvement on the ground. In fact, in many instances, things just seem to be getting worse.

Children are left languishing on waiting lists while parents desperately wait for their child to be assessed or receive support. When I speak to these parents, I hear it in their voices. I hear the fear, desperation and panic. Can the Taoiseach provide them with an assurance that the Government is prioritising this and working to improve wait times and the standard of children's disability services, in particular in CHO 7? We know how important early intervention is. These parents and their children deserve that.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Roderic O'Gorman)

I thank the Deputy. Likewise, we face similar challenges in my own area of CHO 9, particularly in terms of the waiting lists. That is due for the most part to the lack of therapists within the children's disability network teams, CDNTs. That is a real struggle across the health system right now in terms of getting enough of the right people into those front-line positions. Addressing that and filling those positions is the key priority for me and for the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who has responsibility for these issues and which move now to our Department. We are working closely with the HSE right now in terms of the HSE bringing forward a road map on progressing disability services, recognising the challenges that exist and identifying in the short- to medium-term the steps towards how we can employ people immediately and get a better pipeline of occupational therapy, OT, staff and speech and language therapists into the country. It is also important to repair the relationship between the HSE and parents. We know that is badly damaged in many CHOs and we need to rebuild that relationship and trust.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

In our exchange during Leaders' Questions yesterday regarding south-east development progress, the Taoiseach said that the university for the south east is done. Almost one year after the merger, it is far from done on the ground. Indeed, at this moment, it is more of a complex and somewhat loveless merger with a rebrand.

What measures specifically does the Government plan to take to make the university a meaningful improvement? The Taoiseach promised a game-changer that will halt the brain drain. When will the decade-long PPP engineering building commence? When will the South East Technological University be allowed to borrow to build additional teaching space? What capital investment is envisaged on the long-awaited footprint at Waterford? At this point, the Taoiseach's mantra that the university is done sounds more in tune with George Bush's mission accomplished speech in Iraq.

The Taoiseach

I am a little bit disappointed in the Deputy's question. People in the south east fought for a very long time to secure a university for the region. We now have the South East Technological University. It is an addition to the region and certainly when I went to visit and spoke to businesses and ordinary people in the region about it, they accepted that it is a plus and a good thing. I am disappointed.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

I asked about capital investment.

The Taoiseach

Maybe the Deputy does not realise he is doing this, but he is talking down the only university in his region.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

I am just asking about the capital investment programme.

The Taoiseach

It is not something that most people from most parts of the country do. The Deputy can call for something to be improved and expanded without talking it down and making out that it is-----

Deputy Matt Shanahan

Again, I asked about capital investment and the schedule.

The Taoiseach

-----something less than it is. I actually have an update on those three issues. I cannot remember it all off the top of my head but I did follow up on the PPP building, the former Waterford Crystal site, the student accommodation issue and the borrowing. I will send that to the Deputy in writing so that I get it exactly right.

Deputy Robert Troy

The Government took a decision to introduce a €1,000 Covid-19 recognition payment for people who worked on the front line. Obviously, that was a very positive and welcome decision. Unfortunately, however, there are still thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people who have yet to receive this payment.

There are anomalies between certain regions. In my region, the people who worked in the registry office for births, marriages and deaths are not being paid the recognition payment, but the people in the neighbouring CHO regions are being paid it. People who changed jobs from their original job have yet to get it. People who were contracted to the HSE have yet to be paid. It was a very positive development and a good gesture but the positivity has been lost for certain people. When can these people expect to receive what they have been promised, which is the €1,000 recognition payment for working on the front line during the pandemic?

The Taoiseach

The vast majority of people entitled to the payment have received it and received it last year. I should say that it was intended for people who were front-line workers - the people who wore masks and gowns and were exposed to Covid patients before the vaccines were available. It was for our own employees who were employees of the State. We put in a provision allowing non-State employees' employers to pay €1,000 to their own staff without having to pay tax on it. Pretty much anyone who was entitled to it has got it. I accept that there have been some disputes. There have been anomalies from one region to another, which creates problems as well. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is trying to iron all of that out at the moment.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

I have been contacted by several landlords who want to sell their rental properties and do not wish to evict their tenants. They are finding it extremely challenging to access the tenant in situ scheme. There is no clear point of contact in each local authority for landlords and tenants who want to avail of the scheme. Some local authorities are not engaging properly with landlords on it. The scheme is being implemented in very different ways in different parts of the country. This was confirmed to us by the City and County Management Association at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Focus Ireland has made 12 very reasonable recommendations about how to improve and strengthen the scheme. Is the Government considering implementing those 12 recommendations? When will very clear instruction be given to the local authorities on this scheme?

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)

Clear instructions have been given to the local authorities by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. He has written to them-----

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan

But they are implemented differently.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

-----in the last week. The Deputy is probably aware that each local authority is setting up a specific acquisition unit to deal specifically with the tenant in situ scheme and various other issues. These units are now being established. The Deputy's points, which focus on those matters, will be taken into consideration by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Department. They will be given active consideration.

Deputy Patricia Ryan

In the programme for Government, the Government commits to prioritising investment in An Garda Síochána. I had a meeting with the Garda superintendent in my area, at which we discussed Garda resources at length. There are certain areas where extra gardaí are needed due to antisocial behaviour and drug issues. Obviously, any superintendent will always be looking for more resources in Garda stations and on the beat. Will the Taoiseach commit to increasing significantly the funding and the Garda numbers in south Kildare over the next year? It is vital that our communities feel safe and that our gardaí have the strength and numbers to protect them and provide the service required. I am aware of the recruitment drive plan, which I welcome, but I want to know how many gardaí from that plan we will get in Kildare.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy referred to the funding in the budget to recruit 1,000 more gardaí this year. That should be more than enough to cover retirements and resignations. That recruitment campaign is now under way. Decisions on how gardaí are allocated to different services in different regions are not made by the Minister or the Taoiseach. Such decisions are made by the Garda Commissioner, and it is appropriate that it should be thus. Perhaps it would be best if the Deputy were to contact the Garda Commissioner directly about that.

Deputy Marc MacSharry

I listened earlier to the Taoiseach outline the total superficiality of Private Members' motions, like many of the activities of this House. For the record, therefore, will he confirm for the Irish people - who are increasingly and falsely led to believe by all parties, including the Taoiseach's, and enthusiastically supported by the media that the will of this Chamber on such motions means something - that in reality, as also stated, irrespective of the stated position of the Dáil on the housing eviction motion this afternoon, the Government will proceed whether or not its position is defeated? Will the Taoiseach further outline, given what I have just said, what reforms the Government proposes to introduce to address the abject democratic deficit that exists within the established practices and Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann as exemplified once again today with this motion proposing the temporary extension of the eviction ban?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I believe that all of us in this House, and the Deputy, are familiar with the Constitution, the law and Standing Orders. We all know what they are. There are motions of confidence, financial motions, Private Members' motions and legislation. They are all different. Legislation trumps Private Members' motions. We passed legislation in this House - I think almost every party supported it - to bring in a temporary winter eviction ban to end on 31 March. It was introduced by the Government and supported by the vast majority of Opposition parties, if not all of them. A Private Members' motion cannot trump legislation. That is simply the position as to how our Standing Orders and our rules work.

Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

In the 2016 programme for Government it was committed to reopen a rural Garda station in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow. Nearly seven years on, this has not been done. A commitment was given to reopen it. It is a small rural Garda station to be manned by one or two gardaí. It is really needed. I am looking for a timescale. I am worn out going to the OPW and to the Department on this.

Reference was made to Garda recruitment. I want to ask about the recruitment of gardaí for Carlow. I met with the personnel from the Carlow Garda recently. I am very concerned about the way things are being centralised. Carlow seems to be the poor relation again of Kilkenny and Waterford. In December 2022, Carlow had 108 gardaí, which is not enough. We need more gardaí. When I went the Garda station, I was very surprised to see at the back of the station a prefab that is not fit for purpose but is being used as offices. I am very concerned about that. It needs to be sorted. There is no lift in Carlow Garda station. If a person is a wheelchair user or has a disability, there is no lift and he or she would not be able to use the station.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for raising the issue of Garda resources in Carlow. I do not have a date for the reopening of the station in Leighlinbridge, but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Harris, to contact the Deputy directly about it, and also about Garda resources were generally in the county. Certainly, when it comes to personnel, it is the Garda Commissioner who decides how gardaí are best allocated to national units and to different services around the country. There is, obviously, a strong political role by the OPW and the Minister, Deputy Harris, when it comes to the infrastructure in the stations themselves. I will ask them to engage to see if we can get some progress on it.