Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Apr 2023

Vol. 1037 No. 1

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

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

I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023 (without debate)

- Motion re Appointment of Anthony Harbinson to be a Member of the Policing Authority (without debate)

- Motion for a Financial Resolution - Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 (without debate)

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the deployment of a Naval vessel to participate in Operation Irini (to conclude within 55 minutes)

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/818 (to conclude within 55 mins)

- Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 [Seanad] (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned after 50 minutes or at 6.30 p.m., whichever is the later)

Private Members' Business shall be Motion re Proposal for Re-introduction of Mortgage Relief Interest, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Twenty-Third Report of the Committee of Selection (without debate)

- Statements on the Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (not to exceed 145 mins)

- Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Bill 2019 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to be taken no earlier than 5.15 p.m. and to conclude within 30 minutes)

- Courts Bill 2023 (Committee and remaining Stages) (to conclude within 60 minutes)

- Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 90 minutes)

- Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 60 mins)

Private Members' Business shall be Second Stage of the Rent Reduction Bill, selected by People-Before-Profit-Solidarity.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023 (back from Committee) (without debate)

- Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 [Seanad] (Second stage, resumed, if not previously concluded)

Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Report entitled "Final Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy" by the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy.

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) the Dáil shall sit later than 10.30 p.m.; and

(ii) the time at which Government business shall be interrupted to take private members’ business shall be in accordance with the arrangements for the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 [Seanad], which shall have consequential effect on the commencement time for private members' business, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Rural and Community Development and topical issues;

2. the Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of the Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023 shall be taken without debate;

3. the Motion re Appointment of Anthony Harbinson to be a Member of the Policing Authority shall be taken without debate;

4. the Motion for a Financial Resolution on the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 shall be taken without debate;

5. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the deployment of a Naval vessel to participate in Operation Irini shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(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; and

- a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(ii) members may share time;

6. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/818 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply:

(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; and

- a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(i) members may share time; and

7. the proceedings on the second reading motion on the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 [Seanad] shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 6.30 p.m. or after 50 minutes, whichever is the later.

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 shall sit later than 9.30 p.m.;

(ii) the Statements on the Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement shall be taken immediately following oral Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) and the sitting shall be suspended pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) on the conclusion of the statements;

(iii) Government business shall resume on the conclusion of the SOS; and

(iv) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of Report and Final Stages of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022;

2. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 170(2), the proceedings on the second reading motion on the Rent Reduction Bill shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours;

3. the Motion re Twenty-Third Report of the Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate;

4. the Statements on the Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement shall not exceed 145 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 135 minutes, following which a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, and members may share time;

5. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Bill 2019 shall be taken no earlier than 5.15 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes 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 Health;

6. the Order of referral of the Courts Bill 2023 to the Select Committee on Justice is hereby discharged, the Bill shall be taken in Committee of the whole Dáil and the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Courts Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes 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 Justice;

7. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes 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 Justice; and

8. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes 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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

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

1. the following arrangements shall apply in relation to Thursday:

(i) the ordinary routine business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that, if not previously concluded, the proceedings on Government business shall be interrupted and stand adjourned and topical issues shall be taken at 5 p.m., with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Motion re Committee Report entitled "Final Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy" and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; Provided that in the event Government business concludes before 5 p.m., topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of Government business; and

(ii) the Dail on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023;

2. the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023 shall be taken without debate; and

3. the Ministerial rota for parliamentary questions pursuant to the Order of the Dáil of 29th March, 2023, shall be modified to the extent that the Questions to the Minister for Defence that would have been taken on 4th May, 2023, shall be taken on 16th May, 2023, and the rota shall be otherwise unaffected: Provided that the entitlement to Questions nominated for priority pursuant to Standing Order 49 to the Minister for Defence on 16th May, 2023, shall be as if the questions were taken on 4th May, 2023, and the rota of entitlement to questions nominated for priority pursuant to the Order of the Dáil of 14th December, 2021, shall be otherwise unaffected.

Deputy Paul Murphy

They are not agreed. It has been six days since The Ditch website published very serious allegations about the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. He finally responded to them yesterday, after we wrote to the Business Committee requesting that there would be a statement from the Minister of State, as well as a question-and-answer session. He did not dispute a single allegation set out on The Ditch website. He did not dispute that his wife contacted Limerick County Council when he was a councillor seeking to buy a parcel of land. He did not dispute that he then participated in the decision to put that land up for sale. He did not dispute that he did not recuse himself. He did not declare his conflict of interest. He did not abstain from voting in this decision.

On the face of it, it is a very clear breach of the code of conduct for councillors. It is quite likely a criminal offence under the Local Government Act. We, therefore, need not just a statement from the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, which I understand he has agreed to do and which is welcome, but we need the opportunity for Deputies to have questions and answers with him.

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

This is now the second time that the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, will come in to make a statement on a matter of serious public concern. This is about our planning legislation regarding the sale of lands by local authorities applying to all citizens equally. It could not be more serious. There cannot be a situation where he comes in, like he did the last time, at the close of business when there was no opportunity for the Opposition to have questions and answers. There is precedent now and I include the Taoiseach, who made a statement and took questions and answers, in this. It is critical that this time, when the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, comes in, there will be questions and answers from the Opposition.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Taoiseach's latest announcement today was on the effort to do something about the housing crisis, which we have now had for ten, 12 or more years. I ask the Taoiseach to clarify whether the development charges are being wiped out. I think the Taoiseach said to Deputy Healy-Rae that they were to be for people who are building one-off houses. Where will the county councils get the funding? Will they have to increase the local property tax, LPT, to make up for the shortfall in funding that the Government will now have to give to the developers and its friends in the tents in Galway and elsewhere? I am not against development at all, but this needs to be properly thought through. We need a full debate on it in this House, because they are running futa fata. They do not know whether they are coming or going.

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

Speak for yourself.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

They are making no impression. Every move they make is like chess and bad games of draughts.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

They do not know which way to move next. They are like rabbits in the headlights.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I ask the Taoiseach to clarify that and to give time for a proper debate in this House.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

Following these further revelations, we in the Labour Party are also looking for the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, to give a statement to the House and, further, to take questions and answers on that statement. On 2 March, prior to the most recent allegations that have emerged, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, made a statement in a hastily-arranged slot on a Thursday afternoon, when there was no time for questions. At the time, we said that was not good enough. Clearly, it is now absolutely incumbent on him to be in this House and to take questions.

I also say to the Taoiseach that I have seen reports emerging in the last 15 minutes that he and the other leaders of the coalition have publicly critiqued the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins's action in not recusing himself from a crucial meeting at the council.

What action is the Taoiseach proposing to take at this point following that statement?

Deputy Catherine Murphy

We too in the Social Democrats believe there needs to be not just a statement but questions taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. Has the Taoiseach looked at all the documentation? There is quite a lot of it online and it seems to be at variance with what the Minister of State said in his statement. The timeline is really important in regard to this and that is the kind of granular information we need to tease out. This completely undermines public confidence and I do not think that will be satisfied until we have a proper forward-and-back on this. How has the Taoiseach satisfied himself on this? Has he looked at those documents? What information has he looked at that makes him confident there is not an issue here?

Deputy Michael McNamara

The programme for Government pledges to introduce a new food authority that will ensure "fairness, equity, and transparency in the food chain”. The legislation to do that is coming before the House tomorrow on Report Stage. Twenty-five amendments have been put forward in good faith, the majority by the Opposition but a significant minority by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Bill is being guillotined. Our debate is limited to one hour. The Taoiseach, before he took office, said that sometimes a guillotine was necessary to get things done. This is the first time the Bill is being put on Report Stage. There have been no long speeches and there is certainly no question of a filibuster. Will the Taoiseach explain to the House why it is necessary to curtail debate on this? In fairness to farmers, surely if they have waited this long, they are entitled to a Bill that will actually work and a regulator that will actually have teeth.

The Taoiseach

I might ask the Chief Whip to respond on the food ombudsman Bill because I was not involved in the discussions on the scheduling of it. If it is possible to find another hour or two for it, by all means, but I will ask the Whip to come back to Deputy McNamara on that.

Deputy Michael McNamara

I thank the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach

In respect of the development levies, this applies to all residential development that commences within a year from today. It applies to local authority development levies and Uisce Éireann-Irish Water connection charges, and they will be fully refunded by central government. Irish Water will not lose out - it will be able to continue with its investments - and local authorities will not lose out either as it will be funded by the Government. This is all designed to bring down the cost of building a home for people who are building who their own home but also the cost of building homes generally, with a view to increasing supply and making sure we exceed our housing targets yet again this year and meet them next year.

In regard to the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, my understanding is he has written to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle seeking time to make a statement in the Dáil. I believe he should be allowed to do so. I do not believe the question-and-answer sessions that happen in this Chamber, quite frankly, are fair-----

Deputy Paul Murphy

Accountability.

The Taoiseach

-----and I am somebody who has been subjected to it. This place is a Parliament. It is not a kangaroo court.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

What about the coalition leaders' critique of the Minister of State?

Deputy Catherine Murphy

What documents has the Taoiseach looked at?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I thank the Deputies.

Deputy Hildegarde Naughton

With regard to Deputy McNamara's question, we can look at giving the Bill a little more time this week. I will come back to the Deputy at the Business Committee, if that is agreeable.

Deputy Michael McNamara

I thank the Minister of State.

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

The Dáil divided: Tá, 75; Níl, 46; Staon, 0.

Tá

• Berry, Cathal.
• Brophy, Colm.
• Browne, James.
• Bruton, Richard.
• Burke, Colm.
• Burke, Peter.
• Butler, Mary.
• Byrne, Thomas.
• Cahill, Jackie.
• Canney, Seán.
• Cannon, Ciarán.
• Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
• Chambers, Jack.
• Collins, Michael.
• Collins, Niall.
• Costello, Patrick.
• Coveney, Simon.
• Cowen, Barry.
• Crowe, Cathal.
• Devlin, Cormac.
• Donnelly, Stephen.
• Donohoe, Paschal.
• Duffy, Francis Noel.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• Farrell, Alan.
• Feighan, Frankie.
• Fitzpatrick, Peter.
• Flaherty, Joe.
• Flanagan, Charles.
• Fleming, Sean.
• Foley, Norma.
• Grealish, Noel.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Harris, Simon.
• Haughey, Seán.
• Healy-Rae, Michael.
• Heydon, Martin.
• Higgins, Emer.
• Humphreys, Heather.
• Kehoe, Paul.
• Madigan, Josepha.
• Martin, Micheál.
• Matthews, Steven.
• McAuliffe, Paul.
• McGrath, Mattie.
• McGrath, Michael.
• McGuinness, John.
• McNamara, 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'Donovan, Patrick.
• O'Dowd, Fergus.
• O'Gorman, Roderic.
• O'Sullivan, Christopher.
• O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
• Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• Rabbitte, Anne.
• Richmond, Neale.
• Ring, Michael.
• Ryan, Eamon.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Smyth, Niamh.
• Smyth, Ossian.
• Stanton, David.
• Varadkar, Leo.

Níl

• Andrews, Chris.
• Bacik, Ivana.
• Barry, Mick.
• Boyd Barrett, Richard.
• Browne, Martin.
• Buckley, Pat.
• Cairns, Holly.
• Carthy, Matt.
• Collins, Joan.
• Conway-Walsh, Rose.
• Cronin, Réada.
• Crowe, Seán.
• Cullinane, David.
• Daly, Pa.
• Doherty, Pearse.
• Donnelly, Paul.
• Farrell, Mairéad.
• Funchion, Kathleen.
• Gannon, Gary.
• Gould, Thomas.
• Guirke, Johnny.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kenny, Gino.
• Kenny, Martin.
• Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
• McDonald, Mary Lou.
• Mitchell, Denise.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Murphy, Paul.
• Nash, Ged.
• O'Callaghan, Cian.
• O'Reilly, Louise.
• O'Rourke, Darren.
• Ó Broin, Eoin.
• Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
• Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
• Quinlivan, Maurice.
• Ryan, Patricia.
• Shortall, Róisín.
• Smith, Bríd.
• Smith, Duncan.
• Stanley, Brian.
• Tóibín, Peadar.
• Tully, Pauline.
• Ward, Mark.
• Whitmore, Jennifer.

Staon

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

Question declared carried.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

Energy costs are sky-high and putting real pressure on workers and families. People are getting bills for eye-watering sums that they simply cannot afford. A study of electricity prices across Europe has found that Ireland is the most expensive of 33 countries. That comes as no surprise to people living here. The cost of electricity has doubled for Irish households in the past two years, and yet the Government has simply asked companies that are enjoying record profits to pass on savings to customers. It has done nothing to back this up with real action. It is little wonder, therefore, that costs continue to soar. Government energy credits have come to an end and bills are still through the roof. What action will the Government take to help households faced with extortionate energy costs?

The Taoiseach

As I said earlier, we expect energy prices to come down. We have made that very clear to the electricity and gas companies. We have already seen petrol and diesel prices come down. We have extended the low VAT rate of 9% on electricity and gas through to the autumn. This week, over 1 million people - pensioners, people on social welfare and families - will receive a €200 payment from the Government to help them with the high cost of living.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the very disturbing revelations that an investigator with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, apparently attended a party with Gerard Hutch on the evening of the day that the latter was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court following the prosecution arising from the Regency Hotel murder, which casts such a long shadow on those communities so badly impacted by organised crime and by the Hutch-Kinahan feud in particular. This is a really disturbing revelation about GSOC. The Garda has mounted an investigation, and that is welcome. However, I echo the calls of my colleague, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, for the establishment of an investigation of the matter independent both of GSOC and the Garda. This investigation could be led by a senior counsel or a retired judge or it could be modelled on the Seán Guerin inquiry. It should be swift and focused. This is such a serious matter - it has the potential to undermine, to a great degree, public confidence in policing and our policing apparatus - that it warrants that level of investigation.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Go raibh maith agat.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

May I say-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Taoiseach to respond.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

We are concerned that this is not just an isolated incident-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are over time.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

-----and there may be other issues around Garda collusion with organised crime.

The Taoiseach

This is a very serious matter. I can absolutely guarantee that the Government and the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, are taking it very seriously. There is already a Garda investigation under way. That is the appropriate investigation, in my view, because this is potentially a criminal matter. As the Deputy knows, only the Garda can carry out investigations into criminal matters. Senior counsel cannot do that.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

Seán Guerin looked at Garda files and at the way prosecutions were handled.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

People Before Profit–Solidarity is next. I call Deputy Bríd Smith.

Deputy Gary Gannon

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I beg the Deputies' pardon. I took off my glasses. I apologise. I call Deputy Cairns.

Deputy Bríd Smith

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle definitely needs her glasses.

Deputy Holly Cairns

The review of our abortion law involves some really concerning findings. It states women are experiencing delays and even obstruction when trying to access services. Services in parts of the country are described as untenable and at risk of ceasing altogether because so few GPs and hospitals are involved in service provision. It is an indictment of the public health service that more than four years since we repealed the eighth amendment, just 11 of out 19 maternity hospitals are providing abortion services. More damning is that the hospitals which are not providing the services are run by the State. The report also highlights the paternalistic and patronising three-day mandatory waiting period women have to endure to access care. The difficulty in accessing care in this country when there is a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality is particularly indefensible because of the suffering it is causing. The Taoiseach said he was uncomfortable with some of the recommendations contained in this review. Many of us are uncomfortable with women's legal right to essential healthcare being either obstructed or denied.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond.

Deputy Holly Cairns

When will the Government act on the recommendations?

The Taoiseach

The Government considered the report earlier today. The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, will publish it tomorrow and people will have a chance to read it then. He has referred it to the Joint Committee on Health for its advice and deliberations. It will be up to the committee to decide how long it takes to do that. Obviously, it is an all-party committee.

On operational recommendations that show gaps in the service, we are going to act on them right away. These are being referred to the HSE for implementation. There are 400 GP practices that provide abortion services in Ireland. That is not a small number. More than 8,000 abortions were performed in Ireland last year, which is not a small number either. There are some gaps in some regions, however, and we need to encourage GPs in those regions to provide the service. The HSE will be working on that.

There are 19 hospitals in Ireland that provide obstetric and gynaecological services.

Only 11 provide surgical terminations. That is not good enough. I agree with the Deputy about that. A programme is being put in place to ensure that, by the end of this year if not early next year, all 19 will provide the service.

Deputy Bríd Smith

As well as the figures the Taoiseach gave for the care provided, more than 700 women have had to travel abroad for care since the eighth amendment was repealed. That is probably the biggest issue. One impediment - we hope the report will show this because there have been leaks to that effect - is the three-day wait. The Taoiseach has said he feels uncomfortable, as have others on that side of the House. I remind the Taoiseach that this is about women; it is not about how he or any Government Minister feels. I recall when it was repeatedly stated that we are all on a journey. I say to those who were slow to begin the journey before the eighth amendment was repealed, to get on the bus. The journey is not over. There is unfinished business in respect of this matter. The review was about the lived experience of women, not something in my head or that of the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach

I am disappointed that the Deputy has decided to personalise an important and very sensitive issue. She does a disservice to women when she tries to personalise an issue such as this.

Deputy Bríd Smith

I did not personalise anything.

Deputy Paul Murphy

How did she personalise it?

The Taoiseach

I just expressed my regret.

Deputy Paul Murphy

What does the Taoiseach mean by that?

The Taoiseach

The Deputy was having a go at me. The Deputy has plenty of opportunities to do that on other issues. Nobody should personalise this debate. Everyone has their views on this matter. People are entitled to their views and those views should be respected. I am sorry the Deputy is not able to do that. I will leave it at that.

Deputy Bríd Smith

You are the Taoiseach and the leader of this country.

The Taoiseach

Roughly 250 women travel abroad for abortions every year. They do so for many different reasons, which are detailed and explained in the report. Like I said, the report will be published tomorrow. People will have a chance to read it, and it is being referred to the Joint Committee on Health for further consideration.

Deputy Verona Murphy

Overcrowding at Wexford General Hospital during the final months of 2022 and early this year meant that the hospital was completely overrun. The people of County Wexford were asked on several occasions to avoid attending the emergency department unless it was a life-or-death situation. Some patients who presented at the emergency department waited up to 30 hours if a bed was required. People's lives were put at risk. Capacity is now crucial to the hospital and the ever-growing population of County Wexford, which is now in excess of 164,000. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the proposed project for a 97-bed medical ward block for Wexford General Hospital will be given the green light without further delay and that it will commence as soon as possible after the completion of repairs to the hospital following the damage caused by the recent fire?

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

I have had several conversations with the team at Wexford General Hospital, Government colleagues and the Deputy about the need for the block. It is a project that I support. The capital plan will be published soon. This will contain details of bed projects across the country. We will wait for that for the details.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I wish to ask about St. Patrick's Hospital in Cashel, a wonderful institution that has been there for hundreds of years. The community, public representatives and everybody else were promised that a 60-bed community hospital would be built on the site. It is a listed building. There were 350 patients and staff at the hospital, and there was plenty of room to park. Now, the HSE has come up with another dúirt-bean-liom-go-ndúirt-bean-léi story in that there is no longer room for car parking at the hospital. I want a commitment from the Government that the 60-bed unit will go ahead and that Cashel will not lose out again, as it did in the 1980s under a Fine Gael-led Government. It is vital that this 60-bed community unit is built. There should be no subterfuge or hiding. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has made certain noises lately. There is major concern and angst in County Tipperary about this matter. It must be sorted out and the commitments that were made must be honoured. Promises were made, and they must be honoured. We are all expecting the project to proceed. The staff, the public and all of those involved - above all, patients and their families - deserve it.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

The Minister and I are committed to the development of a new community nursing unit for older persons in Cashel. As the Deputy is aware, a community nursing unit and a ten-bed crisis house for mental health are already under construction in Clonmel. The HSE has advised that the existing hospital site is not suitable for the new 60-bed community nursing unit.

It has also advised that the site is very limited in size. Challenges with the amount of parking space and access to the building have been identified. I reassure the Deputy that a site in Cashel town is being reviewed. The Deputy, who is a businessman, will know that these transactions are commercially sensitive and cannot be discussed while under investigation.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

We will have plenty of space where we are.

Deputy Mary Butler

The development has been included in the capital plan since last year and will go ahead.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Then build it where it should be.

Deputy Joan Collins

I object to the fact that every time we on this side of the Dáil raise critical questions about housing, the Taoiseach just throws the blame on us as being the cause of the problem and not on the Government for not implementing a package needed to radically change the position regarding the housing catastrophe that we face over the coming period. The Taoiseach mentioned that the Government is socialising the development levies for public infrastructure. I welcome that, but I would like to see the next step, namely, the Government socialising the building of public housing on public land by a public, State-run housing construction company. That is what is needed, and it is critical.

I wish to raise a brief question on development levies. I want to know for exactly how long they will be cut. I have heard reports that they will be cut for one year or three years. I have also heard about €300 million being given or not being given to local authorities. Will there be any buybacks from the developers in the context of Part V on foot of the development levies being cut?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I call on the Taoiseach to respond. We are over time.

Deputy Joan Collins

Exactly how will the Government replace the moneys to the local authorities euro by euro?

The Taoiseach

That is a false trope that gets thrown about by the Opposition a lot. I have never blamed the Opposition for the housing crisis.

Deputy Joan Collins

You blame us every time for it.

The Taoiseach

The causes of the housing crisis are multifactorial. I have gone through those factors on many occasions, but I have never blamed the Opposition for it-----

Deputy Joan Collins

You have.

The Taoiseach

-----or the Government for it. Both those analyses are far too simplistic. However, I have criticised people for objecting to housing developments. I will continue to do that. It is clear that we cannot fix the housing crisis without increased supply of all types of housing.

Deputy Joan Collins

Once it is appropriate housing.

The Taoiseach

When I see people oppose housing developments because they involve one-bed units - such units are the most needed form of housing, particularly in Dublin - I have a problem with that. That I blame the Opposition for the housing crisis is not true. I have not done so. That is not what I think and it does not stack up.

Deputy Willie O'Dea

My question is for the Minister for Health. A year and a half has elapsed since the Government announced the payment of a €1,000 pandemic bonus to front-line workers. As late as last January, according to the Irish Examiner, more than half the non-HSE staff among that cohort had not been paid. Remarkably, not everybody has been paid yet, even though the value of the payment has been eroded by inflation over the past year and a half. People are coming to me from various organisations and individually. It is a lamentable performance by the HSE. What I need from the Minister is a list of the people and the organisations that have not been paid yet and some sort of rough timetable as to how much longer they will be kept waiting.

Deputy Stephen Donnelly

To date, €208 million in tax-free payments has been distributed. That gets lost sometimes when there is an ever-decreasing number of people who have not been paid and who, quite rightly, are looking to be paid. At this point the vast majority - over 90% - of the organisations that have submitted claims to the HSE have been engaged with. There were issues with compliance and the submissions. The HSE was working with the organisations to resolve those issues. The vast majority of those organisations now either have been paid or have had a positive response from the HSE. There are a small number left, which I acknowledge, and the HSE is working through those claims as quickly as it can.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I again raise the issue of the ongoing and unfair treatment of women in the family law courts. Since I raised the issue last week, other information of a more serious nature has come to hand.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy, I am stopping you there. You are treading across the separation of powers. You are making statements about the courts. It is not allowed, and I am ruling it out.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I hate to disagree with the Chair, but I must also tell you that when an issue is brought to the attention of a Deputy, that Deputy's job is to bring it to the forces or the powers that be in order to have it resolved such that he or she can then take responsibility in any way possible. I have informed you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, insofar as I can. I am now available to hear a response from you as to what you can allow-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Thank you. You are out of-----

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

-----to highlight further the seriousness of this issue.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Your time is up.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I will finish by saying-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

No. You are over time.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I hate to be interrupted again and again-----

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I did not interrupt you-----

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

-----because the Ceann Comhairle has allowed me to discuss this again and again, so you are attempting to overturn the decision of the Ceann Comhairle.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy, please. I call on the Taoiseach to respond. We are way over time.

The Taoiseach

I know that Deputy Durkan has raised this matter a number of times, and we have spoken about it one to one. The issue is alienation and how courts treat it when it comes to family law. I have a genuine difficulty in that I am not sure what the Government can do when it comes to how the courts operate, but I will certainly speak to the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General about the matter to get more advice on it.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

An inquiry is the answer.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

There has been a lot of commentary over the past week about the sale of land in Patrickswell, County Limerick. It has been reported that in December 2006 a solicitor acting on behalf of the wife of the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, wrote to the council seeking to purchase the land and that then, the following month, councillors, including Deputy Collins, voted to allow the council to dispose of the land. At that meeting he did not declare his wife's correspondence to the council, and the land was subsequently sold to his wife in 2008. Will the Taoiseach advise if he has spoken to the Minister of State about this? I know the Taoiseach has made clear in media reports that the Minister of State should have recused himself from that meeting, but has the Minister of State given the Taoiseach assurances that he is not in breach of the Local Government Act by not declaring an interest or recusing himself in that vote? Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that he is satisfied that the Minister of State is not in breach of section 177 of the Local Government Act?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

It is policy or promised legislation.

The Taoiseach

I have not spoken to the Minister of State about this particular matter, but I did speak to him some weeks ago. I understand he is trying to make arrangements to make a statement in the House. I am confident that he has not breached that aspect of the Act. I have been a member of a local authority, as I think Deputy Farrell has. Because this is a reserved function, only a full meeting of the local authority can dispose of property. The Minister of State was not even a member of the council at that time. A local area committee cannot dispose of property.

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan

I wish to raise the urgent need to increase special school capacity right across Ireland. There are parents everywhere in Ireland at the moment who are looking for and fighting for places for their children in special schools. In west Cork we do not even have a special school. That needs to change urgently. I wish to raise the issue of a child who lives close to where we are in the centre of Dublin. Robbie McGrath from Clontarf is 13 years old. He has a dual diagnosis of Down's syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. His mother Marrita has applied to 12 different special schools for a place for him next September. All have rejected her efforts so far because they do not have capacity. Robbie is a flight risk. He has limited vocabulary. He needs help with personal care and feeding. He needs a place in a special school next September. I am asking the Taoiseach to help.

The Taoiseach

The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, made an announcement in the past couple of weeks in respect of additional special places in mainstream schools and additional special schools, I think, in Dublin and Cork, but not west Cork. I do not know if that will provide a solution for the young man the Deputy mentioned. I will certainly ask the Minister of State to contact the Deputy directly to see if we can find some way to help.

Deputy Paul Murphy

The Government has just voted to block a question-and-answer session about alleged corruption on the part of the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. The Taoiseach described a question-and-answer session in the Dáil with a Minister of State as a kangaroo court. That is quite an incredible attitude to take to the basic idea of parliamentary accountability. If I may take the Taoiseach up on what he just said to Deputy Mairéad Farrell, is it his belief that the Local Government Act does not apply at all to local electoral area committees or is it just section 177 that does not apply to them? I do not understand on what legal basis the Taoiseach suggests that is the case. When the Minister of State participated in a meeting which agreed to put land up for sale that his wife had applied to buy, he was acting as a councillor.

Surely the Local Government Act applies to him and therefore his failure to recuse himself, his failure to declare a conflict of interest is not only a breach of the code of ethics but a breach of that legislation and an indictable offence.

The Taoiseach

In many ways that is the point. This is a Parliament, not a kangaroo court. While the Deputy is a Member of Parliament and I am too, he does not have the authority to decide who has committed a crime and who has not. Nor does he have the authority to investigate it. If an allegation is being made of a criminal nature, there is a proper process by which an investigation can be carried out and a prosecution carried out if warranted. It is not for the Deputy to do that. That is not his role. We are a democracy. We do have a separation of powers between the legislative function of this place and the courts.

The fact that you think you are the person who should make that determination is exactly the problem.

Deputy Paul Murphy

Can the Taoiseach answer the question? On what basis is he saying that the Local Government Act does not apply to local electoral area committees? It is absolute nonsense.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Deputy, please. This is on promised legislation. Please resume your seat.

Deputy Paul Murphy

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I apologise but he is not telling the truth to the House. He is pretending there is a legal basis which manages to mean that Deputy Niall Collins's corrupt behaviour is not covered by the Local Government Act. He will not even answer the question about it.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I am now standing up. Deputy Murphy is misusing the time available and there are six more speakers.

Deputy Richard Bruton

It is encouraging to see today that the Central Bank is reporting a reduction of 5% in motor insurance in the first six months of this year. We also read today that the 188,000 uninsured drivers over a five-year period are adding €175 to premiums, effectively 6% per year. Can more effective action be taken to detect uninsured drivers?

The Taoiseach

I also welcome the fact that motor insurance premiums are continuing to fall. I think they have fallen about 40% or 50% from peak now. I would like to see the same happening when it comes to business insurance. Employer's liability and public liability have not come down and that is disappointing. The fact that there are so many uninsured drivers on the road is a cost for everyone, because the cost gets loaded on to the motorists who do pay their insurance and that is not fair. I am not sure if there are additional actions that can be taken but I will certainly take it up with the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is responsible for this area, and with the Tánaiste, who chairs the committee on insurance reform.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We are over time and there are four speakers left. I am going to take the four speakers but I ask for Deputies' co-operation.

Deputy Brian Stanley

The question I have for the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health is regarding stroke victims in Laois, Carlow, north Tipperary and Kildare, who appear to be left with a very precarious service since the stroke unit closed in Naas hospital. People coming to Portlaoise hospital with strokes were being sent to Naas but in the past month or so that has stopped. Apparently there is a very precarious service at the moment. The expectation was that Tallaght would take them but apparently Tallaght is not obliged to because it is a voluntary hospital. Patients are being diverted to Kilkenny, which is in a different hospital group, which itself is problematic. There is no certainty for those patients. It is a serious situation. As a doctor, the Taoiseach will know that they need to be seen in a specialist stroke unit within the first four hours. Can he address this very serious situation?

Deputy Michael Collins

The conditions of our fire brigade personnel buildings leave a lot to be desired. Independent community activist, Mags McKenna, in Ballincollig tells me there is no fire brigade service in Ballincollig to cover 28,000 people. In Clonakilty we have a serious crisis in spite of many announcements having been made that there is a new fire station. They tell me it is rat-infested and pigeon-infested. There is a lady after being taken on recently, which is brilliant, but she is sharing changing rooms with men. The Clonakilty fire station is outdated and needs to be replaced. It is covering a huge area from Bandon west to Clonakilty, Timoleague, Barryroe, all that area. When will the sod be turned for Clonakilty fire station? That is what they want, not another promise.

Deputy Patrick Costello

On a number of occasions I have raised the need for special provision for people with epilepsy during State exams. We are about a month out from the leaving certificate and there is no clarity received yet from the Department of Education on what will happen to individuals who have a seizure during exams. Can the Government commit to providing clarity as a matter of urgency?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy for his brevity.

Deputy Matt Carthy

Many families and workers are continuing to struggle as a result of rising costs. Among those suffering most are those families who have no option but to use their car to get to work or bring their children to school or other activities. There has been some reduction in petrol and diesel in recent weeks but they are still 27% higher in cost than they were in December 2020. Bizarrely, the Government's stated intention is actually to increase the costs further in next month's carbon tax hikes. Will the Taoiseach review that decision, understanding the pressures that many families are under?

The Taoiseach

I am pretty sure the carbon tax increase in May does not apply to petrol and diesel, it applies to solid fuel and kerosene. I will double-check on that.

Deputy Matt Carthy

The Government is restoring the charges next month.

The Taoiseach

On special provision for students who have epilepsy, it is an important issue and I thank the Deputy for raising it again. It would be a matter for the State Examinations Commission and for the Minister, Deputy Foley. I will ask her office to contact the Deputy directly. I appreciate the exams are coming and it is important to make provision for people.

There is an investment programme for fire stations. I do not know where Clonakilty is on it but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy directly on that. I might ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to respond to the question on stroke services in the midlands.

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

If there are specific service-level issues such as those the Deputy has raised, he might send me a note and I will get him a response. The Deputy will be aware that we are investing in stroke care. We have rolled out the first national stroke strategy this year. There is a lot more money going in, both in terms of the acute services and the very quick responses, which are making a huge difference to patients' recovery, and also in community rehab including neurorehabilitation teams. It is growing but if there are specific local issues I ask the Deputy to let me know.

Deputy Brian Stanley

I thank the Minister, there is a very serious issue.