Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2024

Vol. 1048 No. 6

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 Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)

- Statements on the Coordination of Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland

(working title) (not to exceed 212 mins)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re the International Court of Justice and Genocide in Gaza, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees (without debate)

- Research and Innovation Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 4.45 p.m. or after 2 hrs 26 mins, whichever is the later)

- Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 [changed from Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023] (Report and Final Stages) (to commence no earlier than 4.30 p.m. and if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 2 hrs)

- Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 (Amendments from the Seanad) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 2 hrs)

- Employment Permits Bill 2022 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 10.45 p.m. or after 2 hrs, whichever is the later)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022, selected by People Before Profit-Solidarity.

Thursday's business shall be the Research and Innovation Bill 2023 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded) (to adjourn at 4 p.m., if not previously concluded).

Thursday evening business shall be the Motion re Report entitled "Report on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals 2023".

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 may sit later than 10.32 p.m.; and

(ii) the time allotted to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for Statements on the Coordination of Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, private members’ business, Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, and topical issues;

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

3. the Statements on the Coordination of Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland shall not exceed 212 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.

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) in the event the Taoiseach is unable to attend for questions pursuant to Standing Order 46(1), the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) may take place earlier than 1.49 p.m., with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business; and

(ii) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m., and the weekly division time may be taken later than 8.45 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Employment Permits Bill 2022, or where those proceedings conclude within the allotted time, on the conclusion thereof;

2. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 170(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committees shall be taken without debate;

4. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 4.45 p.m. or after 2 hours and 26 minutes, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday;

5. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 [changed from Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023] shall commence no earlier than 4.30 p.m., shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 2 hours, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday;

6. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 2 hours, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday; and

7. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Employment Permits Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 10.45 p.m. or after 2 hours, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday.

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

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

(i) the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the interruption or conclusion of proceedings on Second Stage of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023, or where those proceedings conclude before Thursday, immediately following the SOS, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the Motion re Report entitled "Report on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals 2023", and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

(ii) the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 7th February 2024; and

2. any resumed proceedings on Second Stage of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at 4 p.m., and shall not be resumed on Thursday.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed?

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

It is not agreed.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy Doherty.

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

It should be me.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, Deputy Mac Lochlainn.

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

The smaller Donegal person.

Last week, I raised the serious crisis in the fishing industry and its concerns about how negotiations are being handled at European level. Today, some of its leaders are in Brussels speaking for our industry. It is absolutely critical at this stage that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who is in the Chamber, appear before the Dáil to make a statement on how this matter is being handled and that we have statements about the overall state of the industry. Inshore fishermen were here last week. Aquaculture, both offshore and inshore, is an industry in serious crisis. We need an urgent statement from the Minister setting out his vision and approach to negotiations in Europe to reassure the industry that it has a future.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

We spoke earlier about the welcome progress in Northern Ireland. I understand the details of the DUP deal are to be published tomorrow. However, we do not yet know exactly what Westminster will be asked to pass by way of legislation as part of that deal. Will the Government Whip allow for time this week or early next week for statements on Northern Ireland and on progress so that the Government can provide clarity, in particular on the issue of what it proposes to do, as one of the custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, in order to safeguard that role. The Taoiseach referred earlier to restoration of North-South bodies, but it would be helpful to have more clarity through a debate and statements on the very welcome progress.

Deputy Gary Gannon

I again ask for time to be allowed to speak about the city of Dublin. The Taoiseach may be aware that an application was made yesterday to construct a fence around the Ambassador Theatre, which was built in 1764. This would obliterate part of the cultural heritage of our city. We need a consultative forum led by this Chamber in which we can bring all agencies together to discuss the city of Dublin and how we can make it safer, remove the blight of antisocial behaviour, confront dereliction, open up vacant sites and make us all proud again of our capital city and its infrastructure.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

I ask that the Taoiseach allow for statements, particularly on the issue of housing affordability. I was told by my colleague, Councillor Melisa Halpin, that there was a management report in Dún Laoghaire yesterday showing that zero cost-rental or affordable houses were delivered last year. In Cherrywood, the biggest residential development in the country, houses are being sold at between €600,000 and €800,000 and, unbelievably, we still do not know whether we are getting any affordable housing. Apparently, there is a row going on with the developers over the delivery of affordable housing, which we were supposed to get for the big public investment that went into that development, that is, the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF. We still do not know how many affordable homes there will be, if any, and whether they will actually be affordable. Rents there are being charged at €2,500 to €3,000 per month and house prices, as I said, are in excess of €600,000.

An Ceann Comhairle

I thank the Deputy.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

The Taoiseach said he was interested in ideas-----

An Ceann Comhairle

Time is up, Deputy.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

We need an urgent discussion in which we can have ideas about how to deliver affordability in housing and rents.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

There is a serious situation regarding the diminishing Garda numbers all over this country, while the Minister says they are increasing. The town of Carrick-on-Suir has only four gardaí when it used to have 18. Roscrea used to have 27 gardaí - we know the problems they have there now - and now only has seven. It is the same in Cahir and Clonmel in my constituency and all over the country. I regularly meet gardaí who are up here from other areas helping to police the city and leaving the people at home. When are we going to have a meaningful and honest debate about issues surrounding gardaí and the lack of numbers? I know the Government has increased the age limit, but it is too little, too late. The number has been allowed to diminish so low - in roads policing and everything else. We need a proper debate on that issue.

The Taoiseach

There have been a number of requests for statements on Northern Ireland, the fishing industry and negotiations currently happening at European level, Dublin, housing affordability and Garda recruitment. On many of these issues, such as housing affordability and gardaí, we regularly have discussions in the House. We would be happy to have statements on Northern Ireland, perhaps next week when the position is more clear and the documentation is published. The Whip will be happy to organise that. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is willing to have statements and a question-and-answer session on the fishing negotiations once that can be scheduled. I would be happy to find some time for statements on Dublin as well, but these are best scheduled by the Business Committee rather than here on the floor of the House. We are happy to discuss any of these matters, however.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements for the week now agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, told RTÉ that the defective concrete block grant is taking hold across the affected region. This will come as a big surprise to affected homeowners in my county of Donegal, and in Mayo, Clare and elsewhere. Figures released by the Minister last week to Deputy Ó Broin flatly contacted his claim. To date, just 54 homes have received a full grant. Since the revised scheme opened last summer, only 236 homeowners have applied. The scheme is not working. It does not provide 100% redress. The amendments proposed by the homeowners in 2022 would have improved the scheme but instead the Taoiseach and his Government colleagues voted them down. Clearly the scheme is not delivering. Will the Taoiseach return to the homeowners' amendment and finally provide them with 100% redress? They have done nothing wrong. Their homes have crumbled around them and they are still crumbling around them and they need action.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Hear, hear.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I am told that over 1,600 applications have been received for the old scheme and 236 for the enhanced scheme until the end of December but that over 300 have received grants of the higher rate under the new scheme. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy with the exact figures.

Deputy Pearse Doherty

I have the figures. It is not working.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

Since the House last sat, provisional orders have been made by the International Court of Justice in the case taken by South Africa against Israel. This represents a significant step forward towards achieving justice for the people of Gaza. As we know, the court has now affirmed the gravity of the accusations against Israel and has called for preservation of human life for allowing humanitarian aid to pass and effectively for an end to the bombardment. All these measures are needed to stop war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

Last week, the Dáil passed a motion which binds the Government as a matter of urgency to strongly consider an intervention in the South African case once preliminary orders have been made. While that wording was weaker than the working of the Sadaka draft of the cross-party motion that we in Labour had pushed for, nonetheless, now that preliminary orders have been made, will the Taoiseach set out exactly when the Government will make a decision on joining the case? I know there is to be a debate in the House tonight but it is a matter of huge urgency. We have seen more horrific deaths of civilians in Gaza over the weekend.

The Taoiseach

Ireland welcomes the decision by the International Court of Justice to order provisional measures in the South Africa versus Israel case. The court’s order is significant, that Israel must ensure that its military does not commit actions prohibited under the Genocide Convention and takes immediate and effective measures to enable basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The court’s order is legally binding and final and Israel must urgently implement all provisional measures. We have also called for humanitarian access and the protection of civilians since the start of the conflict. It is important to point out that the court did not made any findings of genocide against Israel but did say that South Africa has a relevant case that can be considered. We are now taking a rigorous analysis of this matter. Our understanding from our initial legal advice is that the term “join” is not the correct one to use. We can make an intervention, either a section 62 intervention or a section 63 intervention and these are different matters but we cannot actually do so until South Africa has submitted its main case, or memorial, and it has told us it will not be doing that for three to four months.

Deputy Holly Cairns

At the weekend, 11 ministers in the Israeli Government attended a conference calling for Israeli settlement in the Gaza strip. Detailed maps were displayed which showed the areas of the Gaza strip where settlements would be established. Among the ministers to attend was the national security minister, Ben-Gvir, and the finance minister, Smotrich. This will not come as any surprise. Both men are far-right extremists who support the creation and expansion of illegal settlements. Ben-Gvir was appointed national security minister despite having convictions for incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organisation. Smotrich had previously stated there is no such thing as the Palestinian people, and called for Palestinian towns in the West Bank to be erased.

On Thursday, when I asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what action Ireland was taking, the only thing he could point to was advocating for a ban on illegal Israeli settlements.

Does the Taoiseach think the travel ban on settlers should include members of the Israeli Government and will the Taoiseach advocate for that at EU level?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. To be clear, as a Government we will not accept any displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza or any attempts to resettle Gaza or the permanent reoccupation of Gaza. What we are now working towards with our international partners is a ceasefire; one that can allow humanitarian aid in, that can allow the hostages to be released, which is crucial, that can allow the killing to stop and that, crucially, can allow us to talk about the day after in Gaza when Hamas is no longer in charge and when we can begin the reconstruction of that territory.

Deputy Holly Cairns

Will the Taoiseach answer the question?

An Ceann Comhairle

Solidarity-People Before Profit is next.

Deputy Paul Murphy

I thank the Ceann Comhairle; it is People Before Profit. Sixty people per day are now being prosecuted for not paying the TV licence. More than 13,00 people were brought to court last year and, if convicted, had to pay a fine of €1,000 or face a jail term. This is in the context of what is now a majority of eligible people refusing to pay the TV licence. It is an unjust, regressive tax that costs €160 for the richest family and €160 for the poorest eligible family. It was even reported at the weekend that the Taoiseach is in favour of scrapping this regressive tax and replacing it with direct Exchequer funding. We published our alternative model of RTÉ for the people and for how the big social media giants can be taxed. At the very least, will the Taoiseach agree at this point that there needs to be an amnesty? We have to stop dragging people through court for refusing to pay this unjust tax. There needs to be a commitment to scrap the TV licence.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I am not in favour of tax amnesties and I am surprised to hear him advocating them. I thought it was something he was against. The law is clear. People have to pay the TV licence and I encourage people to pay the TV licence, not just because of the law but because of funds. It is really important to have public service broadcasting including the news, current affairs, children's programmes and Irish-language programming. While most of the money goes to RTÉ, it does not all go to RTÉ as it goes to other media outlets as well. That said, it is an outdated charge. It belongs to a different time and I am keen that we agree this year on a new mechanism to fund public service broadcasting, provide for that this year and have it in place for 2025.

Deputy Seán Canney

I raise the issue of housing adaptation grants. I note the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is present. There is a review under way of the whole programme, which is successful and provides funding for people who need to adapt their houses due to mobility issues or for older people who need to do improvements on their houses. The problem is that with the construction inflation we have had over the past number of years, the level of grants have not been increased and the threshold for the income has not risen. I know that a review is ongoing and that it is with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform at the moment. It is important this review is published in order that the local authorities can have more flexibility. In my constituency of Galway East, a lot of grants are just not providing sufficient funds to get works carried out and people are suffering as a consequence.

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

I thank the Deputy I acknowledge this is of interest to him and to other Members. We are currently finalising those deliberations with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and we really want to ensure it reflects the modern requirements under the housing adaptation grants. I hope we will come to that conclusion very quickly.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

An Post made the bombshell announcement last Thursday evening at 4 o'clock that it was downgrading the office in Davis Street in Tipperary town. Some six staff and one manager have been employed in that location since the 1980s. Tipperary had a lot of hammer blows last week with a number of restaurants closing. On one hand the task force does great work and yet Government State agencies do this. An Post said it will advertise to get a private contractor or perhaps co-locate in a shop but we have no idea where, or who would be interested in this because the remuneration is not good. I believe An Post is doing eight of these at the moment and there will only be 40 post offices left directly in the chain. An Post is downgrading and offloading these services all the time, without due regard to the staff. I might add there are excellent staff in this office who do tremendous work and who have a great relationship with their customers. It is very unfair of An Post.

This could go anywhere. First, they do not know if people are interested. There needs to be some reassurance for the staff and the people of Tipperary so that they will have a post office going forward.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising a very important issue for the people of Tipperary. I do not have any information on it to hand but I will certainly make inquiries of the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and I will come back to the Deputy later.

Deputy Joan Collins

Last Thursday, Ireland was convicted in the European Court of Justice for having toxins in drinking water above EU safety levels. The court found that drinking water for nearly 240,000 people, in 23 of the 54 water supplies across the State, have levels of trihalomethanes, THMs, with the State failing in its obligation to rid public and private water supplies of toxins. The court said that THMs are of concern for human health and the environment, since the long-term exposure to high levels of chemical compounds in drinking water may pose risks such as cancer, in particular, bladder and colon cancers, and can cause gastric problems and skin irritation. Could the Taoiseach outline what steps the Government is taking to ensure Irish Water fulfils the State's obligation to rid public and private drinking water supplies of all toxins above EU safety limits?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. The safety and quality of drinking water is paramount. We are aware of the judgment in the case, and we are studying the details of it. We will respond to it in early course.

Deputy James O'Connor

The Taoiseach and the Government will be aware of the effects of Storm Babet on the town of Midleton and the wider east Cork area but the county council has experienced some difficulty in securing the resources needed for repair works to road infrastructure and with the allocation of resources by the OPW to Cork County Council for the appointment of necessary engineers and other administrative staff to deal with the flood relief scheme required for Midleton. Could the Government focus on this and give the required financial resourcing to Cork County Council to carry out the necessary repairs that are required for the road infrastructure and to advance the flood relief scheme in the town?

The Taoiseach

We are very keen to proceed with the interim works in Midleton and then to proceed with the flood relief scheme. As the Deputy knows, I was down there a few months ago and I gave a commitment that we would pursue these projects so I will follow that up with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, and also the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Over the course of the weekend a number of allegations surfaced relating to a small number of workers with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA. The allegations are serious in nature and I am in no way well placed to make an adjudication on whether they are well founded or otherwise but one thing of which I am absolutely certain – a view I share with Oxfam and 19 other NGOs – is that these services are a lifeline to people in critical need within Gaza. A collapse in financial support for these services would compound and exacerbate what is an already atrocious situation. Is the State fully committed to maintaining our funding to UNRWA and what we are doing on the international stage to ensure the instigation and continuity of humanitarian aid into Gaza?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. I was really shocked and appalled to hear that it was even possible that UN staff would have been involved in the terrorist attack on 7 October. If it turns out to be true, I think it will do damage to the agency.

Deputy Joan Collins

How will it do damage?

The Taoiseach

It is a very serious matter. Even if it is a small number of staff in a very big agency, it is shocking to think that UN staff could be involved in any form of terrorist attack. It does need to be investigated thoroughly. We have taken the decision, however, not to suspend our funding to the agency. The people of Palestine need humanitarian aid, healthcare, and education and it would be a disproportionate response to suspend our funding. For that reason, we are among a number of countries, perhaps even one of the first countries, to say that we will continue to fund the agency. We are providing €36 million this year to help Palestinians, of which €18 million goes to UNRWA. We have confidence in Philippe Lazzarini to immediately terminate the contracts of the small number of employees suspected of involvement in terrorism.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

It is impossible to find a childcare place at the moment in Cork city and county, even if one has the money to spend what is effectively a second mortgage. Current figures released to Mr. Peter Horgan, which are reported in The Echo today, show that some 130 children were affected by the closure of 30 after-school facilities last year.

That is just after-school care. Add to that countless more in the preschool category that have closed, including crèches. I know of one in particular in Grange which is affecting a lot of parents. There is a particular crisis in Cork although it is an issue everywhere. It is high time the State took a more direct role in increasing capacity and addressing the sustainability of the sector. What is the Taoiseach's intention to ensure greater capacity is created in the Cork area for early years services? It is preventing many people from going back to work or going to work. It deprives other children of a quality early years education.

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

I thank the Deputy for raising this point. He raised it with me beforehand. I am aware of the article the Deputy spoke about. Whenever a childcare, early learning or after-school care service closes, it is a deeply traumatic time for children and parents. That being said, a significant number of early learning and after-school care services have opened in Cork in the past year. I will write to the Deputy so the figures he spoke about can be put in context. Concerning next steps, a significant capital scheme is available in 2024 of €20 million for existing services to expand to open new rooms and provide new offerings for children in early learning and after-school care. We are working with local authorities to make sure that when new planning applications are granted for houses and a childcare facility is linked to that, the facility is delivered. We know that does not always happen right now. We are working with the Department of housing and local government to strengthen the regulations.

Deputy Willie O'Dea

In 2011, 13 years ago, the number of gardaí policing Limerick was 637. It shrank to 612 in 2020. It has now shrunk again to 585. That is against a background of a substantially and rapidly increased population and a tidal wave of antisocial behaviour, which is making miserable the lives of many people in my constituency. I deal with cases of people who are literally under a curfew in their homes, people who are not even safe in their own homes and people whose kids cannot access local playgrounds put there at the expense of the State because of intimidation. My simple question to the Taoiseach is when will the Government provide the third city in this Republic with sufficient Garda resources to deal with this problem, which is having such a severe impact on the lives of people there?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy and acknowledge Limerick is one of a number of places that needs more gardaí. Blanchardstown in my constituency is another. The number of gardaí peaked in 2020. Templemore was closed as a consequence of Covid. It has now reopened and we expect the total number of gardaí to stabilise this year and begin increasing throughout the year. Some 746 trainee gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number since 2018. A new recruitment campaign is under way. There are also more Garda staff and better vehicles and equipment, which free up Garda time.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Once again, I raise the question of the use of a particular alleged condition in family law cases. This situation continues without interruption or indication of an interruption other than what the Minister has already said which, I hope, will put an end to the practice. To ensure there is absolute certainty about that, either the in camera rule has to be abolished or there has to be a serious deviation from the present practice.

The Taoiseach

I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this matter and his consistency in raising it in the House. The in camera rule is there generally speaking to protect the identity of children and families in what can be very sensitive cases. To waive that would be something we would have to think about very carefully.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh

My question relates to the failure of the Government to include in the most recent legislative programme the Bill promised to give effect to the central recommendation of the report of the working group to examine the disregard of convictions related to consensual sexual activity between men, which was welcomed last June by all, namely, that the legislation should be passed to allow for the disregard of those historic convictions.

Despite the passage of nearly 30 years since the repeal of the laws that criminalised thousands of men, we are still waiting for the draft Bill to exonerate them by lifting the criminal convictions cloud under which many have lived and died. When will the draft Bill be published so that we can expedite this matter?

The Taoiseach

The Minister is working on that legislation at the moment. We do not have a date yet for the publication but it is a legislative priority for the Department of Justice.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

Two months ago, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, board changed and rearranged the star rating of suckler cow beef breeds, downgrading four and five star Charolais, Limousin, Simmental and Belgian Blue breeds, which Irish farmers have bred to perfection over the past 40 years and, in the same way, promoting Dexter and other dairy breeds to four and five stars. The same cow and bull that have a four or a five star rated calf last year will only have a two or a three star rated calf next year. That is the silly change that has been made. The bulls being elevated to the top of the replacement index will have a major negative impact on both the carcass weight and the weaning weight that farmers can produce. This, in turn, affects farm viability and the quality aesthetics of Irish beef farmers. These changes are a failure resulting from non-communication and a failure of governance. Who recommended the changes? Who was consulted on the changes? Who verified the efficacy of the changes? Who approved the changes? Was the board aware of the severity of the changes before it made them? I am calling for the disbandment of this board-----

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Cormac Devlin)

Go raibh maith agat, Deputy.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

-----for the serious way it has impacted on beef farmers. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene in this because this is going to have a serious effect on suckler beef farmers going forward.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Charlie McConalogue)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The work of the ICBF is massively important and is something I very strongly support through the suckler calf scheme and the suckler carbon efficiency programme, SCEP, and through, for example, the recent investment we made last year which will see our national herd become the first herd in the world to be fully genotyped. All of that data will be held by the ICBF on behalf of farmers. The board of the ICBF is made up of stakeholders, including farm representatives. The star rating is based on emerging data that continues to be collected with the objective of making sure that farming is as profitable as it can be and that the animals that are being bred create the maximum income for farm families. Alongside that, I support them through the SCEP and the suckler calf schemes, which combined deliver €200 per cow. That was a commitment I made before the last election. I am also adjusting that SCEP to ensure animals that might see a reduction in their star rating keep it for the duration of the programme so that there is no penalty on farmers in terms of being able to meet the star thresholds throughout the duration of the programme. I am aware of the issue that is there and we are working collectively to make sure farmers are supported in the process.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

Who approved this?

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Cormac Devlin)

No, Deputy. That is the answer.

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae

Does the Minister know what the Government doing to farmers? Are they aware of what they are doing at all? My God, it is terrible.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Cormac Devlin)

Gabh mo leithscéal.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

Some 28,000 farmers are still awaiting their agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, payments. In counties such as Donegal and Cork, more than 3,500 are waiting while in Wicklow it is approximately 350. This is an important funding source for farmers to assist them to transition to more nature-friendly farming models. When will those payments be made? When will every farmer have his or her payment available to him or her?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I thank the Deputy. It is a really important scheme for farmers and one we significantly backed with a 50% increase in funding. That led to a very high application rate last year. Some 46,000 farmers applied even though we expected approximately 30,000. I made the decision to accept every one of those because I wanted everybody who wanted to participate in ACRES last year, to be able to do so.

That put significant pressure on the system in terms of being able to pay everyone. I had hoped, and we worked hard, to try to pay everyone by December. Unfortunately, given the fact that we accepted everyone, it means that for those in the co-operation stream, payments will start in February. We hope to have many of those paid throughout February. Everyone is working very hard to do this and to back the hard work that farmers did last year and to make sure that all 46,000 receive a payment and get a full payment for last year, which only 30,000 would have if the Government had not stepped up to the mark to support them. Next year, it will move much more smoothly because it will be up and running and into the second year.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

By March?

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Throughout February, I expect the majority of co-operation payments to be made.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

Can the Taoiseach update the House on the proposed Waterford orbital bridge? It is to be located downstream of the city in the vicinity of May Park, Ardkeen and University Hospital Waterford, UHW. As he will doubtless not have forgotten, the region has been waiting for more than a decade to advance this last vital piece of the outer ring road of the city. A number of regional priorities have been stuck for the past decade, not least the plans at UHW, our own university, the airport, and the N24 and N25. The bridge will dramatically improve access from UHW, particularly for blue-light transfer times from Wexford and south Kilkenny. It will curb traffic growth in the city centre, which is once again out of control. It will strengthen sustainable and active travel in the region and unlock and improve the development of the North Quays. Will the Taoiseach to commit Government to advancing plans for this vital bridge infrastructure in Waterford?

The Taoiseach

I am afraid I do not have an update on the bridge project to hand but I will follow up on it and get back to the Deputy directly.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Cormac Devlin)

We now move to the motion-----

Deputy Hildegarde Naughton

Deputy Verona Murphy is next, I think.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Cormac Devlin)

I am sorry, Deputy Murphy. Gabh mo leithscéal.

Deputy Verona Murphy

I will not keep the House. I know we are over time. The people of New Ross, my local town, got some very concerning news last week that An Post is going to tender for a contractor for the post office. Their first concern is that it is in the heart of the town and there are eight people employed who have become part of the community over the years. They are very concerned if a contractor is not found to fill the tender. Will the Taoiseach and the Government ensure that the post office does not close and should not be relocated? This would have a huge impact on the community element of the town. I ask the Taoiseach to please answer that for the people of New Ross.

The Taoiseach

I do not have a direct role in deciding where post offices are located. It is a matter for An Post but I appreciate the feeling in the town. New Ross is a big town. It needs a post office, and post offices are much better located in the centre of the town than in other locations. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, about it and ask him to get back to the Deputy directly.