Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2023

Vol. 1039 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 Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Agreement Establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation (without debate)

- Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to stand adjourned at either 5.30 p.m. or after 1 hour and 40 minutes, whichever is the later)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Retained Fire Services, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Statements on the Impact of Government's 5-year Policy for Rural Ireland: Our Rural Future (not to exceed 210 mins)

- Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to be taken no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and to conclude within 45 mins)

- Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 (Amendments from the Seanad) (to conclude within 2 hours)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 (Second Stage, resumed, if not previously concluded) (to stand adjourned at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded).

Thursday evening business shall be Second Stage of the Flood Insurance Bill 2021.

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 extent that private members’ business shall be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on Government business, or where that business concludes within the time allotted by arrangement, on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the items following private members’ business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Rural and Community Development and topical issues, and on the adjournment time of the Dáil;

2. the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Agreement Establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation shall be taken without debate; and

3. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at either 5.30 p.m. or after 1 hour and 40 minutes, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Tuesday.

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

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that the weekly division time may be taken later than 8.45 p.m., and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 170(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours;

3. the Statements on the Impact of Government's 5-year Policy for Rural Ireland: Our Rural Future shall not exceed 210 minutes, with arrangements in accordance with those agreed by Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, for 200 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;

4. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022 shall be taken no earlier than 5.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 45 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 Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and

5. the proceedings on the amendments from the Seanad to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and any amendments from the Seanad not disposed of shall be decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments to the Seanad amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Transport.

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

1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders is modified to the extent that topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of Government business or at 5 p.m., whichever is the earlier, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Flood Insurance Bill 2021 and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil: Provided that in the event proceedings on the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 conclude before Thursday, topical issues shall be taken immediately following the SOS; and

2. the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at 5 p.m., and shall not be resumed on Thursday.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is it agreed? It is not agreed.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I have commended the Ceann Comhairle's initiative establishing the task force on safe participation in political life and I am delighted to be a member of it. However, in advance of our meeting on Thursday, I raise in this House the need for us as public representatives to promote civil and respectful debate and to show leadership in these Houses. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, we have seen some really awful examples in this Chamber and on social media of public representatives really pushing the boundaries of respectful political discourse. I am thinking in particular of a debate on agriculture in the last sitting week when certain Members even questioned the right of a Minister of State to be in the House. That sort of behaviour is not conducive to encouraging safe, respectful and dignified debate in these Houses.

Therefore, I ask the Ceann Comhairle in advance of Thursday's meeting of the task force, which I very welcome, that he remind Oireachtas Members of our obligation to show leadership in promoting civil and respectful discourse in this House and in political debate generally.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I have a very important issue to raise. However, I cannot allow that attack on our independence and on our right to be here to represent our people and our views. We did not wait until Deputy Bacik was elected in a recent by-election to come here to tell us how to run our business and how to be respectful and mannerly. It is all one-way traffic as far as I can see. If a person has a contrarian voice or opinion, he or she is not allowed to talk at all, whether it be on rural Ireland, on immigration or on the many other issues that affect us.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

That is not what I said.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

I will take no lecture from Deputy Bacik. She will be gone like the last leader, before it even gets dark. That is what happens with the Labour Party. It was founded in Clonmel. It was a proud party that represented rural Ireland and the people of Tipperary. Now what is it? It is languishing and in the doldrums. We will not take any lectures like that. I thank the House for its indulgence.

The issue I want to raise concerns motorbikes, which I raised three weeks ago. Faugheen 50, which has been there since the 1970s, and many clubs throughout the country cannot get insurance to hold any races this year. There are 12 or 13 different big events and many small ones. These are committed sport enthusiasts who run races safely but cannot get an insurance quote in the South. Their colleagues in Northern Ireland can get insurance but they cannot get it here in the South.

The Taoiseach promised me several weeks ago that the Minister would engage with us and get this sorted. Sadly all the events are being cancelled this year. Those people who want to give so much to their communities cannot do it.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

We learned at the weekend of the resignation of Mr. Brendan Lenihan from the board of the HSE and from the chair of its audit and risk committee. His reason is the €2 billion black hole in the HSE service plan. We need to know why the Minister for Health published the HSE service plan knowing of that substantial financial risk within its pages. We need to get an assurance that services will not be cut in order to close that gap. We also need to know what will be done about the fact that there is now no accounting or auditing expertise on the board of the HSE. Will the Taoiseach allow time for the Minister to come in and make a statement on this important matter?

The Taoiseach

At the outset, I concur with Deputy Bacik's remarks. I heard Deputy Berry speaking on the radio the other day. He made a very valid point that those of us in politics often complain about the quality of discourse, abuse and social media abuse.

Sometimes, however, we are our own worst enemies. We set the standard in the way we behave and none of us are angels in that regard. Given what Deputy Bacik said, we should all resolve to conduct our business in a more parliamentary manner, in the way we used to in the past. That has deteriorated considerably in the almost 20 years I have been here.

On the insurance matter, I acknowledge some events are running into difficulties in getting insurance. Having said that, there are lots of events happening all over the country that have got insurance. The Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is working on the issue and doing all she can to resolve it.

Regarding the HSE, there is always a risk of an overrun or overspend in the health service. Ultimately, it is a demand-led service. If more patients turn up at an emergency department or more patients are referred to a specialist, that has to be provided for. The Ministers, Deputies Stephen Donnelly and Donohoe, are working closely on this matter and trying to bottom it out and resolve the underlying issues. There certainly are no proposals to cut back services; far from it. The HSE is working very hard to meet its target of hiring an additional 6,000 staff this year and it is pretty much on schedule to do so.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

I asked about the lack of expertise on the board.

The Taoiseach

I am sure a new member of the board will be appointed in due course.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

Somebody has been appointed but that person has no expertise in this area.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the proposed arrangements agreed to? Agreed.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

Yesterday, the Taoiseach told the national economic dialogue that he believes energy costs will remain very high throughout the coming winter. That is devastating news for many households that are already on the brink. As he knows, wholesale electricity prices have come down considerably. In April, wholesale electricity costs were just a third of what they were last August. Yet, prices remain at eye-watering levels for ordinary households. Companies clearly are not passing on these reductions to consumers. What does the Taoiseach propose to do about this situation? Rather than casting himself as some kind of prophet of doom, what will he actually do to ensure a cut in people's bills as wholesale prices continue to decline?

The Taoiseach

I am not the prophet of doom but the Deputy is the harbinger of doom. It will not take her party being in office for more than several months before this country ends up in an economic crisis. I guarantee her that.

Petrol and diesel prices have fallen considerably from peak. Electricity and gas prices will fall too. There is not a direct link between wholesale prices and retail prices. It is an indirect link. At one point, wholesale gas prices were six to ten times higher than their base but retail prices never went up sixfold or tenfold. It is not a direct link and the prices will come down. In the meantime, we are assisting. The 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas remains in place and is helping to keep prices down. As the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, confirmed today, the windfall tax legislation will be through the Dáil and Seanad before the recess. The proceeds from that can be used to help people.

Deputy Ivana Bacik

I pay tribute to the courageous Women of Honour who spoke truth to power in highlighting abuse experienced in the Defence Forces. Members will recall the shocking findings of the independent review carried out into the culture in the Defence Forces. The report detailed just how abusive certain experiences of many members were. When that kind of systematic and misogynistic abuse is exposed, it becomes incumbent on the Government to act. The Women of Honour have warned that a toxic culture will fester unless the proposed terms of reference for an inquiry are made effective. My colleague, Senator Wall, has pointed out that without rooting out that culture, we will see an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have met with the Women of Honour. Will the Taoiseach accept their calls for an effective tribunal of inquiry, with terms of reference that are sufficiently focused to ensure that not just the abuse itself but victimisation as a result of that abuse, and the accompanying misogynistic culture, are investigated by the tribunal?

The Taoiseach

The Tánaiste and I had a very good meeting yesterday with the Women of Honour. It was very useful to hear from them their views on this matter.

There are other groups we need to talk to as well, but it was particularly useful to hear their views. I can certainly understand the points they made. Having gone through private or closed-door processes that did not work, they felt the need and took the decision to go public. In my view this was a very brave decision. For that reason, they want an inquiry to be held in public. Deputy Bacik is a barrister and she knows the pluses and minuses and the pros and cons of that approach. The same applies to the terms of reference. The wider the terms of reference, the broader they are and the longer the inquiry will go on. We must make sure we get it right, that we get to the truth, and that the serving members of the Defence Forces in particular have confidence that this inquiry is real. There will be further meetings this week and we will consult the Opposition once we have a plan.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

I have spent a lot of time over the past couple of weeks speaking to firefighters in my constituency of Wicklow. When I talk to them, there are some themes coming through: their love for their job, their love for their community, and the huge impact their pay and conditions are having on them and their families' lives. They are really being asked to do the impossible under the current situation. The Taoiseach says he is committed to seeing this issue resolved, and I hope that is true. Why then has he not dealt with this before now? This has been an issue for the entirety of his position in Government. Why is the Government forcing firefighters to do something that goes against every single bone in their body by forcing them out onto the picket line to fight for very basic pay and conditions the rest of us enjoy?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. As I said earlier, we value the contribution retained firefighters make. They provide an excellent service. We believe this dispute can be resolved, as all disputes are resolved. To answer the Deputy's question, we have a system by which we bargain public pay centrally with the Government. It is a good system and it has existed for a very long time. We have an agreement between the unions on the one hand and the Government on the other hand to give several pay increases across the course of this year to all public servants. We are bound by that agreement and we will honour it. Equally, we expect the union side to honour the agreements it makes. That includes all public servants. This matter can be resolved and within the context of the agreement the union side has made with us. It made the agreement and voted for it, but it has to be done by negotiation.

Deputy Mick Barry

Two thirds of the nation's firefighters are now directly involved in an industrial dispute with the Taoiseach's Government. Our 2,000 retained firefighters risk their lives to protect the public. The Taoiseach's Government has chosen to ignore their justified demand for a better core rate of pay. As a result of this choice, these firefighters have been left with little option but to escalate their action today, with the result that 50% of the nation's fire stations are now closed. They are closed on the Taoiseach's watch. I support the firefighters. My clear sense is that a big majority of the public support the firefighters too. Will the Taoiseach address the issue at stake here in a serious way or will he keep his head in the sand and just wait for this dispute to escalate further?

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. As I said earlier, we very much value the work of retained firefighters. They provide an exceptional service around the country. We are confident this dispute can be resolved by negotiation. We are a Government that recognises trade unions. We engage in collective bargaining with trade unions. We come to an agreement with trade unions, and we expect those agreements to be honoured because we honour them too. We have an agreement with the trade unions; it is called Building Momentum. There was a ballot of public servants across the country, who voted in ballots for that agreement. We are honouring it and we expect everyone to honour it too.

Deputy Matt Shanahan

The Government recently announced the HSE capital infrastructure programme of €1.1 billion in spend. In the programme, the Government has given more than €90 million to each of the five Dublin hospitals, €55 million to Cork, €54 million to Limerick, and €64 million to Galway. To University Hospital Waterford, which is the busiest hospital in the country for the past four months, the only hospital last year to reduce its waiting lists by 20%, and the hospital with the best metrics in accident and emergency department times and presentations, the Government has awarded €7 million. Of that, there is no allocation for beds. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has spent the past 15 months coming to Waterford and applauding the performance of that hospital, yet in this capital spend programme he has penalised it while rewarding dysfunction in other hospitals around the country.

Will the Taoiseach have a look at the capital allocation to University Hospital Waterford? We are waiting now on a consultant's report for more than 15 months to give us a funding programme for beds. The most recent bed delivery there was in 2016 and we badly need a proper and fair allocation of resources.

The Taoiseach

I thank the Deputy. University Hospital Waterford is one of the best performing hospitals in the country. It has seen overcrowding go down and waiting lists shortened and has very much risen to the challenge given what happened in Wexford with the fire there. I am glad to see the emergency department will reopen in Wexford next week. I believe hospitals which perform well should be rewarded. This is a matter I have asked my team to examine at the moment.

The Deputy has raised it with me one to one, as have Senator Cummins and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, as the Deputy might imagine. I am keen to see any healthcare projects which have planning permission, are shovel-ready and are ready to go proceeding as soon as possible.

There are about 500 projects in the system, by the way, so it is not the case that every project can proceed immediately. That is just not possible but certainly those which have planning permission should proceed to tender as soon as possible. My team are currently engaging both with the Department of Health and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Deputy Michael Collins

I attended a public meeting at Shannonvale last night. It is a little village and picturesque community just north of Clonakilty. We had a packed attendance in the meeting room in Phairs Pub where we listened to people talking about the raw sewage and the sewage crisis in their town. This means they have raw sewage in the community garden so children cannot play there. They also tell me they have raw sewage going down into the mains water in Clonakilty on a wet day, which is a serious health issue. The town was, seemingly, on some kind of a list up until last year and it is now off that list. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, visited the area last year to talk about the sewerage but, unfortunately, it has not got better and has instead got worse. The town is now off the list and is on no list. This needs the intervention of the Taoiseach. This is a serious and massive public health risk to the people of Shannonvale and of Clonakilty. This crisis needs to be resolved immediately and a new sewerage system to put in place.

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

I thank Deputy Collins. I am aware of the point the Deputy is raising and note his genuine concern. It is a matter the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is very aware of and is one I will take back to him. I think the Deputy wants to highlight the matter again. It is something which is under constant review in the Department and I will take the matter up with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien.

Deputy Michael Collins

We need answers. This is very serious. It is a public health risk.

Deputy Thomas Pringle

The Department of Health disability capacity review commits to providing sustainable quality services for all users, yet none of this can happen if voluntary organisations cannot recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver their existing funded services. Over two thirds of all disability services are delivered by the voluntary sector, with their terms and conditions covered under section 39. On the ground in Donegal, organisations and workers are telling me there is a disparity in pay and conditions between section 39-funded organisations and their HSE and section 38 counterparts. This is fuelling the recruitment and retention problems they face. Workers do not feel valued and organisations are at crisis point.

It is not good enough to continue to take a hands-off approach or say it is a matter for the organisations as employers when the Government knows their funding comes exclusively from the HSE and Department of Health and, ultimately is sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Will the Taoiseach commit to getting the appropriate Ministers, the HSE and the representative bodies around the table to finally address the pay disparity of section 39 organisations?

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

I thank Deputy Pringle. Engagement is taking place between the relevant agencies and Departments in bringing about a resolution here. It is early stages in the process yet and we want to let those negotiations continue. We are very committed to the capacity review, and both I and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, want to see that implemented. We will be looking forward to bringing an action plan forward later this year for the financing of the first three years of the capacity review.

Deputy Willie O'Dea

I want to ask the Taoiseach about a problem that has arisen mainly in urban areas. There is a classic example of it in my own constituency. It relates to the impact of traffic noise on people who live in the vicinity of that traffic and the impact it has on their homes and on their lives. There is a well-known system for measuring this and deciding whether the limit has been reached and whether the noise exceeds the permitted limit. When that happens, remediation measures are proposed.

The difficulty is that responsibility to put those remediation measures in place lies with the local authority, but it has told me locally and otherwise that it does not have any funding stream to do so. The study has been done, the remediation measures have been proposed, and the problem remains unresolved simply because there is no funding stream. Initially, there was a debate as to whether it was down to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, or the local authorities. It is the responsibility of the local authorities.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy O'Dea for raising this important issue. I am familiar with it from my constituency which has the M50 running through it. Down the years, we have engaged in various battles with TII, previously the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authorities to secure noise management measures, which can make a big difference in people's lives. I have seen noise measures be put in place and noise reduced, although only so much can be done, unfortunately.

It has been a long time since I engaged on this issue, but the Deputy has raised it and it is important to people in Limerick and elsewhere, so I will endeavour to come back to him with more information when I get it.

Deputy David Stanton

Last May the Marine Institute published a report called Irish Ocean Climate and Ecosystem Status Report in which it pointed out we are vulnerable to rising sea levels. In fact, 40% of our population lives within 5 km of a coast. It seems inevitable that the sea will rise. Has the State any long-term plans to deal with this issue?

The Taoiseach

It is inevitable that sea levels will rise, but thankfully they are rising slowly. I saw some work on this that was done under the previous Government under the auspices of the Office of Public Works, OPW, but I have not seen anything in quite some time. I will have to look into it and come back to the Deputy directly.

Deputy Pauline Tully

I was contacted by two families last week who hope their loved ones will be admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, in Dún Laoghaire. They have been told there is a waiting time of four to six months. I contacted the NRH which confirmed the waiting time, identified the issue to be staffing and stated that it is primarily a housing-related issue. The staff required in the NRH are opting to go to other hospitals in other parts of the country or abroad because they cannot afford to live in Dublin.

One young man who is awaiting admittance to the NRH is only 21 years of age. He had a bleed on the brain and is scheduled for radiation treatment. He needs to build his mobility and strength. His needs are urgent but he cannot be seen. Another man has brain damage due to heart failure. There is a window of opportunity now due to some progress. He needs treatment now and not in six months for it to make the most impact. The staff in the NRH are excellent and I cannot praise them enough but there are simply not enough of them. What measures can be taken to address this urgent issue?

The Taoiseach

I will have to make some inquiries into the matter. As the Deputy will be aware, we have a new National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. It was built under the previous Government. I had the privilege to turn the sod on it as Minister for Health and see it open only a few years ago. It is a top class facility with all single rooms. It is a huge improvement on the one that was there before.

Staffing is a challenge across the country in the public and private sectors, in well-paid jobs and modestly paid jobs, and in big and small companies. Much of that is down to the fact we have full employment, among other issues. I do not know the exact detail of the staffing situation in the NRH in Dún Laoghaire, but I will make inquiries about it and revert to the Deputy.

Deputy Brendan Smith

Since the end of last year there has been improvement in substantially reducing the waiting times for driving tests at the Cavan centre. Unfortunately, once again there is a concern that we may see waiting times increase. Driving instructors believe that not enough driving testers have been rostered for work in the Cavan centre for June and July. Those two months are particularly important for young people who have completed their studies, hope to go on to employment and need a driving licence to ensure they can get to work. I would like an assurance that sufficient personnel will be rostered to ensure we do not go back to what we endured in 2020 and 2021, that is, long and unacceptable delays in people getting appointments for driving tests.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Jack Chambers)

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. We recently sanctioned 75 driving tester posts which will increase the number from approximately 100 last year. Thirty testers were recruited at the end of last year, so more than 200 driving testers will be in employment this year. There should therefore be an improvement in waiting times toward the tail end of this year. There is a recruitment process. The testers should be in place from the autumn onwards, which should improve the waiting time situation in County Cavan.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

In April 2021 we commenced the all-island rail review to develop a strategy for the planning and provision of an enhanced rail network across the whole island of Ireland. Over two years later we still do not have the findings of that review, which have yet to be published. The Taoiseach will be aware that there was a recent and significant investment announcement in the town of Athenry, with a US company called Dexcom hoping to provide 1,500 jobs. There will be an urgent need for the development of new rail and active travel connections to Athenry from Oranmore, for example, and from Tuam. Neither of these developments can take place until the findings of this review are published. I urge the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to publish the strategy so we can move ahead to begin planning for a new future in sustainable and active travel to and from Athenry.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Cannon for raising this question and I acknowledge his strong advocacy for improving rail services from Athenry into Galway and in Galway in general. I am advised that a draft report has been finalised by Arup, the consultants. It has been agreed at official level and it is expected that the draft will be published for the purposes of a strategic environmental assessment, SEA, in July. Following the consultation process, the finalised report will be submitted for appropriate political approval on both sides of the Border. This is, however, complicated by the absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland, approval will be considered, taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the UK's Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Act 2022, and it is expected that a final review will be published in autumn of next year.

Deputy Imelda Munster

As I speak, retained firefighters are on the picket line in Drogheda and they have been forced to do so and left with no other option because of Government inaction. At present only six out of ten retained firefighter positions in Drogheda are filled, and that is a problem across County Louth which has been ongoing for seven years. They work six 24-hour shifts in a row, with only two days off. They are on call for 144 hours per week and have a five-minute turnaround time to get to the station, which most find impossible, and that affects their pay too. Earlier the Taoiseach said he values their work but does he respect their work? The Taoiseach is fully aware that discussions broke down in May and clearly the offers are not realistic or fair. If he values and respects their work, will the Taoiseach ensure, given how long this has been going on, that a realistic offer of proper pay and conditions is made to them?

The Taoiseach

Of course we respect their work and we also respect and honour the agreements we have made. We have an agreement with the public sector unions for pay increases across this year. We are honouring that agreement and we expect the union side to honour it too. This dispute can be resolved but that can only be done within that agreement. An intervention from the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, which is the Government office charged to resolve disputes like this when necessary, is possible.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Last week the Government published its latest report on the well-being framework, entitled: Understanding Life in Ireland. It has 11 dimensions measuring over 35 indicators. It is timely in the budgeting process and I like how it falls before the summer economic statement, which feeds into the national economic dialogue, and within the report there is some good and some bad. I dwell on the environmental measures as being some of the less positive but overall it is important and positive work. One deficiency I have pointed to time and again is culture and language and how this report is entirely silent on issues of culture and language. We only have to look at the well-being frameworks in Wales or New Zealand to see how this can be woven in and incorporated. I know this is an iterative process. Do we have any plans to include things like language and culture in future versions of this report?

The Taoiseach

The well-being framework was a major initiative of this new Government and assesses our performance as a country across 35 different indicators, including economic, social and environmental and I believe there is a cultural element too. We are doing well on 25 of those indicators and we are not doing as well as we would like on eight. It confirms the view of the UN and others that Ireland is one of the best places in the world in which to live. However, there is always room for improvement. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, has raised the issue of having a 36th indicator on the Irish language and culture and Deputy Ó Cathasaigh has made the same point now. Over the course of the next few months I am planning on organising a half-day seminar led by the Department of the Taoiseach to review the outcome of the framework.

It will also look at how we might change and improve the framework. Certainly, that can be part of it. This is something we will consider and that can, perhaps, form part of the framework for next year.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

The members of fire crew KY 18 based at Kenmare fire station are picketing on days on which they are not on call. It is not for me to advise the Government, but must inform it that this matter is going to be sorted one way or another. Why in the name of God would the Government want to discredit itself by not being proactive and saying that retained firefighters deserve to be sorted out? This issue should have been resolved a long time ago. The Government is going to do it anyway, so why not knuckle down now, please? On behalf of the retained firefighters in County Kerry, I am asking the Government to sort out this matter. It will have to be sorted one way or another. Why would the Government delay matters and discredit itself by not being proactive? I am asking in the nicest possible way that it help these great, hardworking men and women. They help us when we need them. That cannot be denied. My shop went on fire one time and I was damn glad to see the members of KY 18 arriving to Kilgarvan to help me as they have done for many others over the years.

An Ceann Comhairle

Thank you, Deputy.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

I appreciate their work, and I know the Taoiseach does too. I am asking him to try to resolve this matter.

The Taoiseach

First, the Deputy’s advice is always welcome. Second, he is right that this dispute will be resolved, as is the case with all disputes. However, we have to resolve disputes within the confines of the agreements that we have made. The Government and the trade unions made an agreement. We signed off on it at Cabinet; the unions balloted their members and they voted for it. As a result, any solution has to be within the terms of that agreement. That can be done once both sides accept the basic principle that when you make an agreement, you have to stand by it. State agencies such as the Workplace Relations Commission are ready to intervene if there is a willingness to engage.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Once again, I raise the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act that was passed by the House six years ago and that came into operation in March 2017. The Government is legally obliged to carry out a review of section 4 of that legislation. It was legally obliged to carry out that review within three years, which would have been March 2020. Three years and three months later, there is no sign of it. I have raised this matter more than once in the Dáil. Where is the review? I ask because research carried out by the University of Limerick and Amnesty International shows that the legislation has made sex workers more vulnerable and more open to violence.

The Taoiseach

I am very aware of the issue. I am not sure of the status of the review, but I will ask the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to come back to the Deputy directly.