Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I acknowledge the work of my Department and, in particular, the work of my hard-working colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, in terms of national strategies. I do not disagree with what Deputy Howlin has said insofar as having an overarching Minister of State who would have responsibility for a number of Departments. I am thinking of housing and the matter of refuges, accommodation which I acknowledge is less than adequate, the area of social protection, and of course children and youth affairs.

I refer to what Deputy Howlin said earlier, and I very much agree, on the need to ensure we learn lessons from the experience of the emergency. It should be remembered that it was unprecedented over a range of Departments, and Departments and agencies were often challenged because of the suddenness of the pandemic and the speed at which the virus spread across the world. In the moment I have left, I will commit to Deputy Howlin that we are leading efforts to identify lessons to be learned from the inter-agency plan, and that will continue. Indeed, I or my successor will be happy to report to the House regularly. I do not disagree with any of the points raised.

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