Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. Deputy Ryan raised a question about the women in "Women of Honour" and their search for justice and for the truth to be told. The Government has made no decision in respect of this. As I said earlier to Deputy Tóibín, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, will be meeting the group. I will be also meeting them on foot of an email I received yesterday requesting a meeting.

Deputy Durkan raised the worrying situation of human rights abuses globally. He is absolutely correct. It is a matter of great concern. I am referring to the growth of authoritarian regimes and the consequent decline in terms of the human rights of citizens all over the world. I would welcome a debate on this in the House.

Deputy Duncan Smith raised the issue of aviation. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is working on it, with both airlines and airports, so we can do whatever we can to support them in increasing traffic in and out of the country and getting the aviation sector back on some footing. It will be slow. This is an area in which Covid is having a lingering and more medium-term impact. Nonetheless, we will do whatever we can.

Deputy Farrell raised the issue of derelict sites and the Housing for All strategy. Taxation measures will be introduced that will be more effective in dealing with dereliction of the kind in question and transforming derelict sites into new housing units in towns, villages and cities across the country. That is the objective of the Government in that respect.

Deputy Higgins raised the matter of the 620 homes in Tallaght. I welcome the decision. All political parties need to do everything they possibly can to facilitate the construction of housing and apartments. We need different types of housing projects, including projects to provide apartments and two-bedroom houses, right across the board. I am referring to social and affordable housing and so on. We just need more supply. We owe it to the younger people in this country who need access to housing that we ensure we do not stop projects that could deliver the kind of housing in question. That responsibility is on us, including all parties.

Deputy Cathal Crowe raised the very heart-rending case of his neighbours who are stuck in Kabul and who are finding it very difficult to get out. The Deputy should rest assured that we will do everything we possibly can as a government to facilitate the safe return to our country of Irish citizens. I do not have the name of the person to which the Deputy referred but the Minister for Foreign Affairs will bring a memorandum to the Government next week in respect of this. The Deputy should not doubt that we will do what we can to facilitate the family and other families or Irish citizens who need to come back.

Deputy O'Dea raised the issue of childcare. We are committed to increasing the investment in early childhood learning to at least €1 billion by 2028 but I take the Deputy's overall point that a fundamental and profound examination is required. There has been an increase in early learning and childcare places nationally of around 60%, and around 27,000 new early learning and childcare places are funded under the capital programme as we speak, but we do need to take a fundamental look at childcare more generally.

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