Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the final matter raised, we completely accept we will need to increase staffing and resources given the large increase in the number of people who have applied for asylum and international protection here. We will need to ensure we are properly staffed to make decisions quickly and to enforce them.

On the question raised by Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, I put on record my strong support for the RDS project. I am a big supporter of it and have met with the RDS. It has planning permission and is ready to go quite soon. I would like to see it go to tender this year. State funding has already been committed but I understand that, because of the increase in building costs, the RDS is looking for additional State funding, and it is not the only such body in that boat. We need to look at that in the round and there are other sporting projects that also need to be considered. I would also say that it will not just be of benefit to Leinster Rugby but will also be a centre for women’s sport, which gives us an added value.

On the Covid-19 inquiry, this is being scoped out. It will be wider than just the health response and will take into account the economic and other responses. We hope to have it established by mid-year and we will be guided by what they are doing in other countries. They have different legal systems but they have also set up inquiries, and it is right that is done. We intend that it will also examine how nursing homes handled Covid-19. We also need to be fair to the management and staff of nursing homes. This was an unprecedented event in our lifetimes with a pandemic and a new virus. I do not think anyone had a manual or roadmap as to how it could be best managed. It is an area we will inquire into.

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