Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will reiterate some of the questions I asked earlier and speak to what Deputy Howlin said. He talked about the temporary state aid framework that is now in place to help European companies. That is partly a response to the Inflation Reduction Act in the US. I do not expect to hear from the Minister of State about any policy discussions he might have had with the American President last week but that is an absolutely crucial issue for European business, and particularly for Irish business, when it comes to decarbonising our economy. Last week we heard all about the investment US companies have made in Ireland but equally there is the investment Irish companies have made in the US. There is a quid pro quothere. We need to be sure that level of investment can continue.

About three weeks ago a delegation from Denmark came before the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs. They spoke to us about some of the challenges their small businesses are facing when it comes to the Inflation Reduction Act in the US and the impact that will have on European business. They felt Denmark and Ireland were similar sized countries and that many of our businesses here would face the same type of challenges. Very specifically, how proactive is the Government being to ensure Irish businesses can avail of any of the benefits that might come their way through the state aid framework or the new Net-Zero Industry Act? Is the Government working proactively with industry to ensure that?

My other question does not relate to the European Council but at the end of the day, the Minister of State and I know that if Europe is to mean anything to people, it has to mean something to them today. We can talk about the Inflation Reduction Act and whatever and most people will not know what it means. It is crucial but they still will not know what it means. However, they know what it means if they decide to avail of the cross-border healthcare directive and come across the kind of intransigence from the HSE - not all the time but sometimes - regarding reimbursement of their costs. I do not need to tell the Minister of State anything. He has seen, or heard about, the Ombudsman's report. It is quite damning in many ways. The HSE simply makes it difficult for people and the very opposite should be the case. I asked this in my original intervention and I am asking again. The Ombudsman made quite a significant number of recommendations. Will the Government take these on board? I do not want just a "Yes" or "No" answer. When will it take them on board? How will it change things? I do not expect a full answer today but what I would like is a fulsome approach to what the Ombudsman said and a statement from the Government that it is going to listen and act.

See this speech in context