Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We have heard the announcement of the business for the week. There are three proposals to be put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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They are not agreed to. We cannot agree to an Order of Business for the final sitting week before the summer recess that does not allow the Dáil to address the scandalous abuse of money messages by the Government. The Government has been acting in a manner that is completely undemocratic and arguably unconstitutional by using the denial of money messages to ensure Bills that have the support of a majority in this House are prevented from progressing. I have a list of over 50 Bills in alphabetical order.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Okay.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The first is the Anti-Evictions Bill 2018.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy does not have to go through them. I will not let him do so.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The third is the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We get the Deputy's point.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The last in alphabetical order is the waste management Bill.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy does not agree with the Order of Business.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We know that the Bills on the list will be be joined by others-----

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is not saving the planet with all that paper.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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-----including the No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019 and the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, listen?

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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This is relevant to the Order of Business.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I know the point the Deputy is making.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The irony is completely lost on him.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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He does not agree with the proposal.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The reasoned response to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 which is extremely important gives the game away.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We will deal with it.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The content of the reasoned response is not about money.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is no need for an explanation.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Government thinks it has an executive veto which it does not have.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is no need for an explanation.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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It is using that executive veto.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Time needs to be provided this week to amend Standing Orders.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are other Members who want to use the Order of Business also.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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No problem.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is a problem.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We have proposed a motion to amend Standing Orders in a way that would resolve this issue.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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This is a stunt.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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There are other proposals-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I will hear from your-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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-----for which time needs to be allocated.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I will be putting it to the House.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We need to have that discussion this week.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The House will decide.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We need to stop this veto.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Business Committee makes recommendations and the House decides.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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No, the Deputy has been represented. I ask Deputy Mattie McGrath to be very short.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The Rural Independent Group is not happy with the proposal to consider the establishment of a citizens' assembly today without debate.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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No, one for each group.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I support Deputy Paul Murphy. The Government has treated the Order of Business in this House in a way that is completely undemocratic. The Deputy has cited the example of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 which is critical. The Government has used money messages at the end of a lengthy process which involved this House voting to proceed to Committee Stage.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Okay. The Deputy does not have to expand.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government's approach to the climate emergency Bill is the worst and most egregious example.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Hear, hear.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Eamon Ryan does not have to expand.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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It is absolutely appropriate to stand up for the rights of this House.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Members are allowed to put their case.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has interfered in the ordering of legislation in an unconstitutional way.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has had his chance.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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It is fully appropriate that this be a key issue for consideration before we adjourn for the summer.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Are the proposals with which we are dealing-----

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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No. The Deputy was represented. I took one Deputy from each group. Are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Can we get an answer from the Government?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Chief Whip wish to speak?

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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We are in the last week. The amount of business we are trying to get through makes it one of the busiest weeks of the year. We have tried to comply with all of the requests that have come in in recent days. We are facilitating a question and answer session on the Mercosur deal. We are setting aside time for a debate on Mr. Justice O'Neill's report. The Ceann Comhairle submitted the request that came to the Business Committee with regard to money messages to the Committee on Procedure. He expects to receive a report on the matter in the autumn.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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You cannot end the business of the parliamentary year on such an anti-democratic note.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am putting the question.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We should be able to put the motion before the House without debate.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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All of this can be discussed at the Business Committee.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This is a stunt.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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A Cheann Comhairle, the answer we have heard from the Government is not acceptable.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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No. The Deputy got his response.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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It is not acceptable.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Are the proposals for-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Government is riding roughshod over the democratic rights of the Dáil.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Are the proposals for dealing-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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It is using a procedure in Standing Orders that was clearly not meant for the purposes for which it is being used.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Please, Deputy. Are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Government is refusing to deal with its unconstitutional actions.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Iad siúd atá ina bhfabhar, abraidís "Tá".

Deputies:

Tá.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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They are not agreed to.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Iad siúd atá ina gcoinne, abraidís "Níl".

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sílim go bhfuil an ceist rite.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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They are not agreed to.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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You are not allowing us to make the case.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Is the business agreed to?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Yes.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Not agreed.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Not agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I deem the-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, why are you not allowing people to make the case?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I ask both Deputies to resume their seats.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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We want to answer what the Minister of State said.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Everyone is showing contempt for democracy.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I put the question. I cannot be responsible for the Chief Whip.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is sabotaging democracy-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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When the Chair is standing, Deputy Paul Murphy knows it is a long-standing rule. I will put the question. Is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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3 o’clock

Not agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Are the proposals for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Not agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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With what aspect does the Deputy not agree?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We cannot finish the business of the Dáil for the summer without dealing with the issue of the over 50 Bills which have been supported by a majority in the House and which the Government is undemocratically blocking. We cannot proceed in that way. It is unacceptable. The response of the Government is unacceptable, as is the fact that Fianna Fáil which is having its own Bills blocked is continuing to back up the Government.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has made his point.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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It is completely anti-democratic of the Government-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has made his point. The question is-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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-----to be blocking a series of progressive Bills-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am now putting the question. Deputy Paul Murphy has made his case.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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-----which have majority support-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have no control over-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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-----and seeking to block-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am putting the question. Is the proposal for dealing with Thursday's business agreed to?

Deputies:

Agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The business is agreed.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We cannot proceed with business.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I ask Deputy Paul Murphy to resume his seat.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Government is acting as if it had an executive veto or a royal prerogative.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Murphy will resume his seat.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I am sorry a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I will not be.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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On No. 3, is the proposal for dealing with Thursday's business agreed to?

Deputies:

Agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is agreed.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We have not agreed Wednesday's business yet.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy had listened to me and not shouted me down he would have heard it was agreed.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is not agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is agreed. I am moving on to Thursday's-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is not agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Boyd Barrett-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is the Government that is abusing the democratic process; we have no choice but to make an issue of it.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Deputy want to deliberately force me to suspend the House?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There must be-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Boyd Barrett, you have no monopoly on the time in this House.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They seem to think that they have a monopoly.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I will deal with it. If the Deputy is trying to deliberately-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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They seem to think that they have a monopoly; they do not.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should show some respect for the Chair.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On a point of order-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should show some respect for the Chair.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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With all respect to you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is showing no respect for the Chair.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----I cannot respect what this Government is doing.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is showing no respect for the Chair and he is deliberately disrupting the House.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is outrageous.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am going ahead. Is the business for Thursday agreed to?

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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No, it is not.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I deem it is agreed.

Deputies:

Not agreed.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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No, it is not agreed.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I just said it is.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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But you cannot say that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of the programme for Government and the implementation of Sláintecare, I was somewhat taken aback by the Taoiseach's comment that he has read the de Buitléir report on a key recommendation of Sláintecare, which relates to the disentanglement of private care from public care. The fact that it has been decided to go ahead with a private suite in the national children's hospital means that the recommendation is to a large extent dead and buried before it starts. The de Buitléir report belongs to the House because Sláintecare was a product of the House, produced by all parties on an Oireachtas committee. The de Buitléir report is on one of the committee's recommendations. There is no case for the Government to withhold that. That needs to be published this week. It does not have to go before Cabinet. It can go before it in the ordinary way but given that Sláintecare is a product of the House, that report in my view is a product of the House and it should be published. I could take a cynical view and suggest that maybe it will not be published until the Dáil is up because maybe there are some unpalatable proposals in it and the reality of whatever commitment the Government has made to do anything about it.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I do not believe there is anything unpalatable-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Publish it.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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-----in it in the sense that it points out that if public and private practice were to be disentangled it would have to be done over a long period of time, recognising that hundreds of millions of euro would be lost to the public hospital system by removing private fees, that the contracts of thousands of consultants would have to be changed and it could make our recruitment and retention problems more difficult. I will speak to the Minister for Health about it. If there is a good reason not to publish it I do not know what it is but I do need to speak to the Minister for Health.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Publish it then.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Has the Government made a decision on the legislation necessary for the extension of presidential voting rights to the diaspora and people living in the North? When will the legislation be published? When does the Government propose to establish the commission? Does the Government intend to hold a referendum on this matter in the autumn?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The plan is to have the legislation published before the end of the month. That allows us establish the referendum commission immediately and the intention, subject to everything running smoothly in this House and the other House, is to have the referendum in October or November of this year.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is reported that An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, are developing a system that will allow for the application of an adult caution, rather than a criminal prosecution, for people in possession of drugs for their own use. Apparently this is a recommendation in a Government working group report but this report has not been published and has not been presented to, let alone approved by, the Government. Who is in charge of this initiative? Where does it come from? Under what authority are public agencies developing what is a new policy, apparently without the authority of a formal Government decision or the chance for us all to debate it? The initiative might be very good but we would like to have the opportunity to debate and discuss it in this House. How does that decision sit with the view of Government on criminal justice matters?

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The working group was very important and I thank those who took part in it. The Ministers for Justice and Equality and for Health and I have reviewed the report and are finalising a memorandum on it to go to Government and it is hoped to take it in the next couple of weeks before the recess.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Why is the policy being decided before the report is given to Government?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There is no policy being decided.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The report was drawn up by a working group and was presented to me and the Ministers for Justice and Equality and Health.

The report examined how we could approach the possession of drugs for personal use as a health issue rather than criminal justice issue, which we all support. I will speak to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, later about progress in this regard and bring the matter to the Taoiseach's attention after the publication of the report.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Last week, the living wage technical group calculated that the living wage in the country in 2019 should be €12.30 per hour. They said the increase was needed, first and foremost, because of the increased costs of housing, accommodation, rent etc. A group of people is fighting to make the living wage a reality. They are thousands of Tesco workers - members of Mandate - who are campaigning for 1,000 new full-time jobs in the company, which has a 90% part-time workforce, and that the starting rate of pay should be €12.30 per hour, rising to €16.

In view of the report, does the Taoiseach accept that the reality for low-paid workers is that €12.30 should be the minimum figure on which to live and does he plan to legislate to provide for that?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Everyone's financial circumstances are different. As the Deputy will know from all the studies and reports done in respect of the national minimum wage, very often it is not the main income of the household but a secondary or part-time income in many cases. It depends on the individual circumstances whether there are rent or housing costs, or not.

As it stands, the national minimum wage is the second highest in Europe and the sixth highest when the high cost of living is taken into account. The law states the national minimum wage is calculated by the Low Pay Commission, which was established by the current Oireachtas to do that work. It takes into account a number of factors, such as the need to ensure that people who are at work get a decent wage but also the need to ensure we do not end up doing anything counterproductive by causing people to lose their jobs, particularly in Border areas, or to lose their hours, thereby ending up worse off if we make it too high.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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There is great concern and anxiety in Clonmel and wider County Tipperary at the fact that Glenville Crisis House, a mental health crisis house in Clonmel, is still waiting to be signed off by the HSE. I received a reply to a parliamentary question from Mr. Jim Curran, the HSE's head of estates. He confirmed to me no funding will be announced until the HSE capital plan for 2019 is signed off. As has been acknowledged, the plan is holding up everything. We cannot wait any longer for the crisis house. We have no long-stay places but we need the crisis house and the upgrade to proceed immediately. The Minister of State, Deputy Daly, means well but nothing is happening and we have been told it will be two years before we get any stone upon a stone. It is totally unacceptable to the people of County Tipperary. Mental health is a very important issue.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I do not have information on that project. The Deputy may wish to raise it as a Topical Issue matter, or I can ask the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, to correspond with him.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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Last week, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue in the Murray report on the difficulties in recruiting hospital doctors and he undertook to speak to the Minister for Health about its publication. Since then, the report has been published on Twitter by Susan Mitchell and, therefore, it is a bit of a joke for the Minister to sit on that report, as he is doing on many other reports such as the de Buitléir report which was mentioned earlier.

Has the Taoiseach yet spoken to the Minister and will he undertake to ensure that the report will be published and that we will have an opportunity to have a debate on it?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have not yet had a chance to speak to the Minister about that matter but I will do so. I am sure there is no reason we cannot have a debate on it, although the scheduling of debates and decisions on those matters are for the Business Committee, not for me.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The European Council recently failed to get agreement on a net-zero climate emissions target by 2050. The Government's climate action plan states the Government would agree to such a target subject to European agreement. Is the Government willing to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050, irrespective of what happens in the European Union process, or will we wait for agreement among all European countries before we do it?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The short answer is that we are willing to commit to that. I think that is what is stated in the climate action plan - maybe it is more nuanced than that. My understanding is that we are willing to commit to it. I was one of the Heads of Government who was willing to commit to it at the European Council summit last week. Three or four Heads of Government were not willing and they raised the question of how we will get there. As it stands, it seems that getting there will require many technological advances to take place, particularly in respect of carbon sequestration and storage, which may not happen. Their concern relates to making a commitment without a roadmap as to how we will get there. We would like to make that commitment because we may never get there if we do not set down that ambition in the first place.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There is only 5 minutes remaining. I will call as many as I can. I do not like doing this, but if there are names that I cannot call they will be on the list tomorrow.

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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The programme for Government promised a better health service. Parkinson's sufferers in Ireland feel like second-class citizens and they have to suffer silently in a country that ignores their pain. In most European countries, deep brain stimulation operations are offered to Parkinson's sufferers but this vital operation is not available here. In Northern Ireland, there are 31 specialised Parkinson's nurses, whereas in the Republic, there are only five, three of whom are based in Dublin.

When will Parkinson's sufferers be treated like their counterparts throughout the world?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Different treatments are available in different countries. I imagine there are countries that do better than us and I am sure there are many more countries that do not do as well as us. I am not entirely sure, therefore, how to answer the Deputy's question. Deep brain stimulation is available in Northern Ireland for Irish patients but is provided through the service at the Mater Hospital. It is probably best if I ask the Minister for Health to give a more detailed reply because I do not have a briefing to hand.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Last week, the HSE sent a letter to 50 respite service users which stated the HSE disability services in County Louth plan to close the residential respite service in Sruthan House in Dundalk. The reason given was that the HSE was prioritising the provision of services to enhance cost efficiency. The HSE went on to state patients with physical and sensory needs could go elsewhere and suggested they go to places as far away as Sligo or Roscommon, or to a nursing home. What is wrong with the Government? How arrogant is it that it can stand over something like that-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has made her point.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----and believe that it is okay to do so as a cost-cutting measure? It is not good enough.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach to respond, please.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Taoiseach believe that the Government can trample all over the rights of people with disabilities and their families and that it is okay to do so?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should have some respect for her colleagues.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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How dare the Government attempt to close such a badly needed respite facility?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have to move on.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach stand up-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy, please.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----to give his response?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is wasting her colleagues' time.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach had better say the Government will discuss it.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Munster is being unfair to her colleagues. I will move on. Three minutes remain and I will not put up with this. I call Deputy Fitzpatrick on the same issue. I remind Deputies to think of their colleagues, not themselves.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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Sruthan House has operated for the past 23 years. It has very experienced staff. Some 400 families have availed of it over the past number of years, while 50 families currently do so. The word in the street is the reason for all the cuts is the overspend on the new children's hospital. The Government has the opportunity to reverse the decision. Some 50 families depend on this adult respite unit in Dundalk, County Louth. Will the Government please reverse the decision?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies for raising the issue, which I am sure is of great concern to the service users, but I have not seen the letter, I did not write it and I did not sign it. Therefore, I cannot account for it. I suggest Deputy Munster may wish to take it up directly with whoever wrote it.

I assure Deputy Fitzpatrick that current budgets and capital budgets are separate and an additional €200 million has been provided in capital reserve funding for the children's hospital next year. Once again, I assure the House that the rising costs of the national children's hospital will not impact on the budget for health services at all.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy O'Dea.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach should say that to the Health Service Executive.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have called Deputy O'Dea.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Following the Taoiseach's apology this morning which I appreciate, he is aware that there were two requirements to qualify for the ex gratiascheme for people who were sexually abused in primary schools. One was the prior complaint element, which has now been exploded as a result of Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill's recent declaration. The other was the requirement for a person to have initiated legal proceedings within the time set by the Statute of Limitations, even if they were subsequently withdrawn. Is it the Government's intention to leave the second requirement in place?

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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Who advised the Government that a prior complaint should be required to access compensation for historical child sexual abuse that took place in schools based on the interpretation of the judgment in the Louise O'Keeffe case? This condition was clearly designed to block survivors from accessing the redress they deserved and I want to know who came up with that incorrect criterion. I welcome the Taoiseach's comments earlier when he said he would not fail them a third time. Will he confirm that he will remove the need for a prior complaint in these cases?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The requirement for a prior complaint will be removed. We will have to examine the other matter. I am not an expert in the area, but I believe it relates to a Supreme Court judgment from 2008 which differs from a European Court of Human Rights judgment in 2014 or 2015. That is why I have asked officials from the Department of Education and Skills and the Office of the Attorney General to come together to formulate options for the Government to consider. In response to Deputy Quinlivan, I do not know for sure who gave the advice. As the scheme was drawn up in 2015, I imagine it would have been officials from the Department of Education and Skills, the Minister for Education and Skills and the Attorney General at the time.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The online safety and media regulation Bill is promised legislation. Given its importance, when is it likely to be published, brought before the House and concluded?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that work is under way on the Bill, but we do not have a date for its publication. It is a priority and we hope to advance it in the session that will start in September.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy Healy-Rae.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Which one?

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I was first. I raise the important matter of the passenger motor car industry. The Society of the Irish Motor Industry has indicated that sales have decreased by 7.5% this year and it is blaming the Government's scaremongering on climate change. It is causing uncertainty and people are not buying cars like they were before. There is another issue-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is only allowed to raise one.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The society has indicated that 55,000 used cars have been imported to the country already this year and that it is feeling the effects.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should speak to proposed legislation.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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It is the Taoiseach's proposed legislation that is causing the problem.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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On the same matter, the report on climate change published by the Government and the legislation it proposes to bring to the Dáil have severely impacted on the sales of motor cars in Ireland. In County Kerry it has been reported to us that car sales are falling dramatically. What is the Taoiseach going to do to support the struggling car sales industry which has been affected by utterances from Ministers in the past few weeks?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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That is a straightforward question.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. I appreciate that many people work in the motor sales industry. For many, it is their business and livelihood. However, there is no scaremongering on climate change which is very real. There is plenty to be afraid of.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Climate change is-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is answering the Deputy. He might not like the answer, but he must listen.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It has not been the Government's policy to discourage people from purchasing a new car. Newer cars produce fewer emissions than old cars and less SOx and NOx which damage air quality. We particularly encourage people, if they are buying a car, to buy an electric or hybrid vehicle.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Where would they plug them in?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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They could do it at home. I am pleased that 15% or 16% of new cars sold this year are electric or hybrid, which is great.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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There are only 13 State-owned electric vehicles.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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My question to the Taoiseach relates to the strength and operational capacity of the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps which have been substantially weakened. It is no wonder that morale is so low within the forces. Listening to the Taoiseach I got the distinct impression that only five vessels in the Naval Service fleet would be operational. Will the Taoiseach clarify the matter? Last Thursday's announcement of the report of the Low Pay Commission had very little in it to help to contain the systemic flow from the Defence Forces. Particularly alarming was the fact that 60% of personnel said they would leave within two years.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are nine vessels in the fleet, which is more than we had before. We have five new vessels and four were decommissioned. It was never the case that all nine would be operational or at sea at the same time, but I can confirm that six are fully operational, two are in planned maintenance and one is in long-term refit. We will go from six vessels to seven later in the year, but that can only be done if we see an improvement in the number of staff and specialists in the Naval Service. It remains to be seen whether that will be possible. The minimum is six vessels.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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If Deputies will be brief, I can accommodate more of them.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I raise with the Taoiseach the rehabilitative training allowance which I have learned is to be abolished. It is a training allowance for young students with a disability that is worth €31.80 per week for a maximum of four years. I acknowledge that the HSE is struggling with a deficit, but this is nothing short of scandalous. Rehabilitative training is essential for young people with disabilities in developing independence and the payment is much-needed by the most vulnerable group in society. It is a job to go to every day for them. It is a disgraceful decision. I ask the Taoiseach, as the leader of the Government, to have it reversed straightaway. We are talking about €2 million out of a budget of €17 billion for the HSE.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As I am not aware of it, I will have it checked out. I will get back to the Deputy as soon as I find out what is the story.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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With respect to the Government's Brexit contingency action plan, earlier this year the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, announced that after Brexit students from the North who wished to study in a third level college in the 2019-20 academic year would still be eligible for the Department's free fees and student grants scheme. He said the position would be reviewed for the 2020-21 academic year. I recently met Dr. Michael Mulvey, president of Dundalk Institute of Technology, and separately representatives of the Teachers Union of Ireland. I also facilitated a meeting between public representatives from the North and the institute of technology. The Taoiseach might know that 1,319 students from the North attend third level college and universities here, of whom 250 are in Dundalk Institute of Technology. As they are clearly concerned about the availability of free fees and grant schemes beyond next year, will the Taoiseach tell us whether it is the Government's intention to continue them?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I will double-check with the Minister, Deputy McHugh, but my understanding is that European Union citizens resident in Northern Ireland will continue to be eligible for student grants and free fees as though they are EU students resident in Ireland. The status quoshould continue for Irish EU citizens who live and are resident in Northern Ireland. There is a citizenship and residency element, but the status quowill remain.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna agus níl sé ann. Mar sin, cuirfidh mé ar an Taoiseach é. As every child in the country should be entitled to a place in a school, what is the Government going to do about the many hundreds of children, including 156 children with special needs in Cork, who cannot secure a school place? What will be done to rectify the problem?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Every child in Ireland is entitled to a school place, although it may not be in the school of first choice.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Some cannot find any.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In some cases home tuition is provided as an alternative. The Minister has powers under section 8 of the education Act which deals with admissions to require schools to open new special classrooms.

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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They have only been used once.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He is not using those powers.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed that he has just used them at a school in my constituency and that he may need to do so in some other places also. It would be preferable for schools to co-operate in providing special classes, but he now has the powers to compel them to do so. We must bear in mind that the issue is not straightforward and that a school must have space. There are other issues also.

Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I welcome last week's broadening and extending of jobseeker's status to include self-employed artists. It recognises the unique creative circumstances of artists in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and gives special assistance during their first year out of work, allowing them to focus on their creative output. This is to come in from September. I ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether consideration will be given to extending the scheme to artists who did not previously come under it, people who are already at a resting period or on jobseeker's allowance? Could the Minister please clarify that point?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. I was very pleased, with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, to announce the scheme last week. The scheme was a pilot that will now be put on a permanent basis and will also be expanded to include other artists. It will not only be artists and writers but will include actors, musicians, choreographers and opera singers. I also pay tribute to the Taoiseach whose idea it was originally.

The 12-month activation period of the scheme will not commence until 1 September so, if people want to apply at that stage, the 12-month delay of activation measures will not kick in for at least 12 months.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Other Deputies outlined earlier how money messages are being used to frustrate the democratic intentions of this House and I agree with them. I want to highlight another blatant disregard of the democratic wishes of this House. On 28 June 2017, this House unanimously passed a motion calling on the Government to instruct the military authorities to immediately cease the administration of Lariam to all Irish soldiers as a drug of first resort. The motion, in fact, went beyond that. It is more urgent now given the fact that a decision was recently taken to send soldiers to Mali. There are soldiers and ex-soldiers who are still suffering the effects of Lariam and others have died, some through suicide. What will the Taoiseach do, as Minister for Defence, to give effect to the decision made by the Dáil two years ago?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government and Oireachtas have their functions but, when it comes to prescribing a licensed medication, the decision on whether it should be prescribed or not is for doctors, whether within the community or the Defence Forces. Whether a doctor prescribes a licensed medication is not a decision for the Government or the House.

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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This Chamber agreed last week, through a Private Members' motion, to request the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, to talk to An Post about reversing its decision to close the sorting office in Little Island in Cork. When can we expect the Minister to come back to this Chamber with a report and a recommendation that that decision be reversed?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As An Post is a State-run enterprise, decisions on such matters are for the company's board and not for Government or the House.