Dáil debates

Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Programme for Government

1:12 pm

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide the commitments in the programme for Government under his remit; if each commitment has been met or is in the process of being met; and the estimated timeframe for same in tabular form. [52774/22]

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [54848/22]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [54851/22]

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [57648/22]

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [57750/22]

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a progress report on the programme for Government. [57558/22]

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [57733/22]

Photo of Cormac DevlinCormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [57930/22]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.

The Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the programme for Government, supported through the co-ordinating mechanisms of the Cabinet committee process. The 11 Cabinet committees established by this Government reflect the broad range of policy areas it will work on during its lifetime, as set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to continue this work. Strategy statements, which have been prepared by all Departments, reflect the key national priorities as outlined in the programme for Government.

My Department has been helping to progress key programme for Government commitments, including the delivery of the Economic Recovery Plan 2021 and the publication of a progress report in June. The plan focused on driving a sustainable jobs-rich recovery, with significant milestones, and progress achieved in this regard, including in the transition towards a decarbonised and digital economy. Other commitments include establishing a unit in my Department to help to support social dialogue, and driving delivery of our commitments on a shared island, on a whole-of-Government basis, through the shared island unit in my Department.

The Sláintecare action plan 2022 was published in June 2022. By the end of June, all 49 deliverables were on track, were progressing with minor challenges, or had been completed. We are developing a well-being framework for Ireland, for which a well-being portal and well-being information hub have been developed. A second report reflecting the outcomes of considerable consultation and ongoing research was published by the Government this year, and a framework and accompanying high-level analysis fed into the budget process this year.

The national marine planning framework was published in June 2021 and the Maritime Area Planning Act was signed into law in December 2021.

The implementation of the Housing for All strategy is driving delivery of key housing-related commitments.

Engagement with European Union leaders to advance a range of high-level objectives in the programme for Government is ongoing, in particular relating to the energy crisis, Brexit, economic issues, external relations and Covid. In addition, we are pursuing a strong, collective response to Russia's war and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

There has been ongoing monitoring and management of the impact of Covid-19 on the provision of both Covid and non-Covid healthcare.

We have been supporting the work of the United Nations through our membership of the UN Security Council.

Oversight of the implementation of A Policing Service for our Future, which is the Government plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, has been ongoing.

Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework, which is a high-level framework to position Ireland as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments, was published in February. It sets out a pathway to drive and enable the digital transition across the economy and society.

We have been progressing work on the Government's response to the Future of Media Commission.

Two Citizens' Assemblies - those on gender equality and biodiversity loss - have completed their work. Work is continuing on the Citizens' Assembly on a directly elected mayor for Dublin. Two further assemblies, one dealing with the issue of drug use and the other on the future of education, are under consideration subject to Government decision and Oireachtas approval.

A transitional team has been established in my Department to progress the administrative elements of the establishment of the electoral reform commission, which is anticipated later this year.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 has been signed into law. The Climate Action Plan 2021, which includes the national retrofit plan, adoption of the carbon budget programme, and agreement of the sectoral emission ceilings, has been published.

An update of the climate action plan will be published before the end of the year. Ensuring progress on implementation of the programme for Government will continue to be a priority across all Departments as well as through the work of the Cabinet committees.

1:22 pm

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The decision to transfer disability services from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was taken by the Government at the beginning of its term. During questions with the Taoiseach last week my colleague, Deputy Clarke, raised the ongoing delay in transferring these functions to the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. Having expressed his concerns to the relevant Ministers, will the Taoiseach confirm when this transfer of functions will take place? The delay is the cause of significant damage to services. If the transfer is not expedited, this damage will take years to undo because neither Minister can confirm when the workforce strategy planning group will be established or which Department will take the lead on its work. The real-world outcome of the absence of a workforce strategy is the rapid and perhaps irreversible loss of staff to the disability sector. Will the Taoiseach follow up on this matter with the Ministers to clarify when the workforce strategy planning group will be established? The Department of Health has indicated that it will not publish the long-promised disability action plan as it will not be implementing it-----

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----and the Department of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has stated it has no responsibility for the plan.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are over time.

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all know this will cause considerable issues.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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The programme for Government refers to the need for court reform. What action is being taken to prevent judges from engaging in sexual harassment of women who are before them? I have raised multiple times with the Taoiseach the case of Kerry judge, James O'Connor, who used his position to disgustingly prey upon vulnerable women who were before him on multiple occasions. I know at least one of those victims has been doing everything she possibly can to get justice, but the Judicial Council has told her that it cannot deal with the case because of when the incidents happened and because the judge is now retired. She has tried time and again to get the Garda to take this issue seriously, but seemingly with no luck. What is she to do? What actions are being taken by the Government to ensure this sort of thing cannot happen again?

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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The programme for Government talks about energy poverty and fuel poverty. Is the Taoiseach aware that people who are reliant on district heating systems are paying exorbitant prices, well above the very high prices everyone else is currently paying? While district heating systems are sustainable, they are placing a considerable financial burden on residents. I will give just one example of the exorbitant costs: in one area in my constituency, the residents estimate the cost of taking a shower to be €12.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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Jesus.

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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Households have cut down sharply on the use of hot water and are washing in a basin instead of taking showers. People are seeing considerable increases in their charges and report they have tripled in the course of just one month. District heating systems are being charged commercial rates for gas rather than the residential rates other households pay, because the Government has not regulated this area. Will the Government, as a matter of urgency, introduce regulations to protect households that rely on district heating systems?

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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A few minutes ago, the Taoiseach told Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan there would be a memo before the Cabinet next week on the issue of a new elective hospital for Cork. The Irish Examinerhas reported this morning that the hospital will be sited in Glanmire. Will the Taoiseach confirm that or does he wish to comment on it? Does he expect the Cabinet not just to receive a memo next week, but to sign off on it next week? People are waiting and have been forced to wait for far too long on this issue. If the Cabinet signs off on it next week, will the Taoiseach give us dates for when construction will start, when the hospital will be expected to be open and in operation, and whether the necessary investment to provide good-quality public transport links will be put in place?

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I will raise the issue of the Irish Thalidomide Association. I know the Taoiseach has met with the group of thalidomide survivors who are seeking recognition from the State and have a small number of demands. I know the group is very grateful that the Taoiseach met with it last Thursday and that a process is to be established. As colleagues will be aware, I have put down a cross-party motion in collaboration with the Irish Thalidomide Association. I hope a cross-party consensus can be achieved on the type of process to be established and on securing justice for thalidomide survivors. Will the Taoiseach comment on the nature of the process to be established and on how soon we can expect to see details of it?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of the transfer of the disability section from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The transfer is ongoing but I hope we can bring it to a conclusion very quickly. It has not stopped the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, from being very proactive on disability issues more generally. I pay tribute to her in that regard. However, I accept the issue needs to be brought to a conclusion. I have spoken to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the detail of issues that have to be ironed out with regard to the transfer of a fairly significant level of services with attendant resources from one Department to another. It is not a simple black-and-white issue but my understanding is we will be in a position to bring it to a conclusion. As I said earlier, the focus has to be on the provision of therapies, for children and young people in particular, through the HSE. That level of integration with the HSE with regard to clinical need will still have to continue. The provision of services, notwithstanding the policy aspect, will be located in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The view, historically, given the enormity of health and all the areas with which it has to deal, was that the idea of separating out disability and giving it a stronger focus from a Government perspective would be beneficial in the longer term. That view came from disability service providers and the Oireachtas generally.

Deputy Paul Murphy raised the issue of judicial reform. New systems have been put in place for the disciplining of judges and maintaining of high standards. The systems are not retrospective with regard to judges who have retired. We cannot interfere with the operational decisions of An Garda Síochána at this level. It has to make its judgment in any given situation presented to it. I know the case the Deputy has raised. He legitimately raises the case, which is not satisfactory in any shape or form, but it seems from what the Deputy is saying that the Garda has taken its decision. We cannot interfere in that operationally. However, I hope the new structures that have been put in place will make sure there is a very clear pathway for people to seek to have complaints raised with the Judicial Council and for them to be adjudicated upon in a timely and effective manner.

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised the issue of district heating systems. They did not fit neatly into the schemes that were developed, such as the scheme for energy credits. Some people may benefit, depending on their circumstances, from a range of payments we have made through the social protection system which have been quite substantial. I will speak to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications again on whether something can be done in respect of the costs being incurred by those using district heating and the degree to which they cannot benefit from the schemes we have introduced. I will follow through on that. I am not clear whether regulations can be easily signed with regard to existing legislation or whether it is appropriate to deal with that.

Deputy Barry raised the advocacy of Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan with regard to the elective hospital in Cork. I think Deputy Barry would be the first to acknowledge the proactive work of Deputy O'Sullivan in advancing the cause of an elective hospital and its location in Glanmire. The Government will take a decision next week when the memo comes to the Cabinet. I have been a strong advocate for this. We have taken very strong measures to make sure this project is progressed because it has been hanging around for too long.

There was an announcement of a second hospital five or six years ago but little happened. I am taking this by the scruff of the neck and saying that we want elective hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. Subsequently, we need one in Limerick too. It has to be subject to the public spending code, which has progressed by now. We will be in a position to sign off on this next week.

Deputy Bacik raised the thalidomide survivors. We had a constructive meeting last week. We agreed to set up a process with an independent chair to discuss a range of issues and to deal with healthcare needs, independent living and other issues. We should engage and allow that process to take its course so that we can get real outcomes.

1:32 pm

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I thank the Taoiseach.