Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government [3405/23]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [3410/23]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [3412/23]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4445/23]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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9. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4089/23]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4377/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4788/23]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4696/23]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [5798/23]

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [5853/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 15, inclusive, together.

Government has been working to implement the commitments in the programme for Government, which are advanced through the co-ordinating mechanisms of the Cabinet committee structure. The ten Cabinet committees recently established by Government reflect the core policy areas set out in the programme for Government on which it will continue to focus. Cabinet committees will meet regularly to accomplish their work. Strategy statements, currently being prepared by all Departments, will reflect the national priorities outlined in the programme for Government.

The Department of the Taoiseach continues to help advance the programme for Government commitments in the following priority policy areas: implementation of the Housing for All strategy, which is driving delivery of crucial housing-related commitments; the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2023, the launch of the national retrofit plan, adoption of the carbon budget programme and agreement of the sectoral emissions ceilings; advancements in Sláintecare, the health reform programme, such as an implementation plan for regional health areas and the publication shortly of the Sláintecare progress report for 2022 and the 2023 action plan for Sláintecare; ongoing oversight of implementation of the third domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy; the ongoing development of the well-being framework for Ireland; publication of a report in June, detailing significant progress achieved under the 2021 economic recovery plan, which focused on driving a jobs-rich recovery and encouraging the transition towards a decarbonised and digital economy; driving the implementation of our commitments on a shared island, through the shared island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach; driving implementation of the New Decade, New Approach commitments, in conjunction with Departments North and South; strengthening British-Irish relations, including with London and the devolved governments; ongoing engagement with EU leaders to advance high-level objectives in the programme for Government, in particular, energy security, Brexit, economic issues and external relations, as well as pursuing a strong, collective response to Russia's war on Ukraine; ongoing oversight of the implementation of A Policing Service for our Future - the Government's plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland; progressing citizens' assemblies, with the Dublin-related citizens' assembly having submitted its report to the Oireachtas in December and the biodiversity loss assembly following suit shortly, with two further citizens' assemblies, one dealing with matters relating to drug use and the other on the future of education, under consideration, which will be subject to Oireachtas agreement; and the publication of the Future of Media Commission report and the Government's response, which constitutes a strategic programme of work for public service content across media in Ireland. Work to implement the report's recommendations and develop a new funding model is under way.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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As was discussed earlier, far-right elements utterly without justification are trying to target vulnerable immigrants and migrants for the housing crisis. That is why, on 18 February, we need to get out on the Ireland for All demonstration which has been widely backed by trade union and community groups, anti-poverty groups, housing groups and many others. Simultaneously, we need emergency measures to address the spiralling housing and homelessness crisis. Will the Taoiseach take a few emergency measures in that regard? The Government needs to start treating it as an emergency. A cliff edge is coming with the end of the moratorium on evictions. Even the Government's own estimates reckon that 3,000 people could be homeless if that moratorium were not in place. That moratorium is not fully covering many people. As a matter of urgency, the Government needs to announce clearly that it will not allow more people be evicted into homelessness.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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As night follows day, racist violence follows anti-refugee protests. In recent weeks we have seen a dramatic escalation of violence against migrants in Dublin in particular. On Saturday, 28 January, homeless migrant men were attacked with dogs, sticks and a baseball bat at Ashtown. On Monday, 30 January, a building in Sheriff Street burned down seemingly because it was wrongly suspected of being planned for use by asylum seekers. On 1 February, footage emerged of someone attempting to drive over a pedestrian after asking them, "Are you an immigrant?" On Thursday, 2 February a group of international students were racially abused and physically attacked at the Broadstone Technological University Dublin Luas stop.

The vast majority of people abhor this and abhor seeing protests outside vulnerable people's temporary inadequate accommodation. That is the reason thousands will be on the streets on 18 February. The Taoiseach said earlier we should not give any succour to racist arguments and I agree. Does he agree therefore that he should stop the discrimination against migrants and against asylum seekers from countries other than Ukraine? We should not be putting them on the street with a Dunnes Stores voucher and €5 in phone credit.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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Since Fine Gael took office in 2011, rates of home ownership have fallen very significantly. To counter this, we need at least 10,000 affordable homes each year. In the first three quarters of last year, fewer than 1,000 affordable and cost rental homes were delivered. At the same time, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is returning hundreds of millions of euro unspent to the central Exchequer. This money could be used to build much-needed affordable homes. Given the scale and depth of the housing crisis, why are hundreds of millions of euro, which could be used to build homes, being returned to the central Exchequer?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Later this year there will be a look-back independent inquiry into the State's handling of the pandemic. How will nursing home deaths be dealt with? I encourage the Taoiseach to meet families whose loved ones died during the pandemic. These include families from Dealgan House or Ballynoe nursing home in Whites Cross. They will tell a story of systemic institutional failure that resulted in an absence of oversight, governance, accountability and training, and inadequate staff ratios. Care Champions has catalogued the families' experiences and I strongly urge the Taoiseach to hear of them and from them. More than 3,000 submissions of concern were made to HIQA between 2020 and 2022 regarding nursing homes. These failures continue as families are still being refused access to their parents' or their partners' nursing home records, which is inexplicable to me. Does the Taoiseach agree these records should be released? Will he meet representatives of Care Champions and the bereaved families to better understand why a public inquiry into nursing home deaths during the Covid pandemic is absolutely needed?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Tóibín. If the Members are not brief with their questions, there will not be sufficient time for the Taoiseach to answer them.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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This week the Government received advice from the Attorney General. Let us be clear: litigation by the Government against vulnerable people is a political choice. The Government also has a responsibility to do right by citizens. The truth of the matter is that, right now, most people, when in battle with the State, have to fight tooth and nail for justice, and many have to fight right up until their death to receive justice. Some people even have to fight among the debris of their shattered lives simply to get justice.

Today, we in Aontú found out that 44 families are now engaged in legal action against the Government on the circumstances of their loved ones who died in nursing homes or hospitals during the Covid-19 crisis. We in Aontú have put forward a Bill which would provide for an investigation into their experiences. The Government has refused to back that Bill and has so far refused to carry out an independent investigation itself. We are now seeing the floodgates open where people are forced to go to court to get justice for their families. Will the Taoiseach commit to a proper, full and independent investigation in respect of how people were treated in nursing homes and hospitals?

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government commits the Government to step up funding for high-performance sport. The Taoiseach will be aware of one of our most successful sporting teams, the Leinster Rugby team, which, as the Taoiseach knows, plays its matches at home in the RDS. I know the Taoiseach has been there recently and he will no doubt be aware the condition of it is very poor. The grandstand there, or rather the Anglesea Stand, was constructed back in 1927. The ground needs to be refurbished. The RDS, which provides a broad service throughout the city and country for all types of different events, is seeking some State support. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment that there will be some Government funding available to refurbish the main arena at the RDS?

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach will be aware the programme for Government commits to dealing with asylum applications as quickly as possible to ensure people seeking international protection here do not have to endure long delays to have their cases assessed or determined. Given the significant increase in applications over the past 12 months, it is clear the Immigration Service Delivery, the International Protection Office and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, IPAT, will need extra resources. For example, I understand that IPAT fees to barristers determining the appeals have not changed since 2011 and this may have an impact on recruiting sufficiently qualified personnel for that. Will the Taoiseach advise what measures are being taken to support these institutions which are responsible for determining these cases?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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When?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On the home ownership issue, I acknowledge what Deputy Cian O'Callaghan is saying, that homeownership rates have fallen in recent years, and we want to reverse that. We made significant progress in the past year, where more than 16,000 people, couples and families bought their first home. That is the highest figure we have had in 15 years, and we have to go back to the Celtic tiger era to find an era when so many people bought their first home. We have a long way to go yet and there needs to be a great deal more than that done.

In respect of the underspend in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I am not aware how much that underspend will be yet, incidentally, but it will be much less than some of the figures that have been aired publicly. There are two reasons it has occurred. One is the record resources and the amount of money that has been given to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has increased dramatically in recent years because of our commitment to solving the housing crisis. When spending is ramped up rapidly, it can be difficult sometimes to spend it, if, of course, it is being spent correctly. There are constraints in respect of the availability of staff, skilled labour and materials. All of those things can also create difficulties.

On the wider issue of housing, we have already taken many emergency measures on housing, whether they are the rent pressure zones, the eviction ban, the fund for compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, or fast-track planning legislation, and we will always consider further emergency actions that might help with the situation. We always have to remember the unintended consequences. I am aware the Deputy mentioned that the eviction ban is not working fully. The ban is also harming some people. We have both read and heard stories and have even met people who went abroad for six months or for a year and who now cannot move back into their own home. That is also a problem.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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They are getting rent.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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If we are going to extend the ban,we have to bear that in mind.