Dáil debates
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
5:30 am
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I want to return to the issue of the hip dysplasia surgery raised by my colleague, Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. The Taoiseach has misled the Dáil. To set the record straight, the letters were sent to parents on foot of an early recommendation of the audit, and it says so in the letter. This was recommendation No. 4.2.1, to be precise. The recommendation refers specifically to the recall of children. We know with regard to cases between 2021 and 2023 that 561 recalls are in question. The very same letter, word for word, not a general letter or a different context but the same context, the same audit and the same letter, has been sent to families of children who had surgery as far back as 2010. This letter also refers to an early recommendation from the audit. It is the same letter and the same situation.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy. I ask Deputy McDonald to remain within the time, please.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach needs to be clear on how many of these letters have been sent and how many recalls are envisaged.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy McDonald.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I suspect the Taoiseach actually knows that number and is choosing not to share it.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I will ask the Taoiseach to respond within the time, to be fair to all Members.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have seen a copy of a generic letter, which does not mention the word "recall".
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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But it mentions the early audit.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Please Deputy, let the Taoiseach respond.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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CHI has commissioned the audit. I will say it one more time. I am not endeavouring in any way to cast aspersions on anyone raising questions here. However, aspersions are being laid at the door of the Government.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Because you mislead the Dáil.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Attempts have been made and the words "ducking", "dodging" and "diving" were used yesterday by the Deputy.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is a false assertion by the Deputy. The Government wants the facts and I want the facts. Deputy McDonald has no-----
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Then share the facts.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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When the audit is complete. I know what Deputy McDonald is at. Unfortunately, it is quite-----
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Jesus Christ, they are implementing the audit recommendations. Do you not know what has been happening for the past eight weeks?
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That is uncalled for Deputy Doherty. We will move on to Deputy Bacik.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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He is shouting again. Mr. Angry is at it again. I am simply saying-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy Bacik. The time is up.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Stop the theatrics; it is too serious.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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They are implementing the audit recommendations.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Angry theatrics are par for the course from you and it is wrong to do it.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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You misled the Dáil.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Do you not know what is happening? It is disgraceful that you would not do this.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I want to raise concerns with the Taoiseach about the Government's so-called free HRT scheme. I pay tribute to Joe Duffy, who has announced his retirement from "Liveline", for shining a light through the programme on the experiences of women in menopause, women dealing with a cancer diagnosis and others whose lives have been made liveable by access to hormone replacement therapy. As we all know, the cost is prohibitive and supply remains an issue. The Taoiseach announced a very welcome new HRT scheme that would be free but the deadline for the introduction of the scheme is almost upon us. There are only 18 days until 1 June. Women throughout the country are contacting us all. They are so anxious to know what is happening.
Most pharmacists tell us they cannot implement the scheme and the reimbursement scheme, apparently, has problems with IT. We need to hear that the scheme will be up and running on 1 June. It sounds like it is becoming an omnishambles and women need to know whether they will have access to free HRT as promised on 1 June.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not an omnishambles. Yesterday, the Minister spoke in the Dáil. She is working very hard on this issue. We must always remember the Government is contracting this service, in this case from pharmacies, as we do from general practitioners also. It should be possible to do this fairly and in the best interests of the women of the country. The Minister is working very proactively on this. The agenda, and the objective, is to get this brought to a conclusion by the deadline that has been set.
Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Billionaire Denis O'Brien, who was found by a tribunal to have given corrupt payments to Michael Lowry, has a new problem with the rights for ordinary Irish workers. Speaking at a recent event, O'Brien described working from home as a load of nonsense and part of an entitlement culture that has totally destroyed our work ethic and compromised productivity. I will park the irony of a man who was awarded a mobile phone licence after he made secret payments of €500,000 to a Minister decrying an entitlement culture, and instead focus on how he is completely factually wrong. Ireland is one of the most productive countries in the world. The right to work from home has helped to increase our labour force, removing barriers for people who have disabilities, lone parents and others. What is nonsense is the fact that the right to work from home in this country is so weak. Employers need only consider a request. There is no obligation to provide for the right. Perhaps if it were stronger O'Brien himself would not have had to have become a tax exile in Malta.
Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Will the Taoiseach take this opportunity to criticise O'Brien's remarks? Does the Government have plans to strengthen the right work from home?
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The general assessment of remote working in Ireland has been positive. Over time we need to evaluate it, through a whole-of-society approach to the evaluation of remote working.
It certainly is good for climate. It certainly is good for congestion within cities and towns. It is good for individuals. It has helped increase participation in the workforce and it creates a flexibility that is also beneficial. There are also arguments for the need for people to be in workplaces for a sufficiency of time, particularly younger people in terms of mentoring, socialisation and all of that. Rather than-----
5:40 am
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Ruth Coppinger.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----the comments of that particular individual the Deputy has referenced, I think-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Ruth Coppinger.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----that is not the core of this. The important part here is that we continue to evaluate-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Taoiseach, you are over time. Please.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and productivity seems to have increased.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence have been for many years seeking a ban on counselling notes being used in trials because it is so traumatising and damaging. This weekend, Jacqueline Connolly, the sister of Clodagh Hawe, who was murdered along with her children by her husband, spoke about a priest who pleaded confessional privilege who had vital information relating to those crimes but was able to not give that information by the laws of the State. We have a situation where victims of gender-based violence can have their therapy notes ceased but somebody who has information about a serious crime, if a priest, can keep it all secret. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice favour ending this practice. They have said so in the past. Next week, survivors of gender-based violence are due to meet the Minister.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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We need an end to this practice, not to leave it in the hands of a judge.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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-----one's counselling notes can be seized is what is traumatic and damaging.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputies, you have got to prepare within your time or we are not going to fit everybody in.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I am just finishing the sentence.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I was interrupted because they were all talking during it.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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But that is their prerogative, Deputy.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I was not sure if the Taoiseach could hear me, so I stopped.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I heard the Deputy. The Deputy may be aware that the Minister has brought the heads of the Bill in respect of the issue of counselling notes.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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And it is not good enough. It is not ending the practice. It is just-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy is not prepared to listen to the answer.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has raised the issue. The Minister has brought legislation. It will go to pre-legislative scrutiny and people will have an opportunity to input into the Bill. The Minister is acting on it, and has acted on it, and no person in this country is above the law.
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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But they clearly are.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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The Taoiseach is injecting confusion into the hip operation scandal. Yesterday in the Dáil, I asked him about the letters that were sent to parents covering a period as far back as 15 years ago. I asked on what basis those parents were being sent the letters if they were not part of the two-year audit. In his answer, the Taoiseach gave a number of contradictory statements. He said first of all that the letters recalling patients were part of a routine follow-up of appointments. He also said that the letters were because the Department had identified patients not included in the audit but may have been affected by the findings. He said that the letters were sent because the media had reported on the draft audit report. RTÉ is reporting that the letters were sent a recommendation of an unpublished review. All of these things cannot be true at the same time. Will the Taoiseach correct the record of the Dáil yesterday and state exactly the purpose and the reason these individuals received those letters and give clarity to the parents on this matter?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have experience. I know what is going on here. The Deputy calls for clarity but what he wants is confusion. What the Deputy wants is to be able to say that it is incoherent, it is drip-drip, it is bit by bit whereas I am asking can we not wait for the audit to be completed and given to the Minister, with the Minister to share it with the Oireachtas, the public and, above all, the families that may be affected by this and the general population of those who had the operation. That is simply all I am saying but I am not so sure-----
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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There are multiple different reasons for these letters being sent out to the parents and they are contradictory.
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to ask about the basic income for artists pilot scheme. It is almost three years to the day since the application process closed for applicants who wanted to participate in the scheme. Over 9,000 applied. Some 2,000 were successful in the pilot scheme, which had a three-year lifespan and comes to an end this August. There have been a number of interim reviews of the scheme and reviews by bodies external to the Department, which have noted the positive impact it has had for the artist and the creative industry. My understanding was there would be a review by the Department as the end of the scheme approached and that that would guide the future of similar schemes. Are we anywhere near that review being completed? There is some uncertainty for those artists who are currently in the scheme. It would be good to provide clarity around future plans of the Government in this area.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would accept that. Obviously, there is some degree of uncertainty. Most artists on that scheme, by the way, were very positive about the impact of the scheme on artists, and particularly those on the lower income spectrum of earning artists. I will talk to the Minister for arts and culture to get more information in terms of the reviews but also future plans.
Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I want to raise the issue of the proposed closure of Herbert Road in Bray. It is an essential route for residents, emergency services and local businesses and almost everyone in the town and the wider area is against its closure. The closure of the juncture will create significant traffic congestion in north Wicklow. Closing Herbert Road and improving the bus corridor should not be mutually exclusive. A more balanced approach would be to terminate the southbound bus lane before the Herbert Road junction.
As a result of BusConnects, the recent loss of the 145 bus route, which serviced many estates on or near Herbert Road, is causing significant hardship for elderly residents. For example, residents in this area, who once had a direct bus to Loughlinstown hospital, now must swap buses or walk what are often unsustainable distances to the new bus stops.
Sustainable investment in rail infrastructure is the most effective long-term solution for this area. Fast-tracking the Luas green line extension to Bray and Fassaroe would provide reliable and efficient alternatives to car travel.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach to respond.
Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is time to support the entire community of Bray.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is, while the Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme, it is Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, that is responsible for the delivery of the national roads programme. It has informed the Department that Wicklow County Council has just completed the option selection phase for the N11-M11 bus priority scheme. The project team made presentations to elected members of Bray municipal district, Wicklow County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The options selection report details the proposed extensive enhancement at junction 7, which will make the operation of the junction more efficient and resolve much of the delay apparently currently being experienced as well as handling the revised traffic pattern after implementation of the scheme.
It seems there needs to be further engagement with TII. In terms of BusConnects, that would be an NTA responsibility. I can alert the Minister for Transport that the Deputy has raised the specifics of that but engagement with TII and the responsible authorities is key.
Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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I want to bring to the Taoiseach's attention the serious situation concerning Women's Collective Ireland - Wexford. Through the Reach grant, the body held 131 courses and facilitated 1,180 disadvantaged and vulnerable women in Wexford. I was also contacted by Acquired Brain Injury Ireland Wexford and Waterford branch. Both organisations have been told by senior managers that it will take weeks before final decisions on the Reach grant's 2025 budget are made to allocate the funds to the groups. This is causing great upset and disappointment to our most vulnerable citizens, their case managers and volunteers alike, as it is making it impossible for the groups to organise classes and work groups and will set their plans back by as much as six months at a minimum, putting their future in disarray. I would ask the Taoiseach to intervene through the relevant Department and see that the process is fast-tracked for these vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will do everything I can. I will raise the issue with the Minister.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can send me the detail. I will forward this to the Minister concerned and we will come back to the Deputy with a reply.
Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In the recently published HSE capital plan, there is no mention of the planned primary care centre for Gorey. While primary care centres are enormously successful, this has been promised since 2010. During the previous Seanad, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, took four Commencement matters from me on this and she took a Topical Issue earlier this year. There has been no progress by the HSE. When the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, met HSE estates in November 2023, it indicated this would be a top priority. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, when she was before this House, assured me that the call to tender would be issued by the end of quarter 1 this year. I have raised the matter with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Will the Government facilitate an urgent meeting between the Minister, me and other representatives of north Wexford, where this is an important issue, to finally address it? I have no confidence in HSE estates to address an issue that has now been running for 15 years but for which it still has not issued the call to tender.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is - I will check it - that it may have gone out to tender as part of a bundle that could involve Lismore primary care centre as well.
There has been a lot of progress made on primary care centres over the last four to five years. Gorey is a huge and growing town and area.
5:50 am
Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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We have had no progress.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I hear what the Deputy is saying. I will talk to the Minister and get her to respond to the Deputy in respect of the issue.
George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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I raise an issue affecting 11,000 customers in the Wexford area who are served by the Kilmallock Bridge water treatment plant. Based in Ballymurn, the plant supplies Castlebridge, Curracloe, Ballymurn, Crossabeg, Glenbrien, Screen and Oilgate. Last October, the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I attended the unveiling of two new treated water storage reservoirs and associated works. At that time, the programme manager for Uisce Éireann promised continuous provision of water. Since last October, there have been at least 16 outages. The problem is the continuous difficulties in the plant itself. The infrastructure outside the plant was provided in the form of reservoirs and improved associated works but the plant is quite old and requires major intervention. Will the Taoiseach speak to the relevant Minister about this to ensure the investment required in the plant is made so that the money spent on the reservoir, which was most welcome, is not wasted? As the Taoiseach can imagine, tourism in an area such as Curracloe will explode in the summer season. This is causing major difficulties and problems.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a beautiful part of the country.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Again, our bathing water continues to improve because of the provision of additional wastewater capacity. I note that the Minister is also from the sunny south east. I will certainly talk to him about the wastewater requirements there. We are looking at capital for Irish Water. Additional capital will be provided. We will endeavour to progress that.
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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It is related in the Irish Examiner that, at a meeting of Cork City Council last Monday evening, a number of councillors stated that Cork city is a no-go area and that there are parts of the city that you cannot go into. Another councillor, Seán Martin, stated that we have to take back our city. Does the Taoiseach agree with his Fianna Fáil colleagues on Cork City Council that the city is now unsafe and that it is a dangerous city in which people do not feel safe? Is he willing to put together a task force as he did for Dublin in May 2024? Is he willing to provide finance to the city to allow An Garda Síochána to put extra police on the street? I would like to hear his opinion. Does he believe that Cork city, the city that we share and which we love, is unsafe for the general public? It is of great consequence for traders in the city when such a perception is out there and when long-standing elected members from the Taoiseach's party are saying the city is unsafe. We have to address that.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I absolutely agree. Reflecting on the last number of years, there is a perception that urban environments are not as safe as they once were. I refer to the centres of different cities. That is the perception in Cork, although it is a beautiful city with a beautiful city centre and there are continuous improvements to the public realm. I believe people are specifically talking about the city centre at particular parts of the night and different times of the day. I have spoken to traders who have witnessed an improvement of late. There has been an additional Garda presence. We need more gardaí deployed across the country, including in the south and Cork, as they leave Templemore. Additional resources for the improvement of the public realm are also needed. These have been provided. Substantial investment has been allocated to Cork City Council in respect of the public realm in the city. We also need to reimagine city centres. We need more residential accommodation in city centres. That will inherently improve security. That is part of this agenda.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the approval of more special classes for the coming school year. I recognise the commitment of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to build further on the progress made to date. We still need more investment in special education. One particular aspect of the approval of special classes that I wish to see reviewed is class size. The present threshold for pupil enrolment for such classes at primary level is six. This militates against smaller rural schools, where the threshold of six pupils with additional needs may be difficult to achieve. Children with additional needs who need a place in a special class should not have to travel unduly long distances for an appropriate class. Those children also have less chance of attending the same school as their siblings, which adds to the challenges their families face. I am also very conscious that a large percentage of primary schools under the patronage of the smaller churches, the Protestant churches, have small enrolments and should not be disadvantaged in the approval and establishment of special classes.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the interesting point he has raised. I was the one to introduce the threshold of six for a special class with two SNAs and a teacher back in 1998 when we took a very significant decision in a Government memorandum. It is fair to make that point about a model for rural schools and schools whose numbers are quite low. I will talk to the Minister for Education, Deputy Helen McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, who has responsibility for special education, to see if a model can be designed for smaller rural schools. This might be based on a cluster. Perhaps a support base could be organised. I will certainly look at that. There has been exponential growth in the number of SNAs since that time. There are now 23,000 special needs assistants in our schools. The point is well made. I understand that this issue forms part of ongoing discussions on forward planning with officials in the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education.
Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I raise with the Taoiseach the issue of a family in Sligo, the family of Jimmy Loughlin. Jimmy was murdered in 2018. Unfortunately, the person who killed him had a long-term mental health illness. The situation evolved over a number of years. The family is now looking to get a serious incident report from the HSE. The HSE is supposed to compile such a report. It started it but never finished it. When the family looked into the situation, they discovered that this man had years of engagement with mental health services and that there had been years of failure. An Garda Síochána even wrote to the HSE asking it to intervene because of the danger it felt this man posed when he had serious episodes. This situation arises for many people. The outcome at the end is often suicide but, in this particular situation, this family lost a loved one. They want that serious incident report to be completed and finished. Failing that, will the Government commence a full public inquiry into this situation? There was a similar situation in Nottingham in more recent times and the authorities there held a full public inquiry so that lessons could be learned and so that such a situation would not happen again. It is broader than this family's request but it is also about them getting a serious incident report into what happened.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Would that report come from the HSE?
Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It should come from the HSE but it has failed to provide one.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will let the HSE know that the Deputy has raised the issue and ask that a serious incident report be completed. I do not know the background of the case. I extend my sympathies to the family of Jimmy Loughlin on what transpired here. I do not know if it was referred to the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, which could be one way of-----
Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It would be for the Mental Health Commission.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Well, it depends. It may be for the Mental Health Commission in respect of mental health issues but there may be broader issues. That should be the direction of travel rather than a full public inquiry, which could take a very long period of time. It is a serious issue the Deputy has raised and I will follow up on it.
Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I will write to the Taoiseach with the full details.
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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A pint in a pub is a healthier pint. There is a social dimension and, crucially, there is a referee. Government policy over recent years has hurt rural pubs. An average of 150 pubs close every year. Over the last 20 years, 2,000 pubs have closed. I raise the issue of excise duty and various different taxes. A third of the cost of a pint goes on excise duty. It is the second highest in Europe and it is hammering rural pubs. Rural pubs are the centre of our communities. They are not just local businesses. They are the heart of where fundraising happens and the focal point or pivot point of our communities. I know of a local public who dispensed eye drops for a local bachelor for many years until he died. That is what the rural pub in Ireland is. The VFI is seeking a modest 40% rebate on excise duty. I ask the Taoiseach to engage with the federation and to reduce the cost of excise duty to protect rural pubs.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Over the last number of years, the Government has allocated significant investment to pubs. The investment during the Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented and enabled many rural pubs to develop good outdoor facilities and so on. That is a good thing and very positive.
I do take the Deputy's point about socialisation being good for you. Professor Luke O'Neill has written in his Sunday Independentarticles about socialisation being a very important metric or factor in mental and physical well-being.
There is a multifactorial reason for closures of rural pubs. It is not all just about the excise duty. There are other factors. Society is changing. For example, when a person retires from a family-owned pub, very often the younger generation does not necessarily want to take over the pub because of the way the economy is, with full employment and so on.
6:00 am
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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Will the Taoiseach engage with the VFI on the excise-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am just saying what the reality is.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach's time is up.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are all familiar with it. We have all enjoyed a pint in a pub.
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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Will the Taoiseach engage with the VFI?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Will I engage in having a pint?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We always engage with the VFI.
Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach advise if there has been a change of approach with regard to medical cards? Over the last while, a significant number of people have come to me, especially older women who have had medical cards for a long time and whose cards are now suddenly being taken away from them. Has there been a change of approach? Figures released to me show an increase in the number of people who are applying for medical cards but a decrease in the number of medical cards being issued. As well as medical cards, a lot of people have come to me who have not been given a discretionary medical card. We see in the numbers there has been a halving in the number of discretionary medical cards issued in the last number of years. I am trying to get to the bottom of this. Has there been a change of approach? If the Taoiseach is not aware of a change of approach, will he find out if there has been a change of approach by the Department?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Part of the reason could be the expansion of medical card eligibility. More than 1.5 million people now have a medical card. There has been exponential growth in that number. The previous Minister took significant steps in successive budgets to expand coverage. I am surmising but I will ask the HSE and the Minister to get some background information or statistics for the Deputy. I presume and surmise that quite a lot of people who had discretionary cards and who may not have been entitled-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Just hear me out. Some people who might not have been entitled because of income ineligibility are now entitled-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----so they move from discretionary to automatic entitlement.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Perhaps the Deputy will send her question to the Taoiseach.
Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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Next week marks the tenth anniversary of the momentous marriage equality referendum, which was a landmark moment in our social and political history. Today, ILGA-Europe published its report ranking European countries on LGBT human rights and policy protections. Ireland was ranked 14th on that list, which is mid-ranking. There are significant gaps in access to trans healthcare, gaps around hate speech laws, gaps in our equality legislation, a lack of non-binary recognition, gaps in intersex rights and no ban on conversion practices. Will the Taoiseach join the growing call for Ireland to set the goal of being the best place in Europe to be LGBT and will he publish an action plan to reach that goal?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is difficult to believe that ten years have passed since that momentous referendum and the huge endorsement of marriage equality by the Irish people. We have come a long way in respect of LGBTQ rights. We still have some distance to go. It is extremely important in public discourse, particularly in relation to trans rights as I said here yesterday, that we acknowledge every person's journey through life, that we have full respect for that and that we conduct any debate in a respectful, sensitive and intelligent way. That is important for the country in terms of our values, which were really the reason that referendum was passed so emphatically. I will work towards the agenda the Deputy has set and I know the various Ministers, particularly in justice and in other areas such as equality, will also.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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As we are just coming to the end of the speaking time, I will offer Deputies Conway-Walsh and Ó Muirí 30 seconds each and allow the Taoiseach to respond to them both together.
Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the students and teachers from Coláiste Pobail Acla here today. I know the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Dara Calleary, would want to do likewise. While we are on the subject of Achill, which the Taoiseach will know is one of the most beautiful places in the world, there is a severe shortage of facilities for young people on the island such as a youth centre. They need a permanent home and a permanent youth centre. I met Foróige in Dún Ibhir last Sunday. It is doing marvellous work.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Does the Deputy have a question?
Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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That is the question. What importance is the Government putting on facilities for young people, especially in rural areas?
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I will ask about e-scooter speeds. E-scooters are a welcome part of any mobility strategy but those who speed on them are a danger to themselves and everybody else, including pedestrians and cyclists on the road. There is a 20 km/h speed limit but it is difficult to enforce in reality. I understand it from An Garda Síochána that it is a statutory limit. Will the Taoiseach consider giving An Garda Síochána the power and technology to seize e-scooters, to test them to make sure limiters are on and operational and, if not, to confiscate them?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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On Deputy Conway-Walsh's question, I too welcome the students from Coláiste Pobail Acla. Cuirim fáilte faoi leith rompu chuig Teach Laighean. On the facilities for young people, working with the LEADER programme, county councils and the State, we can provide good quality youth centres. I have been in different parts of the country where some have done it better than others. I was recently in Tulla and there is a fine centre there. The Government is very committed and interested in doing that and getting partnerships together to provide good quality facilities. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, will meet Foróige next week, I believe.
On Deputy Ó Muirí's question, I will talk to the Minister for Justice. The Deputy is absolutely correct; there are issues with dangers and vulnerabilities. If An Garda Síochána could have additional powers, they may act as a deterrent and it may never have to use them, even if the powers are there.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I welcome students from Skerries Community College student council, who are here at the request of Deputy Grace Boland.