Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

That Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Second Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate)

- Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate)

- Motion re Restoration of Private Members’ Bills (without debate)

- Apology to Shane O'Farrell and his family: Statements (not to exceed 2 hrs and 20 mins)

- Statements on the Independent External Medical Audit for Children's Health Ireland and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh on Indications for Pelvic Osteotomy in Children with Developmental Hip Dysplasia (not to exceed 2 hrs and 25 mins)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

-Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 3 hrs and 24 mins)

-Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 5 p.m. and to adjourn either at 8.46 p.m. or after 3 hours, whichever is the later)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Gaza, selected by the Labour Party.

Thursday's business shall be Statements on Flood Relief (not to exceed 2 hrs and 25 mins).

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Competition and Consumer Protection (Unfair Prices) Bill 2023, sponsored by Deputy Ged Nash.

Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business:

In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1.the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(a)the Dáil may sit later than 10.48 p.m.;

(b)private members' business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event, be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on the Independent External Medical Audit for Children's Health Ireland and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh on Indications for Pelvic Osteotomy in Children with Developmental Hip Dysplasia;

(c)Parliamentary Questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) which are to be taken on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025, shall be taken for 96.5 minutes on the conclusion of the Statements on Flood Relief on Thursday, 29th May, 2025, without any change to the allocation of priority Questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and not otherwise affecting the current sequence of Ministers or rota for priority Questions as ordered by the House; and

(d)the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 39 which shall be taken on the conclusion of private members’ business;

2.the proceedings on the Motion re Second Report of the Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate;

3.the proceedings on the Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

4.the proceedings on the Motion re Restoration of Private Members’ Bills shall be taken without debate;

5.the Statements regarding an apology to Shane O’Farrell and his family shall not exceed 2 hours and 20 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

6.the Statements on the Independent External Medical Audit for Children's Health Ireland and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh on Indications for Pelvic Osteotomy in Children with Developmental Hip Dysplasia shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a)the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b)following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(c)members may share time; and

7.notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours.

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that:

1.the ordinary routine of business as set out in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(a)the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time, which may be taken later than 8.45 p.m.;

(b)in the event that Second Stage of the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025 adjourns or concludes before 5 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 5 p.m. when the order of business shall resume with Report Stage of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024; and

(c)the weekly division time shall be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Provided that where the proceedings on that Bill conclude within the allotted time, the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2.in relation to the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025, the following arrangements shall apply:

(a)subject to subparagraph (ii), the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned after 3 hours and 24 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(i)the arrangements for the first speaking round shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(ii)where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(iii)members may share time; and

(b)the proceedings shall not be resumed on Wednesday; and

3.the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 8.46 p.m. or after 3 hours, whichever is the later.

In relation to Thursday’s business, it is proposed that:

1. (1)the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(a)topical issues pursuant to Standing Order 39 may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of Parliamentary Questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade pursuant to Standing Order 47(1); and

(b)the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Competition and Consumer Protection (Unfair Prices) Bill 2023 may be taken earlier than 8.24 p.m., and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of topical issues, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

(2)the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 10th June, 2025; and

2.the Statements on Flood Relief shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a)the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b)following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and

(c)members may share time.

Deputies:

Not agreed.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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As the Chief Whip will be aware, every Thursday at the Business Committee in recent weeks, I have raised the issue of the defective concrete blocks scheme. Last October, the Government confirmed it was going to increase the cap by 10%. Families are tens of thousands of euro short of 100% redress. This cap must be available to everybody undertaking this scheme, not just new entrants.

That amendment was promised late last year and we are now here, coming into June, and there is no sign of the amendment. I am urgently asking that the amendment be brought in and to get that money to those families who desperately need it.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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Notwithstanding the announcement that the occupied territories Bill will go for pre-legislative scrutiny soon, the timeline articulated by the Tánaiste whereby this would not be passed until later in the year is, quite frankly, unacceptable. I ask for this to be revisited and that time be made at committee and in the Dáil to ensure this is put through before the summer recess.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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Regarding statements this evening that the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is doing on the external audit into Children's Health Ireland, there are no questions and answers as part of that business but we need accountability. Parents at the weekend were ringing the phoneline but could not get any answers to any questions they put. They just had their contact details were taken. We need the Minister this evening to take questions, answers and to have accountability on this, not simply statements.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I presume the Taoiseach saw the horrific video of a six-year-old girl burning in Gaza. Her name is Ward. Thankfully, she actually survived but her family did not and approximately 20,000 other Palestinian children in Gaza have not. It is time for action to go with the words. It is time to stop the overflights. It is time to ban the sale of Israeli war bonds and it is time for full sanctions on goods and services. We need action from the Government and we need it now.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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We need a debate on the fishing industry. I welcome the new Minister for fisheries, who has hit the ground running from what I can see. I ask for a debate on issues such as Rockall, bluefin tuna and the extension of the black sole fishing quota season. These issues need to be discussed here urgently. Fishermen are pleading with us for that debate and I would appreciate it if the debate could take place this week.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the five Whips and the issues they have raised. The Minister for Health will use all of the time available to her this evening to answer questions in her wrap-up. I also take on board the issue regarding the defective concrete blocks scheme that has been raised over the past couple of weeks. I also take note of the request relating to the fishing industry and we can address them on Thursday morning.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Are the proposed arrangements agreed to?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Not agreed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We will move to Questions on Policy or Legislation. We had 66 applicants, and 15 have been chosen. We do not have time to get everybody in. I ask everybody to stay within the time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Even as it commits genocide in Gaza, the Taoiseach refuses to sanction Israel. Even as Israel massacres thousands of children, burns families and starves a refugee population, it is allowed to act with impunity. The Taoiseach's claim that Sinn Féin's Bill, which aims to stop the Irish Central Bank overseeing the sale of Israeli war bonds across Europe, is incompatible with EU law is utterly cynical and bogus. We have advice from the Oireachtas services here which confirms that the Bill is in compliance with EU and international law, in compliance with Irish law and in compliance with the Constitution. The Taoiseach knows this well. This legislation to stop the overseeing of the sale of Israeli war bonds is not only necessary; it is absolutely urgent.

I challenge the Taoiseach to come clean, be honest and make good on his vow to do everything within his power to stop the genocide.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to reply.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Ireland should not be complicit in the funding of a genocide-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That is not good enough, Deputy. You are way over your time.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----against innocent Palestinian men, women and children.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and I have made it clear that, as far as we are concerned, Israel is committing a war crime in terms of the weaponisation of humanitarian aid going into Gaza, the blockade and the prevention of the basic necessities of life going into Gaza.

We have been proactive from the very beginning. We were the first country in the EU to call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza. We were instrumental in persuading the European Union not to take aid away from UNRWA or rather to increase support for it. We effectively and successfully enabled that to happen. We intervened in the South African case under the Genocide Convention in a comprehensive, impactful way, as opposed to any political showboating of the type people might have advocated for earlier.

3 o’clock

We were also key in supporting the motions at the United Nations in respect of the advisory opinion that led to the ICJ judgment. Ireland has been very proactive, but in terms of the Bill that is before us,-----

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Then stop the Central Bank facilitating the sale of war bonds.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----the Deputy knows as well it is simply unworkable.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is not. That is utterly-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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So, should we let Israel fund its war and its genocide?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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If Deputies are going to continue in this vein, at least three Deputies will not get in.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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We must do more to stop the horror in Gaza. Yesterday, we learned of the horrific situation of Dr. Alaa Najjar, a doctor in Gaza who was working to save lives in a hospital when she learned that nine of her ten children had been killed in an Israeli bombardment, that her husband, another doctor, was critically ill, and that only one child was left alive. Thousands of children have been killed or left orphaned by the devastating genocide by Israel. Tomorrow, we will use Labour's Private Members' time to call on the Government to move a motion at the UN General Assembly seeking a sustainable peace and an international peacekeeping force in Gaza. I look forward to that debate but I ask the Taoiseach to do more. Today, the Tánaiste has sought approval for a new occupied territories Bill. This cannot represent a watering down of Frances Black's original Bill, which we in Labour co-sponsored. The Bill needs to include trade in services. We need to do everything in our power to stop the horrific war crimes Israel is carrying out on the people of Gaza.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will not be opposing Labour's motion tomorrow-----

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

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----in respect of actions at the United Nations because we are fundamentally multilateralist. We have worked on the Gaza issue with many like-minded states within the United Nations. Many of the votes on the Middle East reflect that approach by Ireland. We have worked with Arab partner states on a peace process in the Middle East. We supported them and helped in respect of formulating a peace plan in the early part of this war. It is unfortunate that it did not get more widespread support from the international community at the time, including the US. That was problematic. We recognised the State of Palestine. Shortly afterwards, the accusation was that that was only symbolic even though everybody in here had asked for it.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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They had been asking for three years.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The occupied territories Bill will come before the Dáil. That in itself will not change Israel. We need to be realistic.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is right; only sanctions will do so.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Please, Deputy McDonald.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We need a collective approach. I am cautious about saying it but the EU-Israel association agreement is now under review by the European External Action Service.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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On his way to Cabinet today, the Tánaiste said that people wanted more than fine words on Gaza and that they wanted action. I could not agree more, which is why I cannot understand why it has taken until today for the Tánaiste to bring to Cabinet legislation to ban trade with the occupied territories. We are now nearly six months into this Government's term. Does that represent urgency or strong action? As if that was not bad enough, the Government has signalled that it will not include services in the Bill, which means that a major component of trade will continue to flow even after the Bill is enacted. Gaza and its people are being erased before our eyes. I am deeply concerned that this Government is dragging its heels with this crucial legislation. The Dáil will go into recess for the summer from mid-July so we are running out of time. Will the Bill be enacted by then? If not, will the Taoiseach agree to sit during the recess for as long as it takes to ensure that the occupied territories Bill becomes law?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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For the record, there is no major trade between Ireland and the occupied territories. Let us be clear about that.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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There is enough.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is very little, actually, but that is not the point.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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It also sets legal precedent.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, it is not a back and forth.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The point is that it is a symbolic move. That is important in itself. We recognised the State of Palestine with Norway and Spain. As soon as we did that, all of those who had called for it changed their tune a couple of weeks later, saying that it was too little too late and not of much significance. My point is that we have done very practical things. Probably the most impactful has been on the humanitarian side with a very significant increase in funding to UNRWA, notwithstanding Israel's relentless hostility to UNRWA. We also worked on the ICJ judgment. The Attorney General went there and gave an oral submission. If one asks the Palestinian Authority, one will be told it appreciates and acknowledges the consistency of the Irish message on an independent Palestinian state.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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One will also be told that sanctions are needed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Those are the realities.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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I have highlighted here a few times now that changes urgently need to be made to the defective concrete block scheme.

I acknowledge the engagement of the Minister for housing in this matter. The Minister, Deputy Browne's, visit to Donegal was a positive step. His commitment to amending the Bill to improve the scheme to reflect the necessary changes by I.S. 465 was reassuring to the impacted homeowners. I would be grateful if the Taoiseach would give me a timeline for both of these Bills, those being, to provide a 10% retrospective payment and the defective concrete Bill. When does the Taoiseach expect the rate and caps Bill to be enacted? When can homeowners expect to receive their retrospective payments? What is the timeline for drafting the legislation for the updated defective concrete scheme? Will it reflect the necessary changes required to the standard of I.S. 465?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is that the Minister visited Donegal recently and had constructive engagement with all involved. Work is under way now within the Department. I will ask the Minister to maybe revert to the Deputy in respect of specific timelines around the legislation.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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If we ever have a case again where we have a design like the children's hospital, can the Government please not do it? Look at what we have done in Limerick: we built a box. People want boxes to be built because one can add onto a box or put a box down. They want care. Consider the cost of maintaining the children's hospital, with round curtains, round glass, and furnishings that have to be specially made. Given the cost of even trying to maintain an existing hospital, how many hospital beds could we provide for people by building a box design? All the other hospitals have been built like boxes and we can actually maintain them. The Minister's budget would go further to make sure that we can give more beds at a better price and more care.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First of all, I believe that design is important. Perhaps one of the issues with the new children's hospital - and which was reported in the PwC report - was that it did not have a finalised design prior to the contract issuing. That is one of the conclusions. That is my understanding and I stand to be corrected on that. I would not be against good design for a national children's hospital. That is important.

I would also make the point that there is a complexity in terms of a tertiary hospital where very complex surgery will be carried out, where rare diseases will be addressed, where world-class medicine will be deployed, in consultation with children's hospitals around the world and in accordance with established protocols in the paediatric medicine field. The positioning and placement of surgeries, for example, and the interlocking and integration of that with wards and so on-----

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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One could build boxes.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, it is more than that. It is more than just building boxes.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As we all know, throughout the country the Irish Wheelchair Association provides very valuable and important supports to their service users. These are essential supports for persons with disabilities. For more than a year, there have been limited in-person day services at the Irish Wheelchair Association centre in Cavan town. This has affected 40 service users and their families. I have spoken to these people regularly and they are most disappointed, absolutely annoyed, and understandably very frustrated that adequate in-person day services are not available to them. This is also a source of serious concern to IWA staff locally. A business case was submitted twice to the HSE for the provision of 1.5 whole-time-equivalent staff, which would resolve the issue. This is a reasonable request by any measurement. This must be resolved without further delay. Commitments were given to me and to others previously that the necessary resources would be provided. That must be honoured now after what has been a totally unacceptable delay.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. It is something that has been raised in the House and it is an issue that has been causing concern over the past number of months. Regrettably, day services recently ceased due to staffing shortages. That has caused a lot of distress to service users, their families and the Irish Wheelchair Association personnel at local level. The service ceased in April and my understanding is that, in August, the service began resumption on a phased basis following a successful recruitment drive. I will raise this again with the HSE. I understand it was a collaboration between the HSE and the IWA in respect of the business case for long-term support requirements, and that an outcome of this was imminent.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Throughout the country, there are only three sites that have UNESCO world heritage status, namely, Brú na Bóinne, the Giant's Causeway and Sceilg Mhichíl. Dún Laoghaire Harbour is a site of particular significance, nationally and internationally in the context of the role that it has played in the history of this country. It is a Victorian harbour that has seen the emigration of tens of thousands of Irish people to the United Kingdom. It is a harbour that has, unfortunately, benefited from very little investment in recent years, particularly during the lifetime of the harbour company, and it is in disrepair in real terms. Has the time now come to invest in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, not just in terms of its physical infrastructure, but its future by recognising it as a world heritage site and seeking to have it added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a laudable objective to be listed as a UNESCO site. That might not mean the level of investment that the Deputy envisages, however, as it could have other implications in terms of investment. I will talk to the Minister. Is the application under way?

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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No.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There has not been an application. There are others seeking UNESCO status at the moment. My first advice is to get the process in place to apply. The port has all sorts of historical and literary contexts that are quite unique in themselves. The first process, I think, would be to organise an application. I will talk to the Minister for culture and heritage.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I want to tell the Taoiseach about a case facing a woman called Victoria. Victoria is renting in Cork at the minute. She has seven children, is a single mother and a survivor of domestic abuse. Two of her children have additional needs. After her landlord went to sell the property, Cork City Council engaged with the landlord under the tenant in situ scheme. On this understanding - the correct understanding, I would have said at the time in terms of funding - Cork City Council went sale agreed on the property in January with Victoria's landlord. They heard nothing until April, when it became the funding cut to the tenant in situ scheme became clear. Her notice to quit is this Friday, 30 May. As things stand, she will be looking at presenting to APS, the homeless service in Cork City Council, with her seven children. That did not need to happen. It did not need to get to that situation. Cork City Council would have operated on the basis that funding would have been forthcoming for purchases under the tenant in situ scheme. When will the Taoiseach ensure that funding is reinstated to assist families such as Victoria's, and prevent them from becoming homeless, which is the potential situation that they face this week?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Victoria's case should not have come to that-----

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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No.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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----- because very substantial funding was allocated last year and this year, particularly with regard to a case of that priority. It is difficult to understand how that case could not have been accommodated above and beyond any other case.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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The council expected that there would have been enough funding for the rest of the year.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, it is not a back and forth.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am just making the point. I know the city council can prioritise, too. I know the Minister is engaging with the city council. I do not know the specifics of all cases-----

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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You understand perfectly, though.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Do not tell me the council is not in a position to resolve the case as it is presented now.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Are you serious?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Willie Aird.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Are you serious now with that response?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes. Very.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, please. I call Deputy Willie Aird.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is ridiculous.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Very serious.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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You know perfectly well.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Graduate medical students are under huge pressure from fees, accommodation, travel expenses and the cost of living. They receive no SUSI grant, no Government supports and no access to loans. Their options are to drop out, to work 12-hour weekend shifts or to rely on parents for financial support. This is unfair, especially to students from rural communities where we urgently need to see more doctors. We must ease the financial pressure on graduate medical students. This can be done by extending the SUSI grant to graduate medicine students or by creating a fair loan scheme for them. We must support our future doctors.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the points Deputy Aird made about graduate medicine and graduate entry. There are commitments in the programme for Government to examine the plight of mature entrants. It is important that we scale up the number of people in these professions. A new medical graduate-entry course will start in the University of Galway next year and a new pharmacy course will start this year. A new dentistry course will start in RCSI this year. Additionally, a new veterinary course will start in ATU and SETU next year. We are multiplying the number of professional places across all the universities. However, we are very conscious of the mature entry route, which is something I want to develop and see more of. I take the Deputy's point that the grants perhaps need to be extended further. An examination of that is taking place ahead of the budget. We will be in touch with the Deputy in due course.

Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The assisted human reproduction Act was passed by these Houses in 2024, but has not yet been enacted. Retrospective surrogacy legislation will provide a pathway to parental rights to the second parent of eligible families. This part of the Bill is aimed at ensuring that children born through surrogacy in the past have the same recognition as other families. I raise the case of my constituent in Meath West. Lorraine, who is a mother, gets her twins up and out to school every day, brings them to gymnastics and puts plasters on their cut knees, but who they call "Mammy" is actually called "Lorraine". She is not legally entitled to travel with them on her own, nor make medical decisions on their behalf. Lorraine and her husband live as unequal parents. He has full custody and grants her guardianship over her own children. Ten years on from marriage equality, the children of many of those marriages are not experiencing equality today. If the wider legislation is proving problematic, the retrospective surrogacy element should be progressed separately. These are living, breathing families operating in society. They should not continue to be viewed differently by the State.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I have met a number of the groups that are impacted by this. This is something on which we have been working together for at least ten years. Prior to that, it related to families that were impacted by inequalities in adoption. We are well aware of the inequalities that are there.

The Act was passed last year. It needs amending legislation. Apart from anything else, the authority needs to be established. I have received names for a board and we are advertising for a CEO position. All of those things need to be in place to be able to do the suite of work. Subject to the timing of the Oireachtas, I hope to publish the legislation before the Dáil rises. It is up to the Oireachtas how quickly it progresses it. Once all of those things are together and the authority is in place, we will be able to commence everything together.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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In 2009, then Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin described Fianna Fáil's closure of the accident and emergency department at Monaghan Hospital as a "mortal" blow for the people of Monaghan. He warned that lives "will undoubtedly be put at risk" as they then had to travel for up to an hour to Cavan hospital. The average wait time at Cavan hospital's accident and emergency department this year is more than eight hours, nearly double the 4.4-hour wait time in 2015. The situation is worsening every single year. With the best will and staff in the world, the minor injuries unit can only do so much. The people of Monaghan want to see the services, that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cut, restored. Will the Taoiseach finally admit that Fianna Fáil was wrong to take away the accident and emergency department? Will the Government invest to deliver services at Monaghan hospital that the community deservedly needs?

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. As she said, the rationalisation of the hospitals is something that goes back some time. The purpose is to provide the best care that can be provided among the different model 4 and model 3 hospitals. I note that Cavan has had a good performance over the past number of weeks in terms of trolley numbers and the organisation of its staff. There have been a few little blips, but in general it has been extremely good. We are trying to expand capacity everywhere, but particularly through the use of community virtual wards and pathways that divert people from accident and emergency departments who do not need to be there. There is more work to do across the system, however.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The closure of Skellig Michael to landings is a crime. It is having a detrimental effect on the local economy and the economies of Iveragh, south Kerry and the entire county. People come from every corner of the world to visit this very special, majestic place, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. The knock-on effect this is having, not just on boat operators, but on local hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, shops, restaurants, pubs, filling stations, etc., cannot be calculated. I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Kevin Boxer Moran, to do everything humanly possible to get this open as soon as possible. I cannot emphasise it strongly enough. That is why I am raising the importance of reopening it yet again in this House. Could the court case be brought forward?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I thank Deputy Cahill, who has been raising the issue of the UNESCO world heritage site of Sceilg Mhichíl persistently. As he knows, the Office of Public Works conserves and manages the UNESCO site.

The boat permit system was originally introduced to improve health and safety on the journey to and during visitation of the island. In December 2024, the OPW advertised a competition via the e-tenders system to award 15 permits for a five-year period. This process concluded in April 2025. Two unsuccessful applicants initiated High Court proceedings challenging the outcome and on 8 May a third unsuccessful applicant launched a further challenge. I would hope common sense would prevail here, the original decisions would be allowed to take their course and people would be allowed to take visitors out to Sceilg Mhichíl. It is very disappointing for visitors to the Iveragh Peninsula, many of whom come to visit Sceilg Mhichíl only to discover they cannot.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The time is up, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Rory Hearne.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would hope common sense would prevail.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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As the Taoiseach knows, a genocide is ongoing in Gaza now. The Central Bank of Ireland is facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds. I repeat that the Central Bank of Ireland is facilitating the sale of bonds funding genocide. Deputy Micheál Martin is the Taoiseach and leader of this country. Will he intervene with the Central Bank immediately, speak to the Governor and ask him to immediately stop Ireland facilitating the funding of genocide? It is straightforward. It is an action we can take. It is something we can be a leader on. It is real action and Israel will feel it. Can the Taoiseach imagine if we think back to the Second World War and the Central Bank of Ireland was then facilitating the funding of the Nazi regime? What would he have done then? I think that should guide his action now.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond.

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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I am asking the Taoiseach to please intervene and stop the Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, the legislation tabled by Sinn Féin is simply unworkable. It has been written in a manner that in no shape or form could ever be made workable. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has a very clear view on this in terms of its workability. It does not oppose any crime in Israel. It does not focus on Israel at all, but on individuals, who five, ten or 15 years ago could have engaged in purchasing financial products, or whatever, connected to Israel. No matter when they were bought, the Bill would make it illegal. There are, therefore, major issues with the legislation in terms of its workability, its legality, essentially-----

Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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Will the Taoiseach intervene then in other ways?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, please. I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Marie Sherlock.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will continue to intervene in other ways.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Babies are dying.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The big focus we have now is on the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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People are dying.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Intervention at the European Union level has far greater influence, if we can get an EU response of this kind.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy Marie Sherlock.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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There is a reality for public health patients that they have less access to lifesaving drugs compared to private patients and patients in the North, the UK and other countries. We know that only about one third of medicines approved by the EMA ever get authorisation to go on the market and onto the reimbursement lists here. An EU directive is aimed at broadening access to medicines. In recent days, we have read that the Government has now done a U-turn and is opposing aspects of that important EU directive. I get that there are almost 50,000 well-paid pharmaceutical jobs in this country and that we need to look after those jobs. There is a reality as well, in that we are talking about people's lives here and their inability to access lifesaving drugs because they cannot afford to pay. There is a fundamental inequality in our health system. I want to hear an explanation from the Taoiseach as to why the Government is now opposing that aspect of the EU directive to broaden access to medicines-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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-----and why processing times are so slow. Will he commit to seriously ill people that we will ensure speed of access to medicines in this country?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Does this relate to the forthcoming EU pharmacy regulations?

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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It is the EU directive on medicinal products for human use.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call the Taoiseach or the Minister, please.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The fundamental position of Government is in respect of supporting IP and the proper exploitation of intellectual property. We make no apologies for that and I never have. As far as I am concerned, we need to have consistent research in medicine and to facilitate, reward and incentivise investment in medicine. Otherwise, we will reduce the number of companies investing in such critical research. The industry in the European Union has, arguably, declined relative to the US and others because of a failure of investment in the fundamental EU pharmaceutical industry. There are some champions but not enough.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is always a balance between the price issue and ensuring we have enough and a significant pipeline of medicines that dramatically change disease and improve treatments for disease. The vaccine is the most recent example of it.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That is it, Taoiseach, the time is up. We move to Deputy Seamus Healy.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Local government is the heartbeat of democracy. The Fine Gael–Labour Party Government abolished borough councils and town councils in 2014 and replaced them with committees that had no power, no functions and no money. I think it is already accepted by almost everybody, including the former leader of the Labour Party, Brendan Howlin, that it was a very bad decision. The programme for Government commits to the establishment of a local democracy task force. Will the Taoiseach please outline when this task force will be set up and if he will ensure local community voices are represented on it and ensure the terms of reference will include the re-establishment of town and borough councils?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to municipal authorities in towns over a certain population threshold. I had good time for Brendan Howlin, formerly of this House, on many issues, but he led the charge on this matter and subsequently sort of had regrets. From a democracy perspective, I believe local town councils and town commissioners were important. Very often, they were the first step on the ladder to political participation and representation. I happen, therefore, to believe in this, but, obviously, I will talk to the Minister in terms of the timelines for legislation to give effect to the commitments in the programme for Government.