Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Many people have described the denial of visas for those 33 children from Palestine as "cruel". That is a fitting word. These are children who have been learning to play GAA for the past year. They have been looking forward to this trip, this escape from Israeli occupation and oppression. The organisation said it has done everything it can. It provided more documentation than ever before. It provided it in ample time. A week before these kids were supposed to land, they have had this hammer blow. I am not interested in a tit for tat on who said what or who did what but, surely to God, this can be resolved. We are talking about 33 Palestinian children. We are talking about children living under an occupation and living under oppression. These are kids who have had a hurley in their hands for the last wee while and want to come over here. There are more than 150 families ready to welcome them into their homes and hearts. Surely to God, we can resolve this. There is still time to resolve it. I ask the Tánaiste to move the machinery of government to make sure assistance is provided and all of the things are done to make sure those kids are able to travel here and enjoy our national games.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I do not doubt the good faith of the people in our country and in other countries who have been trying to make this trip happen. No one doubts that. No one doubts wanting to support children. Of course, we are not just talking about 33 children seeking to come to Ireland. We are also talking a number of adults, almost all of whom are not the parents of any of the children.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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The parents are dead.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Please do not interrupt me on a sensitive issue. We have just discussed child protection. It is very important. Vetting is very important. We have strict rules on migration and who can come into our country. It has to be a rules-based system. I do not want to go too far into the application. I am sure everyone is engaging in good faith. There is certainly not an effort by the State to seek to block or be difficult here. I am engaging in good faith on this too. There are rules and processes. There is an appeals process available. I have no doubt that will be considered by some of people I have heard speaking publicly on this today. I know this is an effort by people to do good. I do not doubt that. However, we have to uphold the integrity of our migration system as well.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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On the same issue, if the roles were reversed and a GAA club in Greystones, Swords or anywhere else were trying to go somewhere and the mentors who were travelling with them were falling foul of this, we would be rightly asking questions and, indeed, be outraged. We know this is not a normal case either. There have been many political representations made on this. We also have something else coming down the tracks with the Lajee Center in Bethlehem sending dancers over who may be subject to the same situation. The Tánaiste has spoken about breaking down silos. We have limited methods and ways of showing solidarity with Palestinians at the moment. This is one of them. I ask the Tánaiste to take up this issue of the GAA children, as well any other groups that are coming down the track, to ensure every possible effort is being made to allow them to visit this country.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I genuinely take the good faith in which people are raising it. They are quite right to raise it. Many people have raised it and contacted us all about it. The Minister for justice has a specific and important job to do and that is to apply the laws of our land on visas, child protection and immigration. If he did not do that, I am sure he would be criticised in the other direction. We are granting and have granted visit visas for quite a number of people from Palestine. We are always looking for ways, as a people, to support and show solidarity. We also have to operate and respect the integrity of our system. I am quite confident the rules being applied here by Ireland are exactly the sort of rules we would expect any other country to be applying as well. There is an appeals process in place. I do not want to cut across the independence of that. The Minister has outlined clearly the reasons why his Department was not in a position currently to grant the visas. I am ad idem with him on that.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Many of us in this Chamber use sport as a form of escapism. For those 33 kids who we are talking about from the West Bank, this is a potential escape from hell, a living hell that has rained down on them for 20 months at the hands of the Israeli genocide. It gives them a sliver of hope in their darkest hour. At the last minute, the Government has shattered their dreams and tried to extinguish that hope by denying them entry to the State for a trip that has been meticulously planned. This morning and again now I have heard the Tánaiste defend this fiasco by talking about a rules-based system. GAA Palestine, however, is adamant that their paperwork is in order. The embassy in Tel Aviv has said it did not put any barriers in place. Of course, if this was a group of Israeli kids, they would enjoy visa-free travel here because the rules-based system has different rules for different groups. The entire nation wants the Government to resolve this.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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That is wrong.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is child protection. That is not correct.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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It has until Monday to sort it out. What is the Government going to do to help these children get here and give them back that sliver of hope?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It must be exhausting speaking for the whole nation, but I also speak for people in this country, as does every Member of this House. We are not tearing up our rules-based migration system. If, God forbid, anything happened to any child from any part of this country who came in here unaccompanied by a parent, the Minister would be hauled in here and asked what he did and why he let it happen. Child protection matters. There is no short circuit; there is no quick-----

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Everything is in order.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Sorry, there is no going around the back of the scrum. Do not dare do Israel versus Palestine. This is child protection. We have a visa system. We have a rules-based system. The Deputy might want to have a different approach to migration. This Government has rules and those rules will be followed in relation to migration.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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My office has been contacted by someone who became an Irish citizen and was not able to have their non-binary status recognised on their passport, or the new name they adopted in the country they came from. Non-binary and intersex status is recognised in Denmark, Germany, Malta, Iceland, the Netherlands and even the USA, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India and so many other countries I do not have time to list.

As well as people who come here from those countries who may have this issue, it is people in Ireland who are non-binary and identify as neither male nor female are having their true selves negated by us not recognising non-binary people in the Gender Recognition Act 2015, an Act that was meant to be reviewed a long time ago.

This Saturday, trans, non-binary and intersex people will march in Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin. It is estimated that at least 1.7% of the population is born intersex and their parents have to choose one or the other - male or female - even though they may have characteristics that do not conform strictly to either male or female. When will we review the Gender Recognition Act and allow non-binary people, who are recognised in many sports - for example, the Dublin marathon recognised non-binary status - but who are not legally recognised on passports and birth certificates.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Gender Recognition Act 2015 resides with the Department of Social Protection so I will ask the Minister for Social Protection to come back to the Deputy on that matter and with a timeline for the review she is seeking.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Catherine Sherry was 42 years old when she died of lymphoma cancer. She lived with her husband and young children just across the Border, in Newry. The special treatment she needed was not available in the North of Ireland but was available just one hour away in Dublin. Her heartbroken husband, Fergal, said she was forced to travel to London for that treatment and that travel significantly weakened her just when she needed her strength for that treatment. It also meant she could not be with her three sons during the final weeks of her life.

Clinicians have said that there is very little cross-Border cancer activity happening, aside from Altnagelvin hospital in Derry. Altnagelvin just treats 300 people annually. One in five cancer patients from Donegal uses Altnagelvin, the rest must go to Galway or Dublin. During the week, I raised the fact that 12% of cancer patients in the north west are not getting their treatment on time. Why is it that 27 years after the Good Friday Agreement there is still no overarching framework for cross-Border cancer care?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising that issue and my sincere sympathy goes to the family of Catherine. The Deputy is quite right to highlight this issue. The Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has had a number of meetings with her colleague and counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt. I know there is a real willingness and desire on the part of both Ministers and both health services to see how we can do more together on cross-Border health. The Deputy is right that Altnagelvin was a big and important development, so was the all-island congenital heart disease network. We do not want to just keep looking back and saying is it not great we did that. It is about what is next. I suggest if the Deputy is willing to give those details to the Minister for Health, she will come back to him directly.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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This morning I published my first Bill to establish the national AI office, oifig náisiúnta na aintleachta saorga. As part of the EU's AI Act, every member state is required to produce a regulator in the state. The idea behind this particular office is that it would act both as a regulator and an enabler for SMEs and for State entities.

I have spoken with the Minister of State, Niamh Smyth, about this. I submitted the Bill to the public Bills Office today. I ask that it is given a fair hearing. We are required under the EU AI Act to set up a regulator and there would be an independent commissioner running that, similar to the Data Protection Commissioner and Coimisiún na Meán.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and congratulate him on publishing his first legislation so soon into the term of this Dáil. He is quite right that this is a huge area. We have seen many companies such as JP Morgan and Ford make significant comments over the last week about job displacement and the type of new jobs that will be created. There is a live debate around regulation. We discussed the issue of AI at our competitiveness summit this week. We have a dedicated Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, who is doing an excellent job in this area. I have no doubt she will give consideration to Deputy Ó Cearúil's Bill and the Government will give it due and fair consideration also.

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Marino Institute of Education, MIE, based in my constituency, is a teacher training college funded by the Department of education. It produces world class educators who work in Ireland and abroad. I think the Tánaiste visited there in times past. However, MIE has two courses that do not qualify under the free fees initiative - the bachelor of science in education studies and the bachelor of science in early childhood education. This is fundamentally unfair and puts MIE at a financial disadvantage. The issue seems to relate to the fact MIE is funded by the Department of education and not the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, that is, the HEA process. As a former Minister for higher education, the Tánaiste has a bit of direct know-how here and skin in the game. Can he direct departmental officials to rectify this unfair anomaly please?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ó Muirí and he is correct that I had the honour of visiting Marino Institute of Education. It is a brilliant third level facility and it had made this point for some time. I want to acknowledge that. The reason some of its courses are not funded under the free fees initiative is because of its status as a private institution with charitable status under the co-trusteeship of the European Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and Trinity College Dublin. From memory, we brought in a new Higher Education Act which gives an ability to a private institution to decide to bring itself closer into the family, to use colloquial language, and therefore that opens up opportunities on free fees. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to come back to him directly. I have no doubt the Minister and officials will meet MIE. I know they are in ongoing engagement on this matter. I thank him for highlighting this.

Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Thirty-three children in the GAA Palestine club were due to travel. I know he is very aware of the issue as a lot of my colleagues have raised it. Seven days prior to travel, they were told they need to provide more information and it has been quite devastating and upsetting for the coaches, for the hosts, for both Deputy Ó Snodaigh and me and for the Good Counsel club in Drimnagh, which is hosting them. I have sent all the relevant information to the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. There is a very regrettable mix-up and we will just leave it there for now. My ask today is that the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, meet the GAA organisers and support them in resolving this as soon as possible. Please let them play.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this. We had an informal word on this issue last night and I know of her very sincere and good interest in this matter and I acknowledge that. Everybody acknowledges that everyone is acting in good faith here. People here in Ireland are trying to do something good for children from a war-torn area. There is no two ways about that and I acknowledge that too. On the information available to me, when applications came in for visas, and without overly getting into individual applications, they were processed in a very efficient way. Applications were being submitted at various points up to May. To be given a decision by 9 July, if anything, seems to be a faster processing time in terms of an answer than usual, probably because of the sensitivity of this. There are legitimate issues. The migration service would not be doing its job, from a child protection point of view, if it did not raise those issues. There is an appeals process open. I know that while it is a matter for the Department of justice, my diplomatic colleagues in Tel Aviv and other places provide information on the best way forward and give the best advice possible. That will continue.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government contains a commitment to increase Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities and that this Government will work to integrate Local Link routes with health services to improve access and will provide extra funding for the improvement of the transport network. We urgently need a Local Link service along the N17 corridor from Bellaghy to Sligo town. Transport for Ireland, TFI, indicates the national primary route is serviced by Expressway services but these buses only stop in large towns. This creates a significant barrier for individuals who do not drive, including those who may have ceased driving due to age or health issues, as well as those who simply wish to travel for social activities.

The Bus Éireann route 64 service stops in Tobercurry but that is no good for the people who live in Bellaghy, Trawalua Strand, Cloonacool, Achonry, Coolaney and Mullanabreena, which are all rural towns. Additionally, the cost of the commercially operated Expressway route 64 service is significantly higher when compared with Local Link routes.

It is worth noting the positive feedback regarding the Coolaney to Sligo via Ballaghaderreen Local Link services, and particularly the Castlerea to Sligo service. Furthermore, the shortage of student accommodation at Atlantic Technological University, ATU, adds another layer to this issue but with reliable transport, people can travel from their local villages to college.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Scanlon for raising this important issue for his constituents, particularly those who travel from Bellaghy to Sligo town and are affected by the deficit he has identified in public transport provision there. I am very proud of the work we have done together over the last number of years to expand the Local Link services. It was one of the great success stories of the last Government from a public transport point of view. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask both the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, and the NTA to consider the point he is making to see how the issue can be best addressed.

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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As per the last census, there are some towns in my constituency of Offaly with up to 40% of households still relying on peat turf for home central heating. That is ten times the national average of 4%. These families are caught up in the crossfire between climate policy and home heating regulations. For many, moving from turf to a full retrofit is simply not financially feasible or logistically possible. As outlined in the programme for Government, and with the renewable heating obligation scheme due before Cabinet, I urge the Tánaiste to seriously consider low-carbon fuel alternatives such as hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, with a 20% blend for home heating, and wood pellets. These fuel options would offer a realistic lower-emissions bridge for households moving away from peat where they choose to do so, with immediate benefit and without the heavy upfront costs of deep retrofits. If we truly believe in a just transition, then we must ensure rural families have practical and affordable pathways to reduce emissions. We must ensure our targets are not just ambitious but achievable.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this issue. We have been progressing the renewable heat obligation to ensure the increased used of renewable fuel types across the fuel heating sector is possible. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment is now preparing the heads of Bill for submission to Government shortly. Representatives of that Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland also participate in an expert group on renewable and low-carbon fuels and the drafting of a new heat policy statement is now at an advanced stage. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and I recognise its importance in Offaly and the surrounding areas. Our programme for Government commits to targeting older homes still using oil to switch to renewable heating systems and to consider the use of sustainable biofuels to reduce emissions from existing home boilers where deep retrofits are not always possible in the short term. These commitments are framing the work now under way to develop our new heat policy statement and the roadmap to phase out fossil fuel heating systems. There is a draft statement that is informed by the findings of a new national heat study. This has undergone extensive consultation and will set out our new overarching approach to decarbonising the heat sector as well. Finally, the 2025 programme for Government also includes a commitment to examine the taxation of HVO used for commercial freight to support sustainable transport solutions, which the Department of Finance is also undertaking.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to correct a comment the Tánaiste made earlier. Israeli citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland to stay up to 90 days for tourism, visiting family or friends or attending business. In other words, there is apartheid operating in this country as well, whereby people in Palestine, which Israel considers part of Israel, need to jump through every hoop in the book to get into this country, whereas Israeli citizens do not. That is from the Department of justice. Those are the facts. The Tánaiste has the power. He is the Tánaiste and the Minister for foreign affairs. He can deliver this. I spoke to GAA Palestine this morning. It has hundreds of volunteers and will do whatever it takes between now and the weekend to get these children the visas they require. Let us be honest here. Does the Tánaiste have the will? Does he want to let these children come here? I remember going up to the Six Counties as a young fella to play hurling and football and I remember them coming to Cork to stay in my house and with my club, St. Vincent's. I remember what it was like. However, these 33 children-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Thanks Deputy.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----are living in hell. Does the Tánaiste know that if they do not get here now, some of them will not be around for the next one because some of them will probably be slaughtered by the Israelis? I am pleading with the Tánaiste. I am begging him now-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gould, please.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----for the sake of the children. We he let them play?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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First, the use of the word "apartheid" is very unfortunate in relation to this. What we are doing is-----

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is from the website.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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What we are doing is applying the laws of our land - laws which the Deputy and his party have not proposed changing, laws in relation to child protection, which I am sure he takes seriously, and laws in relation to a visa system that has to be impartial and applied. We cannot provide visas on the basis of public petition. We have to provide them on the basis of the rules. We have to address child protection. We would all love this to happen in many ways. Who would not like to help children? Of course we would, but there is a "but" here. This has to be done correctly. There are child protection requirements around visas. Everyone is talking about 33 children.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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They have done all that. You heard Máire Devine and Aengus Ó Snodaigh. They have done all the child protection. They are doing everything.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gould, please.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Everybody is talking-----

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Will Deputy Gould please allow the Tánaiste to answer?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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With respect to Deputies Devine and Ó Snodaigh, that has nothing to do with child protection. It is absolutely nothing to do with the point. Everyone is talking about 33 children. Why is nobody saying the next bit, which is that they are travelling from one far-flung part of the world to another with adults who are not their parents and the importance of child protection checks in relation to that? It is a perfectly appropriate thing to do. No migration service and no Minister for justice would be doing their job if they did not take that seriously.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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My own club brought a team to Paris a few weeks ago with their coaches, not their parents.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy Whitmore. Deputy Gould-----

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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It happens in every school, every club in the country. It happens with every one of them.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is worked through the system.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Whitmore.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will not resolve this by shouting.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I raise a commitment and a promise that was made by the former Minister for Health to cancer groups across Wicklow last October. The former Minister promised funding for a number of cancer care groups, namely, Purple House Cancer Support, Arklow Cancer Support, Greystones Cancer Support, Wicklow Cancer Support, Rathdrum Cancer Support, Roundwood Cancer Support and West Wicklow Cancer Support. None of those groups have received that funding. I have seen correspondence from the former Minister where he said that funding would be recurrent funding, no matter the affiliation with the NCCP. The Tánaiste and I both well know the amazing work these cancer groups do in County Wicklow. Will he make sure that commitment made by his former Government colleague is kept?

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I will take this on the basis of it being a health matter. The HSE and the NCCP have recently been working with community organisations to distribute the 2025 funding of €5.5 million. The first call for the full members of the Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres, of which Purple House is one, is now almost complete and the second call for the associate members is now under way. I think some of the groups the Deputy mentioned are within that group. The Alliance has 21 full members and 22 associate members. The associate members will now go through that process as well but the priority is, of course, for the full members.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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This week, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have rightly emphasised the Government's strong commitment to easing the cost-of-living pressures on families, including the recent move to strengthen the powers of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to ensure fairness in grocery pricing. Given the extraordinary external pressures of recent years with Covid, the war in Ukraine and the rising global energy costs, will the Tánaiste outline how the Government plans to build on the cost-of-living supports already delivered, particularly with regard to the cost of groceries and essential utilities, to give families greater security and reassurance in the months ahead?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Daly for this. He is so right. The Government is absolutely at one in recognising that just because inflation has fallen, it does not mean the cost of going to the supermarket has fallen as well. The cost of living still remains high. People see that in their weekly shop. They see it when they go to the checkout with their trolley. While we have been very clear that there will not be a cost of living specific measure between September, October and December, that is not to say that a budget of over €100 billion - probably around €120 billion - will not try to help people with their cost of living. Of course it will. Every budget does, in terms of looking at what we can do for older people, younger people and families. That will be the approach we will all take together. However, specifically on the issue of grocery prices, we want to ensure consumers are treated fairly, that pricing is transparent and that competition in the retail sector remains robust. Our colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, has met with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and has asked it to conduct an updated analysis of the Irish grocery retail sector on the issue of excessive pricing. I am told that piece of work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Community childcare not-for-profit operations led by the community for the community stand out in a sector dominated by private provision as an alternative, often part of a wider network of early intervention and family support services. Availability varies wildly across the country, from over 60% of services in Monaghan and Leitrim to just 6% of less in my own county of Fingal. It is 13% in Wicklow. In Dublin 15, two community childcare services in two years have take the really difficult decision to shut their doors.

It is nothing to do with demand in the area. In Ireland, over the past five calendar years, the total number of community service providers that entered the sector is 114. Over the same period, the total number of providers that left is 113. That is an increase of one. Something is obviously wrong. I ask that the community model be specifically examined in the context of the review under way to reduce the administrative burden on providers and a review of core funding to support and increase community childcare services.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Currie for her work as Fine Gael spokesperson on childcare and as part of the Government's collective effort on childcare. The programme for Government is ambitious in this area. As we have discussed before, there are around 21 commitments in relation to childcare. The next step will be the publication of a new action plan on childcare and how we intend to advance it. I broadly agree with the Deputy. We do not want a system that is overly rigid. We have to have a system that recognises parents need to be empowered in what works best for their child. The idea that one model designed in an office is the model that will work best for everyone does not work. Community childcare providers have a significant role to play. We have not seen a level of growth, which should be an indication in and of itself as we carry out this review. Yes is the answer to the Deputy's question. We will ensure the community model is specifically examined in the context of that review and we will look at issues like core funding and high levels of administration and how that could be a barrier to an expansion of a sector doing good work in many counties.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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We know the application system for driving tests can be a disaster. An issue not raised as much is motorcyclists applying for tests. There is a major waiting list and people are told to monitor the site for a cancellation. There is a new practice where third-party sites and apps, for a fee, use bots and book up the cancellations. This places normal applicants at a disadvantage. It means some people fork out more money just to be in with a chance. This may not have been raised with the Tánaiste before. If it has not, will he speak to the Minster for Transport about it? If this practice is happening, it needs to be stopped.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for bringing this to my attention. I was not aware of it but it needs to be stopped. There are enough challenges for people trying to get these tests without somebody gaming the system and exploiting people looking for a test. I will raise it in the first instance with the Minister for Transport.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I raise the Health Service Executive report from yesterday on the care of some women in Portiuncula hospital. The results are shocking enough that this could be replicated in other hospitals. Equally shocking and perhaps more is that we utterly failed to learn from the Walker report in 2018 and the same mistakes have been repeated. I am particularly aware of the national maternity strategy. We clearly need a debate on the topic. For today, my question relates to the decision to move high-risk pregnancies to Galway hospital, which is under extreme pressure. It does not have the new maternity wing. If it has be done in an emergency, clarity is required on the extra resources that will be put in to facilitate that. The department is already under extreme pressure.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her question. This concern is specific to Portiuncula, which demonstrated a much higher than expected rate of requirement for Caesarean sections and cooling of the baby. This was a specific issue. All of the recommendations of the Walker report were implemented. There has been a 100% increase in the number of obstetric consultants and a 25% increase in the number of midwives at Portiuncula. The report has been implemented and increased resources were provided yet there is still a problem. We have to respond to that problem from a patient safety perspective. High-risk pregnancies are being moved to Galway. I have visited the maternity unit in Galway. I know what the Deputy means. I am seeking significant capital funding to transform Galway hospital, including the maternity unit, and to make sure the resources are available in the longer term as well.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I recently met a lady in a supermarket on a fixed income with two adult dependants. She had forgotten her phone which had her loyalty card on it. Panic set in because she did not have it. After we sorted it all out, she told me she could not buy the same groceries on her fixed income as she could a year or two ago. She was quite upset and emotional about it. The CSO today said food and drink prices are up 4.6% compared with 1.8% for everything else, on average, across the country. There is no doubt gouging is going on in supermarkets. I ask the Tánaiste to consider genuinely consider looking into supermarkets having to publish profits; he has a good track record on this. The Labour Party published legislation on that to bring about transparency. More important, can the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission be asked to look at this gouging which is obviously going on? I also ask for it to investigate the scam that is loyalty cards. They are now absolutely mandatory, not voluntary. Supermarkets should work on the basis of price, quality and service. Now, if you do not engage with giving over your personal data to supermarkets to ensure you have one of these cards, you will be ripped off even further. It is not acceptable. It is a rip-off and it needs to be investigated.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I think Deputy Carroll MacNeill and I find ourselves in large agreement with a lot of what Deputy Kelly said. I know I get myself in trouble from time to time for saying these sorts of things but the cost-of-living challenge is still very real for people. We have to acknowledge that. We have to prudently budget and carefully work our way through things and always protect our economy. We can quote all the economic statistics we want but the cost of living is still very challenging for many people I would loosely refer to as the squeezed middle. On supermarkets in particular, I welcome the measures taken by Minister of State, Deputy Dillon. He met the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and asked it to review again the Irish grocery retail sector on the issue of excessive pricing. I am told that is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has a statutory mandate now to investigate anti-competitive behaviour to ensure consumers are not misled or exploited. I understand several major retailers have been prosecuted for misleading discount practices. These cases marked the first wave of enforcement under new pricing transparency laws. We have committed to strengthening the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission further in the programme for Government. Perhaps we could work constructively on what that law should look like.

I will specifically ask the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, for a view on loyalty cards. I share the Deputy's concerns. It is one thing if it is optional but if it becomes almost mandatory to have it or you have to pay a much higher price, that is a legitimate cause for concern.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Iveragh in south Kerry is remote to many of the people who live elsewhere on this island. It is a main attraction for many. For many of those living there, its remoteness is neither an attraction nor an advantage when it comes to health services, be they physical or mental. A proposal to move mental health services from Caherciveen Community Hospital to Killorglin would be a detrimental move for everybody resident from Castlecove to Portmagee, Valentia to Dromid and Kells to Ballinskelligs. The service includes 100 users and their families. Any move by the Health Service Executive would make this crucial service inaccessible to many of them. Space for the ambulance station, which is mooted for the move, is a high priority for the south Kerry area but surely not at the expense of our indispensable mental health service. This would add 88 km for all users of the service, unnecessarily doubling a hazardous road journey for vulnerable people, most without their own transport. I plead with the Tánaiste to intervene.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Carroll MacNeill and I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, as the Minister of State responsible for mental health to look at the serious points Deputy Cahill made. It sounds like there is a lot of stress and concern in the local community. I know the Minister of State will be eager to constructively engage with him and the HSE on this matter. I will ask her to come back directly to the Deputy.