Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

Announcement of Business for the Week:

Tuesday's business shall be:

-Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

-Motion re Sittings and Business of the Dáil (without debate)

-Joint Motion re the Global Sumud Flotilla (to conclude within 60 mins)

-Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn after 3 hours and 24 minutes)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be Motion re Insurance Costs, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

-Statements on the Situation in Gaza (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes)

-Statements on the Positive Effect on the Sporting Landscape through the Use of the Sports Capital Programme, Large Scale Sporting Infrastructure Fund and the Major Events Programme (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes)

-Motion re Ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (to be taken no earlier than 7 p.m. and any division claimed to be taken immediately)

Wednesday’s private members' business shall be the Motion re Abolition of Carer’s Allowance Means Test, selected by the Social Democrats.

Thursday's business shall be Statements on the Community Pharmacy Agreement (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes).

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Developer Profits Transparency Bill 2023, sponsored by Deputy Rory Hearne.

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)Government business shall commence on the conclusion of the Joint Motion re the Global Sumud Flotilla; and

(c)private members' business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the adjournment of proceedings on Second Stage of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, or where those proceedings conclude within the available time, on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the commencement times for Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Transport, and topical issues;

2.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;

3.the proceedings on the Motion re Sittings and Business of the Dáil shall be decided without debate;

4.the proceedings on the Joint Motion re the Global Sumud Flotilla shall be taken on the conclusion of Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(a)the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:-

‒opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State – 10 minutes;

‒speeches by representatives of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group – 7.5 minutes per party or group;

‒speeches by Other Members – 7.5 minutes in total; and

‒a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and

(b)members may share time; and

5.in relation to the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) 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 Tuesday.

In relation to Wednesday’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)in the event that the Statements on the Positive Effect on the Sporting Landscape through the Use of the Sports Capital Programme, Large Scale Sporting Infrastructure Fund and the Major Events Programme conclude before 7 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 7 p.m.;

(b)any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of Statements on the Positive Effect on the Sporting Landscape through the Use of the Sports Capital Programme, Large Scale Sporting Infrastructure Fund and the Major Events Programme, or at 7 p.m., whichever is the later; and

(c)the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of the proceedings on the Motion re Ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, with consequential effect on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2.the Statements on the Situation in Gaza shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 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;

3.the Statements on the Positive Effect on the Sporting Landscape through the Use of the Sports Capital Programme, Large Scale Sporting Infrastructure Fund and the Major Events Programme 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

4.the proceedings on the Motion re Ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage shall be taken without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken immediately.

In relation to Thursday’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 extent that topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on the Community Pharmacy Agreement, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Developer Profits Transparency Bill 2023, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

2.the Statements on the Community Pharmacy Agreement 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.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business agreed to?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the joint motion that will be dealt with later today. However, hundreds of human rights activists, including 22 Irish citizens, one of whom, Senator Chris Andrews, is a Member of the Houses, are heading to Gaza right now. There is every possibility of intervention from the Israeli State. This has concerned many Governments, which have sent their naval vessels to the area.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, is this dissent?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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My point is we need to be able to respond-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I appreciate that.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Oireachtas needs to be able to respond flexibly to the emerging situation. All I am asking is that we can respond flexibly.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, we have the motion.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, the motion is tonight but we have a situation to which we need to be able to respond flexibly and that is all I ask for.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, are you dissenting to the Order of Business?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I am just asking for this.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You are not dissenting. Is that correct?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Can we get this question answered?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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No, Deputy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy Mac Lochlainn is asking for clarification.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I understand.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach says we never say anything positive on this side of the House. We also welcome the time set aside, at our request, to speak about Gaza this week and speak about this plan. We see a plan being presented which we hope will lead to a sustainable peace but which seems to be a half-baked effort imposed on the Palestinian people. We welcome the discussion on it and we welcome the cross-party motion on the flotilla.

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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It is reported in the Irish Independent today that at a recent launch of teen accounts Meta's head of safety essentially said parents are now responsible for what their children and teens view online, including the harmful things their teens view online. Our Government and the tech regulators in this jurisdiction are asleep at the wheel. The social media platforms are running rings around them. When will the Government take seriously its obligations to regulate this area? We need time to discuss this urgently this week.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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At the meeting of the Business Committee last Thursday, I asked that the Minister for agriculture come before the Dáil on the grain crisis in this country at present and the sensational drop in milk prices, which is putting some farmers under serious pressure. I also ask that the Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries comes to the House for statements on the struggling inshore fishermen and developments in the Rockall situation and the bluefin tuna quota. How far has the Minister of State progressed on this?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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What we need to debate is the changing allocation of SNAs. I have been inundated by SNAs, parents and teachers who say the model of allocation is being introduced without any process of consultation, and it will have a damaging impact on children with special needs, meaning they do not get the support they need. We need to debate it this week.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all of the Whips for their co-operation last Thursday evening and yesterday on the joint motion regarding the global flotilla, which will be taken at 3.50 p.m., with the Tánaiste leading out on it. I also want to let the House know, for anyone who has not seen it, that at 2.15 p.m. tomorrow there will be statements on the situation in Gaza, with 202 minutes, so three and a half hours, which will also be led by the Tánaiste. There will be lots of time to debate it.

The other issues that have been raised are tech regulation, SNAs and Deputy Collins's query on agriculture. We are working on Deputy Collins's query and we will take the other two issues under consideration at the meeting of the Business Committee on Thursday morning.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I will now put the question. The question is that the proposed arrangements-----

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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My question was not answered.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I cannot direct an answer.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I am asking for flexibility.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I am putting the question that the Order of Business-----

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The question was not answered.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I cannot direct an answer, as you are perfectly aware. You are delaying us. If you do not agree with the Order of Business, you can call a vote.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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He agreed yesterday.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I asked for-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I know you did.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the joint motion. I asked for clarification as to whether we can respond robustly if anything happens tonight.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You are disrupting the House now.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It is a fair question.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Your question was not answered. I cannot direct an answer.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Can it be answered now? Can we answer that? Can the Oireachtas jointly respond flexibly if the situation deteriorates badly?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We will follow the rules. I will now put the question on the Order of Business. Are the proposed arrangements for the week's business hereby agreed to?

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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That is not on.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Agreed.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Not agreed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The arrangements are agreed.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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They are not agreed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We now move to Questions on Policy or Legislation. I will start with Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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A Cheann Comhairle, the arrangements are not agreed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You did not call a vótáil.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You did not ask for a vote.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Then we will have to go back and ask for a vote.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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They know the answer to the question. There are 212 minutes tomorrow.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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We are talking about people who may be attacked in the next while. All we are asking for is a bit of flexibility.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Will the Deputies allow me to proceed?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Before we take Questions on Policy and Legislation, I welcome the Active Retirement group from Midleton. I also welcome Cois na Coille Day Services, Ability West. I call Deputy McDonald.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I want to return to the issue of Government waste. The Comptroller and Auditor General's annual report was published today and it makes for pretty damning reading in terms of lack of due diligence in the awarding of IPAS contracts. It confirms a concern that we have had for quite some time in relation to profiteering and lack of accountability in the awarding of IPAS contracts, lack of due diligence, gaps in payment controls, no contracts for properties, overbilling and overpayments to companies - in one case, to the tune of €7.4 million. The truth is that, under this Government, a small number of private operators have been allowed to make millions of euro from the public purse. The State is due to spend €1.2 billion on the awarding of these contracts this year and that it is very worrying.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy. The time is up.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I want to know how the Taoiseach stands over this. It has happened on his watch.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Your time is up. Thank you, Deputy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I join the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming the active retirement group from Midleton, and Ability West. I have a strong fondness for Midleton women.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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You are getting yourself in trouble, Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I know. In any event, in terms of the bike shed the Deputy referenced earlier, the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is saying the approximate cost for the actual bike shed was €32,000. There is a lot more else going on there.

In terms of the IPAS, that report was circulated today and we need to examine it. We have transferred responsibility for migration and IPAS centres from the Department of children to the Department of justice. There was huge pressure over the past number of years in respect of the migration system.

This necessitated urgent responses by the Department of children in terms of the location and securing of places on an emergency basis. We will examine that report. Certainly, our aim is to reduce costs significantly and get better value for money. The Minister for justice is taking a number of initiatives designed to do that.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Daft.ie reports today that the asking price for a home is nearly 40% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, 5,145 children are in homelessness. Last Friday's figures again showed a new shameful record, with the creeping up of the numbers in homelessness and a new record being set every month. Every day, we all hear from people with good jobs, many of them couples with two incomes, who are giving up on trying to buy a home because they simply have no prospect of being able to get a mortgage or afford to buy a home. The Land Development Agency chairperson has estimated that as many as 70% of workers in Ireland are effectively priced out of the housing market, both for renting and for purchase.

In next week's budget, the Government must make a meaningful dent in the national response to the housing emergency. We must see a real plan to increase the supply of housing. Our concern is that the budget will simply set more fictitious goals, as fictitious as the numbers that Fianna Fáil gave us on housing delivery in the general election campaign last year. Can the Taoiseach assure us there will be a real plan in place to build more homes?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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House prices are very high, and too high for many young people. That said, since 2020, notwithstanding Covid, about 148,000 new houses have been delivered in this country. The percentage of first-time buyers has been steadily increasing from about 25% of all purchases in 2015 to just under 40% in July 2025, and the latest data indicate further increases. First-time buyers continue to make the largest contribution to the mortgage market, accounting for 63% of approvals. Notwithstanding high prices - and they are too high, in my view - first-time buyers are getting opportunities to buy. About 119,000 first-time buyer mortgages were drawn down from 2020 to the first quarter of 2025. We need more supply – that is the key. The national development plan outlines the enormous Government expenditure that will ensue in the coming years. The budget will be supportive of housing but we need more private sector investment in housing as well.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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In January of this year, Storm Éowyn hit Ireland and left the country reeling. We were not prepared for it and the havoc it wreaked on communities was devastating. Some 750,000 people were left without power and it cost over €300 million to deal with the damage. We were actually quite lucky in that storm because it could have been a whole lot worse. The Climate Change Advisory Council has today been quite critical of the Government's response. At the time, the Government promised it would prepare Ireland for any future storms, yet we still have not seen the promised cross-government report on response plans. We still have not seen things like emergency hubs and the structures for getting those up and running quickly. How will the Taoiseach ensure that if a storm like this hits again, and the chances are it will, we are prepared and local communities are able to deal with it?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That review is going before the emergency development forum, which is imminent. I met with many of the groups after Storm Éowyn. Irish Water, in particular, undertook to immediately procure additional generators for the number of facilities where there had not been generators prior to or during Storm Éowyn. That was one practical step that we could take. We have also undertaken to resource various community-based groups and centres, so there would be one focal point in every area in the event of a storm like this happening again. That would have the necessary generating capacity and the various resources and amenities available for people in a given area to access in the event of being cut off from electricity, hot water, water in general or connectivity through communications. The Departments of agriculture and climate and energy, with respect to the ESB, farming and all of that, will ensure there are proper free corridors in respect of trees and so on.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Over two weeks ago, I raised the very positive proposal by Government, which is a policy directive to ban vessels over 18 m from fishing within the 6 mile limit. The Taoiseach promised to get back to me and I realise he is very busy, however, two weeks have lapsed and the policy directive is to become effective from 1 October. I can see no sign of the policy directive. I very much welcome it but given the last time this was discussed was 2018, and because of various court cases, it was not implemented, we have a new policy following an extensive consultation. Where can I find the directive? Is it to become operative from 1 October this week?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is but I will get the most up-to-date information for the Deputy and will communicate it to her directly. From 1 October, trawling activity and fishing vessels over 18 m in length over all waters inside the 6 nautical mile zone will be prohibited.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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That is the announcement but where is the policy?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the policy.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It will be effective from October.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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If you prohibit, you prohibit from 1 October. My briefing note states a limited total allowable catch of 2,000 tonnes of sprat will be permitted for vessels over 18 m long overall within the 6 nautical miles and inside baselines from October 2025 to 30 December 2026 only. The Deputy will know the story of the extensive public consultation that happened prior to this decision being made and the 5,000 submissions received. Some 94% of those submissions wanted a new ban on trawling activity. I have been pursuing it myself with the respective Ministers to get this decision.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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After 27 years of frustration, Uisce Éireann is finally being held accountable following a case brought by the EPA. The organisation was found guilty on both charges for breaches of its wastewater licence at Shannonvale Park, Clonakilty yesterday and fined €4,000. This is a major step forward. It recognises the environmental damages done to Shannonvale Park and to the River Argideen to Clonakilty, a vital local waterway. It also highlights the need to protect water quality near Jones' Bridge, which supplies drinking water to thousands across west Cork.

If this were a farmer, would the EPA wait 27 years while raw sewage leaked into the gardens and local rivers in Shannonvale, Clonakilty? No, the farmer would have been fined and put out of business within weeks. Why is the EPA not holding Uisce Éireann accountable in Dunmanway, Rosscarbery, Ballydehob and Goleen where raw sewage is pouring into the rivers? Now that accountability has finally arrived, what is the plan, what action will be taken to restore Shannonvale Park, protect the River Argideen and ensure proper water infrastructure for future generations?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is very disturbing. Irish Water should have the highest standards. Something like this should not be occurring. In recent months, Uisce Éireann had been assessing the feasible options for addressing the primary issue relating to the nine terraced houses and associated septic tank and percolation area in Shannonvale Park. The option is to establish a pumping station and transfer flow across the river towards the Clonakilty wastewater network. That is being progressed. This will involve the requirement to purchase land, establishing wayleaves, applying for planning permission and completing the required wastewater discharge authorisation reviews.

Two local legacy developer-provided infrastructure wastewater treatment plants will also be included in this project. Projects of this nature take a number of years to deliver. Funding has been allocated to develop the designs for this project and progress through the statutory consenting processes. We will keep in touch with and keep pressure on Uisce Éireann to make sure this happens.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year, I raised concerns regarding the capitation grant and was told it would be considered in the upcoming budget. With the budget approaching, I want to return to the issue. I have been speaking with school leaders across County Offaly, including St. Broghan's National School, Scoil Mhuire in Tullamore and Offaly School of Special Education. They are managing rising costs with a grant that simply has not kept pace. Fund-raising is now covering essential non-extras and that is not sustainable. It is pulling teachers and principals away from the core focus, which should be students. I ask the Government to take this seriously in the upcoming budget to increase the capitation grant and begin work on a more sustainable, long-term model for school funding.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy and he has made a very fair point. Obviously, there are pressures on budgets all over. There are ongoing discussions between the respective Ministers and the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, right now. We are conscious of the pressures on schools in respect of capitation and the need for longer-term sustainable funding to deal with increasing costs.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Irish tillage sector is in crisis. Two weeks ago, I attended a meeting of more than 1,000 farmers in Naas. They gathered not to protest but to plead for the survival of the tillage sector. Their message was loud and clear: they cannot continue without urgent, targeted financial support.

Poor grain prices, soaring input costs, reduced margins, regulation and the flooding of the Irish market with non-EU cereals are pushing Irish grain growers to the brink. Teagasc has confirmed tillage incomes will again fall in 2026. That is not a warning; that is a forecast for collapse. Farming organisations are united in calling for a €60 million per annum support package for the next five years to be delivered in budget 2026. That €60 million was promised in our election manifestos and that €60 million for the next five years will be a lifeline for the survival of the tillage sector. Without immediate and substantial commitments in the upcoming budget, many tillage farmers will be forced out of the sector.

The Taoiseach gave a commitment in his party's election manifesto and in the programme for Government to back the tillage sector. We cannot expect and accept the demise of a critical part of Irish agriculture.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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We cannot let this essential sector go the way of sugar beet. The upcoming budget is the next time to act before it is too late.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy. The Taoiseach is to respond. The Deputy's time is up.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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If this also means money from the Minister, Deputy Chambers, it should be put into it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. I fully acknowledge the tillage sector is under significant pressure. I met with some individuals at the recent national ploughing championships and also met with the IFA in respect of the issue, as well as the ICMSA and other organisations.

Substantial support has been allocated by Government, including about €32.4 million under the tillage and horticulture support scheme in February of this year, which the Minister, Deputy Heydon announced. The budget for protein aid increased to €10 million annually from 2024, with an overall Common Agricultural Policy allocation of €47 million. The straw incorporation measure has an allocation of €50 million over five years. Approximately 66,000 ha of cereals in oilseed, rape and straw were submitted for incorporating in 2025 and all farmers will be paid who have applied under the scheme this year. Then there are other schemes like-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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----- farming for water EIP, the tillage capital investment scheme, ACRES and the organic farming scheme. However, there are issues and we do not want to maintain that support.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. He will have to go back to the Deputy.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach is not committing himself. I am disappointed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy Catherine Callaghan.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Will he commit to the €60 million promised in the Fianna Fáil manifesto?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is a programme for Government. I do not announce budgets in advance.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach will resume his seat, his time is up.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Sorry?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's ministerial colleague would not be happy if I announced the budget in advance.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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He would not mind if the Taoiseach would say if he was committing the €60 million to next year's tillage sector. He would have no problem whatsoever.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Aird's time is up.

Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Carlow town is a vibrant and expanding university town. To sustain and build upon that status, it is essential the student experience in Carlow be supported by the provision of adequate student accommodation, a key commitment outlined in the programme for Government.

The proposed upgrade of Mortarstown wastewater treatment plant is the key to unlocking the provision of student accommodation in Carlow as the upgrade would deliver capacity for a further 22,000 units. This plant upgrade would not only ensure more student accommodation is developed for our thriving university, SETU, but it would also improve water quality in the River Barrow. This is a matter of matching local ambition with political will.

Will the Taoiseach please commit to doing everything he can to ensure Uisce Éireann prioritises the upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant in Mortarstown, County Carlow?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is Carlow County Council made a submission to Irish Water. I do not know how recent that was. The Government and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, have allocated substantial funding to Irish Water in respect of the national development plan. We have engaged with Irish Water on this particular proposal.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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My apologies. Deputy O'Rourke is next, whom I skipped.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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There is a group of elderly people outside the Dáil at the minute on hunger strike. They are survivors of institutional abuse and have very modest requests regarding access to a HAA medical card and a pension. These requests were refused by Government during the discussions on the recent legislation. There are concerns for this vulnerable group across the political divide but also by the Special Advocate and by the Justice for Magdalenes group. I have written to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Deputy McEntee, and my party leader has done the same. Will the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, engage with this group of people and encourage the Minister to do the same to come to some resolution?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is that the Minister for education met with the group or representatives of the group yesterday. Obviously, I would ask people to come off the hunger strike. It is difficult for the survivors concerned to be on hunger strike. It can have health implications. The Government will engage, and I hope people will come off the hunger strike.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My question is to the Taoiseach and the Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Last year, here in the Dáil Chamber and at the Oireachtas health committee, I led calls for an independent review into the access to emergency care in the mid-west region. That review, led by HIQA, has concluded. A whole host of recommendations are before the Government now. One of the key ones is that there is a need for short-term beds to be accelerated and increased, but in the long term people need access to a better hospital system. I make the case in the strongest possible terms for option C, which is before the Government. Option C is to have a new model 3 hospital and it should be based in County Clare. The evidence is there in abundance that of all counties in Ireland, of all regions, ours is the most health-disadvantaged in the country. We are geographically peripheral. For more than half of our population, there is no golden hour; they live well beyond in it. Friends of Ennis Hospital, led by Angela Coll, its chairperson, had made the case repeatedly and vociferously, and I thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and Stephen Donnelly before her, for listening to them many times over. The case is there in abundance. There are many sites that are accessible to all of the mid-west, they are in County Clare, and I ask that the failures of 2009 be put right once and for all.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy, and indeed many Deputies who have raised this issue with me. The HIQA report was published by HIQA just this lunchtime. It is a comprehensive report, 1,200 pages, looking back into the demographic issues in the area. It gives three options. The first two are loaded in terms of giving acute beds in the hospital. The third option, C, is the longer-term option of a model 3 hospital. HIQA itself prioritises options A and B as meeting the needs of the people in the most immediate term and says that option C, the model 3 hospital, would take a very long time, cost a lot and not meet the needs in the interim period. In the first instance, therefore, I am pleased to say that 96 beds will open this week into next week and we will be there to formally open them in October. We hope that planning permission will come through for the other 96 beds very shortly. Our first priority and, as HIQA analysed, the most important thing is the inpatient acute bed deficit in Limerick hospital. That has to be our first priority.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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In July, the Taoiseach's Government blocked 33 Palestinian children and their coaches from taking part in a GAA tour of Ireland for over a hundred host families and communities nationwide who had raised funds and planned their welcome. The Taoiseach's justice Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, and the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, told us that the reason was insufficient documentation, but we now learn through freedom of information that Department of justice officials were concerned mainly that Israel would not let them return or that there was a risk of overstay. I believe the Tánaiste and the justice Minister should apologise to the House for misleading it, but I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that future visits are not blocked in this way and that Israel's threats do not dictate Irish visa policy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Ministers were very clear and acted in good faith. The Minister for justice was clear that there was not sufficient documentation. Any future visit should be properly organised well in advance and there should be engagement with the national sporting authorities of any particular code of sport and then with the Government well in advance of the submission of any applications in order that we can avoid any issues that emerged as in this occasion. That might be one way of avoiding what transpired the last time.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The argument was insufficient documentation. The documentation was there.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was more than that. There were issues of minors and accompanying them.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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It is a disgrace that we now face into October and legislation regarding retrospective payments for homeowners under the defective concrete scheme still has not been published despite the Taoiseach's housing Minister in June saying it would be. I expect the funds will be made available in the Government's budget next week, and if the Government fails to properly address this crisis yet again it will have failed impacted homeowners once again. In July, I informed the Taoiseach that the houses in Elm Park, Buncrana, face immediate dangers. These houses were built with defective concrete and built on a floodplain. In response, he assured me that the Ministers of State, Deputies Boxer Moran and O'Sullivan, would visit the residents over the following week, which they failed to do, but I understand that the meeting took place and a decision has been made on this. Will the Taoiseach inform the residents of the Minister's decision and end the miseries and uncertainties for these families?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation is on a priority publication list. It is being worked on intensively. Hopefully, given that it is on a priority publication list, we will see its publication shortly. The Dáil has been back two weeks and work has been under way for quite some time. I will consult with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, in respect of any communication to the Deputy in respect of this issue.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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They just need a date.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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The Taoiseach raised the possibility of using bespoke legislation to ensure a major sewerage scheme for Dublin does not face further delays. He said that we cannot tolerate any more delays. What about our own county of Cork? I am sure that, similar to my office, his office is inundated with housing needs. In July, five homes commenced building in Cork city. The city's monthly commencement average is ten times lower than last year's. While I appreciate that figures for Cork city are not as bad, Cork county is still well below last year's monthly commencement average. Significant issues are arising constantly in relation to infrastructure, sewerage, access to water and planning applications. Will the Taoiseach commit to introducing bespoke legislation for Cork to ensure that major infrastructure schemes are introduced and progress to allow the building of homes to commence and not have it further delayed?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There have been quite a number of very large commencements in Cork city. There is the Greenfield site, for example. The old Dairygold site is now commencing, and money has been released for that. There are the Railway Yard apartments and the docklands. So there has been some very significant-----

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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Private homes.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry?

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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Private single homes.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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They are private?

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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Yes.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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What is wrong with that?

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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They are five singular homes.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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It is not a back-and-forth, Deputy, and we are out of time, Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will come back to the Deputy again, maybe, and we will discuss that.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I appreciate that. We have two Deputies remaining. I propose 30 seconds each and then a response from the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Liam Quaide.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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I visited CDYS in Mitchelstown on two occasions recently and I was hugely impressed by the work it does with young people, not just from north Cork but also from parts of counties Limerick and Tipperary. It also works closely with young people from the asylum-seeking and refugee community living locally. The staff exhaust all grants available to them to maintain an innovative, diverse range of activities. They help young people who are really struggling to fit in or to continue their education to get back on track in life and give them a sense of belonging, purpose and connection. This is really invaluable work, far-reaching in its impact, yet it is operating on a shoestring. Its current staffing is just one full-time project co-ordinator, one part-time community employment worker and one part-time youth worker. Twenty-five to 30 young people attend every day. CDYS Mitchelstown badly needs investment in more staff. Will the Taoiseach's Government commit to a significant increase in investment in youth services in the upcoming budget? Will he give assurances that integration funding for Ukrainian young people will remain in place?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There have been very substantial increases in funding in recent years. I appreciate what the Deputy has said about the fantastic work that CDYS is doing in Mitchelstown and in the hinterland. It provides very important interventions and opportunities for young people to progress. I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, in respect of the issue he has raised.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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In 2013, the Taoiseach rounded on Fine Gael in this House over the proposal to change the triple lock. He said that it would damage neutrality and "would contribute nothing to international peace". When the Nice referendum was rejected in 2001 and Lisbon in 2008, his Government - Fianna Fáil was in power - gave a guarantee to the electorate in the form of a solemn national declaration on neutrality and retaining the triple lock in order to get both referendums through. One line in the declaration says, "In line with its traditional policy of military neutrality, Ireland is not bound by any mutual defence commitment." I have the two declarations in my hand. Has the Taoiseach forgotten what he stated here in 2013? Is he going to betray the electorate? That was a solemn national declaration by the State, by the people of this State, put together by his Government. Is he going to betray the electorate of that State and what they voted for in those two solemn declarations? Is Fianna Fáil going to reject the democratic wishes of the majority of Irish people, who want to protect military neutrality?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Military neutrality is protected. We are not members of NATO. We are not militarily aligned.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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We might as well be, though.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, please.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The second point I will make about the specifics is that the world has changed dramatically since 2013. Russia, the United States and China have the veto on Irish foreign policy - well, not foreign policy.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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And US troops-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, please.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to let me finish. Not on foreign policy but on any decision we would make to send Irish troops abroad.

It is quite interesting that a number of Sinn Féin Deputies are asking that we send the Irish Naval Service out to international waters in the Middle East. That would breach the triple lock.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Is the Taoiseach saying that sending a boat to the Mediterranean would breach the triple lock?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Russia should not have a veto over Ireland's decisions to participate in peacekeeping. We are peacekeepers. We have always been peacekeepers. That is what we want to be in the future. That is our commitment.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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So those words mean nothing.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. We are way over time.