Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

-Finance Bill 2025 - Financial Resolutions (without debate) (to be moved together and decided by one question; any division claimed to be taken immediately)

-Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours and 34 minutes, with any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday)

Tuesday's private members' business shall be Second Stage of the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

-Statements on International Protection Processing and Enforcement (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes)

-Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 7 p.m. and to conclude within 60 minutes)

-Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Committee and remaining Stages) (if not previously concluded, to conclude either at 12.10 a.m. or after 4 hours, whichever is the later)

-Motion for Further Revised Estimate for Public Services [Vote 33] (without debate) (back from committee) (any division claimed to be taken immediately)

Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Decriminalisation of People who use Drugs, selected by the Labour Party.

Thursday's business shall be:

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

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024, sponsored by Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

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)Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Government business shall commence at the time when Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken; and

(c)private members' business may be taken later than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Education and Youth, and on the commencement time for topical issues;

2.the following arrangements shall apply to the proceedings on the Motions for Financial Resolutions for the Finance Bill 2025:

(a)the motions shall be moved and decided together by one question which shall be put from the Chair;

(b)the proceedings thereon shall be taken without debate; and

(c)any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately;

3. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 34 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply:

(a)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);

(b)on the conclusion of the first speaking round or 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, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; Provided that any division claimed on the Second Stage proceedings shall be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday; and

(c)members may share time; and

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)the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time, which may be taken later than 8.45 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Motion for Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2025 [Vote 33];

(b)pursuant to an Order of the Dáil of 21st October, 2025, Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall be taken immediately following the SOS, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business;

(c)in the event that the Statements on International Protection Processing and Enforcement conclude before 7 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 7 p.m.; and

(d)any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025;

2.the Statements on International Protection Processing and Enforcement 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;

4.the proceedings on Committee and remaining Stages of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion either at 12.10 a.m. or after 4 hours, whichever is the later, by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment; and

5.the proceedings on the Motion for Further Revised Estimate 2025 [Vote 33] shall be taken without debate and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately.

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

1.(a)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 adjournment of proceedings on Second Stage of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, or where those proceedings conclude within the allotted time, on the conclusion thereof, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024 and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

(b)the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 12th November, 2025; and

2.in relation to the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Courts and Civil Law (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 Thursday.

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

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

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy McDonald.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Under Standing Order 35(3), I propose an amendment to the Order of Business. The current nitrates derogation expires in a matter of mere weeks and the Government's handling, or mishandling, of the issue leaving negotiations with the EU to run down to the wire means farmers face a possible serious cliff edge in January. I ask that time be allocated in this week's schedule to debate this crucial issue for the future of Irish agriculture.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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Since the Business Committee last met the company, Fastway Couriers, has gone into receivership resulting in the loss of 1,000 jobs in almost every constituency in the country. We need urgent statements because, as tragic as every job loss is, there are a number of competing factors here which point to huge gaps in our workers' rights legislation that need urgent debate. When will these workers, many of whom are on unusual franchisee contracts, get compensation?

Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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Families up and down the country are struggling with energy affordability. Despite the fact this Government and the previous one failed to act on that and failed to invest in the grid and in renewable energy, what we saw yesterday was a report from another toothless task force telling us it will put forward recommendations next year. We need statements this week to discuss what action can be taken to provide targeted measures that will support people now and help them to survive this winter.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I wrote to the Business Committee seeking a debate on safety for asylum seekers after we saw the horrific attack and what seems to be attempted murder with the attempted burning alive of a baby and children in Drogheda. This was not an isolated incident but one of over 30 arson attacks on asylum centres in what we are seeing as a campaign of far-right terror in this State. We need to be debating it. There is a direct line between the dog-whistling of Government leaders and the scapegoating of asylum seekers based on misinformation and the creation of a hostile environment.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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Next week sees the inauguration of our new President and I wish Catherine Connolly the very best in her presidency. This will mean a by-election in Galway West. We in Independent Ireland strongly believe that this by-election should take place immediately. To facilitate this we have already put forward our candidate Councillor Noel Thomas who is working on the ground as we speak. Can we debate-----

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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We will expect his posters the very next day.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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Can we debate here this week as to how soon the writ will be issued so that the people of Galway West will get the representation they fully deserve?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I commend the Deputy on not missing an opportunity. I have taken notes on all the issues that were raised. I believe that what Deputy Murphy has raised is covered under tomorrow's statements on international protection processing and enforcement. That debate will be on for three and a half hours and will be taken by the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. The Deputy will have the opportunity to raise his concerns about safety then.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Could we add "safety" to the title rather than it being about "enforcement"?

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

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No. There is no need to. The Deputy can still raise it under that.

I have taken on board what has been asked in relation to energy, Fastway Couriers, and the nitrates derogation, on which we had a lengthy discussion this morning. All are important and will be considered at the Business Committee meeting.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Chief Whip. Are the proposed arrangements for the business agreed?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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They are not agreed.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We are moving on to Questions on Policy or Legislation.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Nearly 1 million hospital appointments have been cancelled since 2022 under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and the crisis deepens by the year. This is according to new HSE figures released to Teachta David Cullinane. This is a damning indictment of the Government's failed health policies. Hospitals are understaffed, overcrowded and overstretched because the Government has built in recruitment restrictions that strangle the system. The Government promised 3,000 new beds in 2024. The funding has not materialised. The Government promised four new elective hospitals by 2027. They are stalled and will not reach planning until 2031. It is failure on every front. Behind every cancelled appointment is a person left waiting, worrying and suffering because the Government refuses to act. It is time to get real. Where is the plan to deliver the staff, the beds, and the investment needed to fix this broken system?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is simply ignoring the record level of investment in our health service, which is €27.4 billion in funding in 2026. If she compares 2020 to July 2025, there are over 29,000 more staff, which is a 28% increase in staffing across our health system. There are over 10,000 more nurses and midwives, 5,000 health and social care professionals, 1,400 consultants and over 2,000 doctors and dentists, all of whom are making a really positive contribution with changed demographics, increased demand and pressure across our health system.

Even with that occurring, we have had a 12% reduction in patients on waiting lists exceeding 12 months and a reduction in the average waiting time from 7.2 months to 6.5 months, and that is against a backdrop of a 9% increase in outpatients and a 5% increase in inpatient and day case attendances.

I regret whenever there are cancelled appointments for anyone across our hospital system but we are staffing and resourcing our public health in an unprecedented way-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Minister. I call Deputy Bacik.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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-----to respond back to the pressure and the changing demographics we are seeing.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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About 300,000 households are behind on their electricity bills and household electricity bills have jumped by more than €320 in a year. My colleague Deputy Ahern has been working hard to stop the greed that is driving this awful inflation and really making things so difficult for so many struggling households. Deputy Ahern has called on the Government to use the EU electricity and gas directives to introduce price regulation in these exceptional circumstances, namely, the complete failure of competition in the energy sector and the failure to protect vulnerable customers.

There are other mechanisms. Section 10 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 allows the Minister to issue policy directions to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Indeed, the interim report of the national energy affordability task force recommended that the regulator conduct a probe on price gouging following the patent failure of providers to pass on cuts in wholesale costs to hard-pressed consumers. The Government could also threaten greed-driven firms with a levy on their profits if they do not cut prices.

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

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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The winter is upon us. People are already struggling. What will the Government do to help people from struggling even further with their energy bills?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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That is why we took measures in the budget to support families and households. As I said, the response around the VAT on gas and electricity was a measure that came with a cost. It was important to prioritise that in the context of the tax package. In addition, as I said, the social protection package we introduced will mitigate costs in the context of the changes we have made to the fuel allowance. Increasing the eligibility for households will help to support families most in need.

The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is examining the overall regulatory framework as it exists for energy providers. We need broader reform of regulation across our economy in energy and in other areas. There is a need for this to be seriously reformed in the interests of affordability but also in the interests of having balanced regulation and quicker decisions in terms of driving wider economic growth, which is something we are all working on.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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Thousands of farmers met in Cork last night and they are really angry. They are correct in being angry because the Government has put its head in the sand and pretended that business as usual will be able to continue and that Ireland will be able to retain its nitrates derogation. That is looking more and more unlikely. The reality is we have had the nitrates derogation since 2006. We got it on the basis we would improve our water quality but we have not done it in 20 years. The EU is probably going to tell us the derogation is gone and we will not be able to retain it. Where is the Government's plan B for these farmers? It has led them to a cliff on the nitrates derogation and there will be nothing in place for them come January if that derogation is not retained.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this point. We in government fundamentally believe in the importance of the nitrates derogation. Our 7,000 derogation farmers are operating to a higher level of environmental sustainability and with a higher level of conditionality to reach to meet that point. We know the economic value it has for our country, with 49% of our dairy herd in derogation and producing 65% of our milk. The majority of the €6.3 billion worth of exports from our dairy sector, which is so important to our rural economy, comes from that area.

That is why it is a top priority for me that I continue in my engagement with the Commission. Commissioner Roswall will visit Ireland later in the week. I addressed the meeting in Cork last night that 2,000 farmers attended looking for the retention of the nitrates derogation. I stand full square with them, as does the Government, in doing everything we can to retain the derogation beyond the end of this year.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Over 1,000 workers have been left in a desperate situation by Fastway Couriers going into receivership. These are direct workers and workers from franchisees. They have all been left being owed back pay or a back month of pay.

They are owed wages. They should be owed redundancy. They are now struggling to pay bills and mortgages. However, they have been told they are effectively locked out for a month from accessing social welfare. They have been told they are still legally working for Fastway for 30 days from the point at which the receivership was announced but they will not get paid until the new year. The kicker is they cannot claim social welfare benefits in those 30 days and if they seek to claim social welfare benefits or they even start new employment, they would lose any redundancy entitlements.

They are left in a terrible limbo situation in the run up to Christmas. They want the Government to intervene. The first ask is whether the relevant Ministers will meet with those workers and then work with the Department of Social Protection to ensure they get what they need.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this issue. My thoughts are with all those workers affected by this receivership. I know how concerning it is for each of them. As the Deputy knows, a receiver is individually appointed by a lender to take control of a company. Its role is to secure the assets in that respect. The receiver is independent in its role and the Government cannot intervene in how the receiver approaches the position.

However, I understand the Department of Social Protection is engaging directly with the receiver and the affected employees in this case to provide the necessary information and support during this time. There are robust protections in place for employees of an insolvent employer and the receiver submitted a collective redundancy notification to the Department of enterprise on 31 October. It is currently undertaking the 30-day consultation with the employees' representatives. I will reflect the concerns the Deputy has raised. I know there are significant concerns across the House for all of the employees involved but there is a formal legal mechanism in how this operates from a legislative position.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Every now and again, I raise issues on behalf of constituents relating to dodgy, unscrupulous landlords who are not registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. In some cases, they are also exploiting their tenants. In other cases, they are not planning compliant and operate in a very dangerous way. However, when I ask for an update from the Residential Tenancies Board, it says it cannot update parties who have made referrals, it would not be appropriate to do so given the fact the RTB may be pursuing a criminal prosecution and it might prejudice the case and if it is updating any person other than the non-compliant landlord, it could be dangerous and there are also data protection issues.

Can this be looked at? Is there a middle way where there could be a ticket-based system where it says: "under investigation", "processing", "completed" or "no issue found" because it goes into the ether and no one knows what is happening with that landlord? Sometimes it can go on for two years and it is as if they are just getting away with it. We need some sort of transparency as to whether criminal proceedings are being proceeded with.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I know, as constituency TDs, it can be difficult to get particular feedback from some State bodies and they reference GDPR or ongoing formal or legal proceedings. I will ask the Minister for housing, who obviously oversees the RTB, to reflect on what the Deputy has said and if there is a way of providing some level or layer of communication so people have a sense of where something is within a particular process. I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy directly.

Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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People in Clonard and Enfield in my constituency of Meath West are very angry about their water supplies or lack thereof. Abbeyfields and Meadow View in Clonard are home to about 150 houses. They have not been served properly by a proper water service for over 30 and 40 years, respectively. Finally, in August, Uisce Éireann confirmed a new bore hole would be dug there and that it was imminent, along with an improvement in communications but neither has happened. Machinery is on-site but again, no one is quite sure what is happening.

Improvements have happened in Enfield over the years and we have finally secured a new reservoir there but once again, residents have endured 14 nights out of a recent 16 without a drop of water. Communications from Uisce Éireann are abysmal, inaccurate and often arrive after the fact. It is not good enough. There are businesses, delis, butchers and cafés that have to close when they have no water. Schools, nursing homes and people's lives are disrupted and negatively impacted. There is no tankering, there is no proper communication and there is no accountability from Uisce Éireann. It has to stop.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I regret that Irish Water has not properly communicated with her constituents, businesses and critical services in Enfield and beyond.

When we are investing in Irish Water, there will be a focus on the importance of public service performance. As €12 billion is allocated to it over the next five years, it needs to ensure that customer service, communication and engagement are critical parts of its wider investment programme. When it is doing overall capital investment in the community, there will be disruption at times. It is important that it can be planned for and that there is much better engagement. We will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to engage with Irish Water and properly respond to it to ensure there is better engagement going forward.

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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On 12 January 2022, which will forever remain one of the darkest days in the history of County Offaly and indeed Ireland, a young woman, Ashling Murphy, had her life taken in the most brutal and senseless way in the cold light of day. Since this House last sat on 22 October, the courts have delivered their verdicts and sentences. However, there remains a deep sense of unease and dismay among many that the punishment did not reflect the gravity of the crime. Ireland is and must always remain an open and welcoming country, a place of compassion, fairness and opportunity. However, that openness does not come at the expense of safety. We need measures that send a clear signal that while Ireland welcomes those who contribute positively to our economy and our society, we simply will not tolerate those who abuse our hospitality or endanger our citizens. Will the Government commit to ensuring that foreign nationals, including EU citizens, who serve prison sentences for serious offences in Ireland are deported to their home countries immediately upon the completion of their sentences?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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At the outset, I commend the family of Ashling Murphy and everyone in the community in County Offaly who have shown such incredible resilience, strength and dignity while dealing with the most horrendous circumstances that any family could ever experience. Ashling's murder shocked the nation. Everyone in this House and throughout our country offers them nothing but our love, support and deepest sympathies.

Regarding the Deputy's question, from a policy perspective the removal from the State of convicted criminals and those who are a danger to public safety is a priority for the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and for the Government. The removal of individuals is actively managed by the Department of justice in close consultation with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service. There has been a large increase in the number of removal orders under the freedom of movement directive, from 24 in 2024 to 99 so far this year. Under the 2015 free movement regulation, orders can be made for the removal and exclusion of European Union citizens, or their family members, in certain circumstances. There is a particular threshold, grounds and a bar upon which that is set. That is the basis. I cannot speak about particular people other than to say that is how the directive works.

Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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A local headline in Drogheda today reads, "28 people could have died", following the horrific arson attack on the George's Street IPAS accommodation centre. If it had not been for the swift intervention of An Garda Síochána and Drogheda fire services, families and children, including a three-week-old baby, would not have escaped with their lives. One family had no way out of the top-floor room in which they were trapped other than by going down the stairs that were ravaged with flames. Concerns have been raised about safety standards in this building and indeed about the private operators. We have here a rogue landlord prioritising profit over duty of care and human life, aided by the Government not meeting its obligations. There are no published reports of inspections of direct provision or EROC centres in County Louth, including this building, for 2025. The Government has paid millions of euro for asylum seeker accommodation to a company which is owned by a man who has been linked by the Criminal Assets Bureau to the Drogheda gang feud. Recent media reports suggest that the owner of this company, Secure Accommodation Management, has been paid €10.2 million since it was set up in September 2022. Indeed, the then Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth highlighted its huge profits for 2023. It terrifies me that gangsters named by CAB are securing contracts and profiteering on public money. As a result of this, 28 people could have died on the Government's watch. What is the Minister going to do about it?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have said to a number of colleagues today, I am shocked and appalled by what happened in Drogheda. I heard many people from the Deputy's community express how appalled they were about that particular incident. We all condemn it.

To the Deputy's question, I am not aware of the particular circumstances in which the contract for this property was entered into. Perhaps the Deputy can provide the details to the Department of justice or to the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and he can assess that.

Because of the changes in the wider migration pattern into our country across the last number of years, there has been a response to try and find accommodation for people under particular criteria who have come here. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Department of justice to respond to the Deputy’s particular concerns.

Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise an issue with regards to the lack of funding coming from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, for rehabilitation works on our national routes, particularly in east Galway and works such as overlays, drainage and pavement improvements. Funding over the last couple of years has been drastically reduced. Any time representations are made to the local area engineer, that is the cry TII has, that there is no funding available for such works. In this instance I want to reference a particularly challenging issue where floodwaters are constantly challenging a private home on the N63, just outside the village of Abbeyknockmoy, where emergency drainage works are required. That poor widow has to ring family when there is any forecast of heavy rain. It is not fair or right. A small investment would rectify that for her benefit. It is essential TII continues to fund the restoration works.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Roche. I am familiar with the funding needs of many roads and the road network across east Galway. One thing the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is doing as part of the sectoral investment plans for the road network and investment in public transport is to give better funding certainty to TII. As we know in recent years there was a difficulty in funding certain roads projects and maintenance, which the Deputy has referenced. The overall distribution of the €22 billion is being developed as part of the sectoral investment plan in transport. That is due to be agreed by Government in the coming weeks and will set out the broader trajectory of funding for transport infrastructure, and indeed better funding certainty for TII when it comes to responding to the needs of projects the Deputy has referenced in east Galway. I will ask the Minister to reflect on what the Deputy has said today in the context of the work he is doing.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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A few weeks ago I stood here and highlighted the fact that whilst An Coimisiún Pleanála has much expertise in the realm of planning, it has no in-house expertise when it comes to aviation. I flagged that here in the Dáil and an upshot of that in the days that followed was we were notified that Sagentia, a British company, has been taken on as an independent consultant. Why is it that the Irish Aviation Authority, the taxpayer-funded State body for aviation safety on D'Olier Street, is being overlooked and undermined by An Coimisiún Pleanála? It is the authority for air safety in this country. I have asked An Coimisiún Pleanála this and await a response. I want to know what was the cost, due diligence and procurement process and whether there were any conflicts of interest. This needs to be laid bare because we have a State body. Why should we go outside the country and take on private contractors? Why would we overlook the HSE or any State body? Why would we overlook the Irish Aviation Authority when it raises red flags for aviation concern? Why would we go beyond our jurisdiction and pay a lot of good taxpayer money to bring in a private contractor?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Crowe. I am not familiar with the contribution he made a few weeks ago but what I would say is An Coimisiún Pleanála is independent in its functions and around its assessment and evaluation of planning considerations and decisions. I do not know the direct circumstances the Deputy has referenced, but there may be difficulty in taking someone out of the Irish Aviation Authority and bringing them into An Coimisiún Pleanála if it is doing an independent evaluation or assessment of a particular planning matter. The priority we have in the context of investing in public services is to support recruitment across our public service. That is reflected across our agencies, regulators and Departments in building expertise and that is reflected in the growth of public sector numbers in recent years. There may be a particular case where contracts have to be entered into if temporary expertise is required in a particular regulator or agency for a temporary period. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to assess what the Deputy has said, respecting the fact An Coimisún Pleanála has to operate independently and separately to all of us to uphold the integrity of the planning system.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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In three successive elections Fianna Fáil engaged and paid for media coaching services provided by broadcaster Ivan Yates.

He coached six Fianna Fáil Ministers, including the Taoiseach, yet you failed to disclose this relationship even though there was a clear conflict of interest. You knew Ivan Yates was playing for your team, contributing to Fianna Fáil election strategy and then presenting himself as an independent commentator in the national media, yet you said nothing.

Fianna Fáil already attempted to engineer a situation in this Dáil whereby Michael Lowry's crew could sit in government and opposition at the same time. Now, you think there is no problem with a consultant working for your party and then working for the media whose job it is to hold you to account. Of course, Ivan Yates should have disclosed his working relationship with Fianna Fáil. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, was the director of elections for Fianna Fáil during the presidential election. Did he not see a responsibility to publicly declare this relationship?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I absolutely refute and reject what you are after saying there. All political parties and many politicians who are not part of one receive media training. It has been a matter of public record that Ivan Yates was providing media training to various politicians within Fianna Fáil over a series of years. Fianna Fáil has every right to hire contractors or media trainers as it sees fit. It is a matter for Ivan Yates to disclose any potential or direct conflicts of interest in his interaction with or contribution to media organisations or as a commentator. I am sure Sinn Féin hires media trainers. It spends a lot of time hiring expert lawyers down in the High Court when it comes to defamation actions.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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We are talking about a person who presents himself as independent.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Something you prioritise around your funding is to take defamation actions against many members of the media.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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It is a totally different matter. It is a matter of an analyst presenting as independent while playing for your team.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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That is how you prioritise your resources. We are able to hire media trainers and we have every right to do that. It is for Ivan Yates to respond to any issue in terms of his own conflicts of interest.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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Last night, businesses and residents were once again flooded in Bantry after a heavy night of rain. Since I came into the Dáil in 2016, I have raised this issue monthly - the latest was two weeks ago. The answer I got a couple of weeks ago from the Minister was that a flood relief scheme would be delivered to Bantry in 2031. The people of Bantry have been destroyed by floods last night and for decades. The Southern Star carried a story last week which recalled that in 1983, people had to sit up in businesses in Bantry and put their feet up in the air as the businesses were surrounded by floods. The time for talking is over. The time for Ministers of State with responsibility for the OPW coming to Bantry time in and time out to talk to residents and businesses is over. All Bantry wants is a flood relief scheme, not promises of compensation packages that cannot be delivered. Bantry has had enough. Throughout these decades of flooding, Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael has been in government. Will they fast-track the flood relief scheme, deliver it in 2026 and not kick the can down the road as they have done for the past 50 years? Councillor Danny Collins told me this morning that there is great anger in Bantry and that there needs to be a meaningful compensation package for businesses and residents. Will that happen this week?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I know from engaging with the Ministers of State, Deputies Christopher O'Sullivan and Moran, how seriously they take the issue of flooding in terms of capital allocations for the OPW. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to respond directly to the Deputy. He wants to accelerate many flooding schemes and, as part of his capital settlement for the OPW, has prioritised flood relief schemes across the country. Uplift for the OPW is being prioritised to respond to the needs across communities. I will ask the Minister of State to respond to the Deputy on the timeline and the urgency in terms of Bantry. I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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Four survivors of our hellish industrial school system remain on hunger strike outside Leinster House in an effort to obtain very modest financial and medical assistance for a cohort of about 4,500 people who have been profoundly harmed and neglected by the State. They have been left without written confirmation of what was agreed in a meeting with the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, last week. I understand a meeting with an intermediary has been postponed until tomorrow. Meanwhile, they are into the 45th day of their hunger strike. Their physical health is in serious peril. One of the hunger strikers – Mary Dunlevy Greene, originally from Kilteely, County Limerick - told me the main aim of the supports they are seeking is to be able to die with dignity as most survivors are already advanced in years and are suffering with health conditions related to chronic childhood adversity. You cannot get more stark than that. Will the Minister assure us that we will see those agreements confirmed in writing with the utmost sense of urgency?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Taoiseach met with the survivors. I understand there was a plan to have a mediator in place. Due to the personal circumstances of the mediator, that was not possible today. The mediator who was due to be in place has recommended an alternative. I understand the intention is that the meeting could go ahead as proposed and an email will issue to that effect. That is the latest update, as of the past couple of hours. I understand the sensitivity and urgency of having engagement on this.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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The Minister will know from his time on Fingal County Council that Donabate-Portrane is one area where the State is delivering houses at scale. Despite the population increase, there is only one direct bus service to Dublin city centre, the 33D at 7.20 a.m., and one back at 5.45 p.m. I have a sheaf of emails from the NTA and Dublin Bus that committed to one extra bus service in the morning and one in the evening, to start in October or by 3 November. Last week, the NTA pulled the rug. People are left behind on the platforms because trains are overcrowded. We only have one direct bus service from Donabate-Portrane. Dublin Bus is willing to do it. I remind the Minister that this is in the transport Minister's constituency. Can we please cut through the red tape and deliver an extra 33D service at peak time in the morning and the evening? Will the Minister do everything to ensure that is the case?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I go out to Portrane-Donabate and know the area very well. There has been a wonderful transformation in terms of housing, construction and work happening across the community. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to respond directly to the Deputy on the increased demand for public transport and, in particular, the bus service that has been mentioned. I understand the acute need and demand in that area.