Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Four survivors of residential abuse remain on hunger strike outside these buildings. Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donavan, Mary Dunlevy Greene and Maurice Patton O'Connell are now on day 47 of their hunger strike. Their health continues to deteriorate. This is a very serious situation. It is dire. They are absolutely determined and, after a meeting yesterday, cautiously hopeful but they have nothing in writing to say the Government will agree to their very reasonable demands for access to a HAA medical card and a State contributory pension. In fact, what they have had from Government so far is the exact opposite. In the first instance, the Government voted against proposals from Sinn Féin and Catherine Connolly to grant all survivors access to these things. In early October, the Minister for education wrote to say there was no change to that position. Does the Tánaiste recognise the urgent need to resolve this matter? Will he bring this hunger strike to an end? Will he do the right thing by these survivors? Will he give them a written commitment to meet their demands today?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I assure Deputy O'Rourke the Government takes this matter extraordinarily seriously. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, initially met the group on 29 September to engage with them personally and listen to their concerns. The Taoiseach met the group on 3 October and both the Minister and the Taoiseach met the group again last Wednesday, 29 October. I understand meetings with a mediator or facilitator have taken place this week. We are very eager to assist and I will seek an update from the facilitator today.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It can be resolved with the stroke of a pen.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a very sensitive matter and I will not play politics with it as the Deputy has endeavoured to do by suggesting-----

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It is very straightforward. We-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is a very important and sensitive matter. The Government wants to see the matter resolved. That is why it wants to see a facilitator in place. That has happened. There is engagement with the group. There is daily medical attention as well, which is important. I hope this matter can be resolved quickly.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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While the world is watching on, Sudan is, in the words of UN Secretary General António Guterres, spiralling out of control. The Yale humanitarian research lab has described the genocide and killings as happening at a velocity and ferocity not seen since the genocide in Rwanda in the 1990s. Since the civil war began, 15 million people have been displaced. More than 150,000 have been killed in the conflict, at an estimate. Mass sexual violence is taking place, traumatising the nation. One UN report indicates sexual assaults on children as young as one year old. With millions on the brink of starvation, famine setting in and all the violence and killing, what can we do with our EU allies and allies in the region to help a humanitarian response to end the killing and suffering in Sudan?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This is the largest and most horrific humanitarian crisis in the world right now. It is also the one that is probably spoken about least, so I particularly thank the Deputy for raising it. This country has called for an immediate cessation of the atrocities in Sudan, following the takeover of the city of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces. I am horrified by recent reports that the RSF has carried out large-scale, ethnically motivated atrocities, summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence and detention of civilians. These criminal acts must end. All parties to the conflict need to adhere to their commitments and obligations. They need to enable humanitarian access in line with their international humanitarian and human rights obligations. I have been working to highlight this issue, as has Ireland, at EU and international level. We have asked that it be a specific agenda item at the Foreign Affairs Council due to take place in Brussels this month. I will raise the views of the Deputy, this House and the Government on the need to do more to support the people of Sudan.

We have provided €14.3 million in humanitarian support this year to people in Sudan and refugees in neighbouring countries. Irish Aid support is making a difference on the ground but the Deputy is right to highlight this. It is not getting nearly enough attention. The level of slaughter is quite horrific. I will update the Deputy after I attend the Foreign Affairs Council.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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It is day 47 and four people are outside the House, as has been previously stated. Their requests are not huge. They are getting conflicting information. Sometimes agreements are made, then it is changing and it is back again. This is causing trust issues. When agreements are not written down, they can change. They need to be written down.

Yesterday, they were very happy with the meeting with the mediator. The difficulty is the mediator is not available until next week. That leaves another week. We are now on day 47 so we will be up to the mid-50s at that stage. They are steadfast in their hunger strike and will not stop until it is in writing. I am incredulous that this is taking so long. I know the Tánaiste is trying his best but I want him to try harder. Where is the humanity? These people were wronged in childhood and are being wronged now in adulthood. Can this be put in writing by the end of this week so these people do not have to go into another weekend, staying outside in the cold and starving?

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy this is receiving a lot of attention, as it should, from Government and the State. We want to see this resolved. I understand a mediator met with the group this week - I think on Wednesday. There is work following on and flowing from that. I really understand the emotion and sensitivity of this but I would urge - I think it is the responsible thing for me to urge - people to come off hunger strike. I understand the depth of feeling, the pain and suffering. I get that, but if people could come off hunger strike we are wanting to see engagement in good faith. We want to see the health and well-being of the people.

On the issue of a written update, I will just need to check on that. I am not certain of where that is at. I understand a mediator met the group this week and there was to be follow-up work and then further engagement. Let me see if there can be any steps to give people the confidence to come off that hunger strike but I would really urge people to do that. We want to see engagement in good faith to try and resolve this and that is why a mediator has been appointed.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I want to raise the severe shortage of healthcare assistants in south Tipperary. This is a service formerly known as a home help service and the shortage is the result of no recruitment, no replacements for sick or annual leave and no replacements for resignations or staff leaving for other employment. This has resulted in significant waiting lists across the county. Hundreds of people are waiting for the service and many clients are approved for the service but it cannot be provided because of the lack of staff. There is no cover or reduced cover for vulnerable patients. This is also holding up the discharge of patients from our hospitals. Will the Tánaiste intervene with the HSE to launch a significant recruitment campaign across south Tipperary to urgently address this situation?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We have provided the health service with funding which will enable it to increase the numbers of people working in the health service, including in community healthcare, like healthcare assistants. I will ask the Minister for Health and the HSE to directly revert to the Deputy on the situation in south Tipperary and see what can be done to assist. The HSE should be in the business of seeking to recruit more people. Sometimes there can be challenges in identifying appropriate people but I know the human consequences of waiting times for people trying to access home help. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the HSE to come back to the Deputy directly.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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In light of the RTÉ documentary series, "Trackers: The People v The Banks", the first part of which aired on 3 November, revealing ongoing devastation from Ireland's largest consumer banking scandal, new Central Bank figures showing 42,000 impacted mortgage accounts and the banking industry and banks facing more than €1 billion in fines and redress, is the Tánaiste aware of any tracker mortgage legacy issues currently affecting customers in AIB or PTSB? Has he and his Government methodically satisfied themselves that the Central Bank has forensically audited all mortgage accounts that may have been affected?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have not yet had the opportunity to see the programme but I intend to see it. I have heard quite a bit about it over the course of the week. The Deputy can be assured the Government will be looking into the issues raised on the programme. I will ask the Minister for Finance to directly respond to the Deputy. I am not aware of any such issues, nor would I necessarily be. The point about the Central Bank of Ireland and Minister being satisfied is an important one so I will ask the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to come back to the Deputy directly.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I know the Tánaiste values the importance of front-line policing. It is very welcome that An Garda Síochána conducted two recruitment campaigns this year and that the budget for 2026 set aside funding for the recruitment of 1,000 gardaí. Cork city has been under-resourced for many years, due to disproportionately low allocations. Our Garda units serving on the ground are stretched beyond what they can achieve in terms of work. Our Garda stations are inaccessible - they are simply not open. Will the Tánaiste please convey the message back that there will be another class emerging from Templemore in November and Cork city needs a fair and proportionate allocation of those gardaí?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I certainly will. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and no doubt he will engage with the Garda Commissioner, who decides the allocation of gardaí across the country, on that matter.

I was at a Cabinet committee discussion on justice and Garda recruitment issues this week. There are some encouraging signs. The programme for Government commits to further increase the capacity of Garda training infrastructure. The Minister has started work on that and potentially moving training projects from Templemore to create more space for new recruits, which should help get an even larger pipeline of gardaí through Templemore. There is increased interest in becoming a garda, which is important. I take the point around Cork city and will feed it back to the Minister.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The M50 toll is going up again. Since 2018, eFlow's annual revenue has increased by about 37%. Total revenue up to August was roughly €1.3 billion. It is a staggering sum.

It highlights a system that is extracting more and more from motorists year after year. A single fixed toll point at the West-Link Bridge means drivers pay the same charge whether they travel 2 km or 20 km or whether they drive at 8 a.m. or midnight. This flat rate model is economically regressive, much like a flat tax, placing a disproportionate burden on short-distance, lower-income users, the same commuters going to work and the same communities who also live with the impact of toll avoiders through more congestion, more pollution and more frustration. A modern, equitable approach would be to consider distance-based, time variable tolling, tax relief for commuters or scrap it altogether. The Government needs to step in here and request a TII feasibility study, drive reform and put an end to this highway robbery.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know it is an issue of importance to many people, including people in Dublin West, commuters and people going about their business and encountering these toll charges. The Deputy has made some very interesting suggestions that merit further examination. As she knows, TII has a role in this. She has called on it to give consideration to this. I will certainly bring her views to its attention. I am also aware TII officials is due to appear before the transport committee in the coming weeks. Perhaps it could be flagged as part of that engagement that they could discuss and consider that issue too.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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There is a postcode lottery when it comes to cancer care in this State. Cancer patients in the west face the longest wait times between diagnosis and commencement of treatment. I draw the Tánaiste’s attention to the fact that no PET scanner is operating in the public system in Galway or in the wider western region. This imaging technology is vital for cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Patients are currently being forced to travel long distances to access these scans or are being referred to private operators at a significant cost to the State.

When I raised this with the Minister for Health and subsequently the HSE, I was informed it would be 2033 before a PET scanner and additional CT scanners would be provided for University Hospital Galway. This means the status quo will continue for a number of years where cancer patients will not be able to access critical medical imaging in UHG. This is simply not good enough. I am asking the Tánaiste to intervene to expedite the delivery of this critical infrastructure for the west and to ensure there is equality of care for cancer patients across the State.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill on this matter. We have made good progress on cancer care and cancer treatment in recent years in this country and it is important we build on that. We have a national cancer strategy. We are increasing our capital investment in health as well. I will try to understand the rationale around those timelines and whether there is anything that can be done to expedite them. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy.

While we are on the issue of cancer, I missed the opportunity yesterday but I also welcome Deputy Boyd Barrett back to this House. Many people right across the country were inspired by his interview this week. I know it has been an extraordinarily difficult time for him. He might not believe it but we missed him in this House.

Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am very happy progress is being made on developer-led infrastructure in terms of water and wastewater treatment for smaller developments but will the Tánaiste please ensure that Uisce Éireann moves as fast as developers do? There are significant water restrictions in Castlecomer in my constituency due to the lack of water capacity. Uisce Éireann has a plan to upgrade the plant, which I welcome, but it is not due to be completed until the end of 2029. That is an intolerable delay for residents and an impediment to businesses and families who would like to build a home in Comer. Will the Tánaiste please ensure this Government uses every lever at its disposal to ensure water plant upgrades in Castelcomer are expedited?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter for her constituents in Castlecomer. The Deputy and Councillor Michael Doyle have been working on this issue of greater water capacity in Castelcomer and the wider area so I thank them for that. Uisce Éireann can confirm, as the Deputy and her constituents know, that there are supply and demand issues on the Castelcomer water supply zone. This has resulted in supply disruption impacting customers at times when supply does not meet demand. I understand over the summer months Uisce Éireann took measures to maintain everyday daytime supplies through interventions such as tanking to reservoirs. The long story short, though, is we have given a hell of a lot more money to Uisce Éireann. It needs to get on with it now. We in this House need to empower it to get on with it. There is too much bureaucracy, too much red tape, too many processes and even when we allocate the money, it is still taking too long to deliver it. That is why we have set up an accelerating infrastructure delivery task force. It is why I campaigned with the Deputy in the election on the need for a Department of infrastructure. It is not just about counting the money any more; it is about driving delivery. We will have proposals from the Government on how we can bust through some of that bureaucracy in the coming weeks. I think the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will support that. We will look forward to having a chance to debate that. There is too much critical infrastructure, and there are not too many things more critical than water, that is taking too long to deliver. I will keep in touch with the Deputy on Castlecomer in that context.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of a new school building for Ardscoil Chiaráin Naofa in Clara has been raised in the House in past. This project has been on the agenda for several years and has recently reached stage 2a of the design process. This is something I have been pushing for since I was elected. The people of Clara have been hearing about this new school for far too long. The students and teachers are working in buildings that are long past their best and they deserve a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that meets educational and inclusion standards.

I welcome that the project has reached stage 2a but progress has been painfully slow. This has been going on for years and we need to have real movement, not more reports or reviews. The new school in Clara will serve 400 pupils and include a four-classroom special education unit. It is essential for the town and for families across Offaly.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question on this school. It is my objective as Minister for Education and Youth to progress as many projects as possible. At the moment there are about 300 between large-scale, additional accommodation and special education projects that are moving but a significant cohort will come down the line in years to come These projects are at either stage 2a or 2b, moving to tender and moving to construction. The funding that has been secured for the next NDP is €7.55 billion. What I am working on at the moment is setting out what the plans look like for the next year, two years and up to five years to ensure as many of those projects, including that in the Deputy’s constituency, can move forward as quickly as possible.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the compensation scheme for those who were injured in the Stardust fire in 1981. It is very welcome that the first section of the scheme for the families who lost loved ones in that fire has been completed. However, lawyers for the survivors are getting very frustrated because they have not had an update on the redress scheme that was committed to well over a year ago. It is 44 years since that fire and these survivors are not getting any younger. Many of them are still living with serious and ongoing health problems that they sustained that night. I have submitted numerous parliamentary questions but I cannot get a clear answer on it. When does the Tánaiste expect the Minister to bring this scheme to Cabinet? When does he expect it to be rolled out? Can the Department be asked to open up communications with the lawyers on the whole process please?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a really important one and particularly important in her constituency. I am proud of the work we have done together to try to bring some level of closure at this point to families who were quite frankly abandoned for far too long in terms of the State apology and the initial phase of compensation. The Deputy is absolutely right that there was to be a phase 2 for survivors and it is important that it progresses. In fairness to the Minister, I understand he is finalising proposals for next steps but that piece around communications is important. If the Deputy will allow me, I will seek an update from the Minister for the representatives of the Stardust victims and families and come back to her.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Tánaiste.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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I wish to draw the Minister’s attention to a situation that has unfolded in Craddockstown Special School, Naas. Twelve pupils were offered a place to begin in August this year back in March or April of this year and they turned down other places that were not as appropriate as a special school place. It is November and they have not been able to start. It seems the planning application for that site was only submitted in October this year. There is real confusion among parents regarding this site. Can the Minister and her officials look at this and make some inquiries with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board to see what that progress is and ultimately, if and when planning permission is sorted, that this project be pursued as ambitiously as possible?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the school and of the situation. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan and I meet the NCSE weekly and obviously where issues arise, we want to work with it to make sure they can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Where schools have been designated or places provided but they have not come onstream yet, we are working closely with the school and parents to make sure there is a provision of education being made for the children. The overall objective is that they are in the classroom in the school and that that is allocated to them. I will engage further with the Deputy and we will make sure we are continuing to engage with the school and parents.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We have a number of attacks on LGBTQI+ people and community in recent months. In Cork, there was an assault on two drag performers, Krystal Queer and Lucina Schynning. In Limerick recently two young students were hospitalised after they were set upon in a homophobic attack. As a gay man, I would not feel comfortable walking the streets of this country holding the hand of a partner. I do not think many LGBT people would. Homophobic violence is a crime; we know that. It is under-reported and significantly on the rise. We know Government has the LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy. Will it commit to a national action plan to address hate in all of its forms, particularly hate against LGBT people? What would the Tánaiste say to any LGBT person who is afraid to live their life in the fullest sense, to walk the streets of this country and hold the hand of a partner to express a symbol of love in public? This is a very real problem and it is getting significantly worse.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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What I would say to them is that love is love and they live in a Republic where equality must be at the core of all that we do. Homophobic attacks and violence are crimes and there needs to be zero tolerance of them. The Minister for education reminds me that this week is Stand Up Awareness Week, an important initiative by Belong To in our schools. I thank it for the work it is doing. Perhaps this is something we could discuss on a cross-party basis. I would certainly be very happy, on behalf of my party, to arrange for party leaders or representatives to sit down. If the Deputy would like to put that in train, perhaps all representatives of political parties could sit down and discuss this. We have made good progress in this country but I sometimes think that when we have a referendum, people think that is it done. I am very proud of the progress we have made on things like marriage equality but we clearly have more work to do. The idea that anybody would feel unsafe expressing their love in public or on our streets is not acceptable.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I want to raise the issue of childcare and the Government's long-terms goals but I will focus maybe on the short-term goals. Our main goal coming into government was to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month and to increase accessibility through investment in key locations, which required it. In north Kildare, families in Maynooth, Kilcock, Leixlip, Celbridge and Naas are struggling to get childcare. We want to give people the best opportunity to get back into the workforce as they request and require. A key issue is affordability. We need to increase capacity and provide staffing. What can we look to do in the short and medium term, ahead of the long-term strategy?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We have been working on this together over the past while. We meant what we said during the election. Having a childcare system that is fit for purpose, empowers parents, is affordable and accessible, and has quality at its heart is a core priority for this Government. If we can get this right over the course of this Government, we can transform childcare in a way that other parts of society and our education system have been transformed in years gone by. The first step is that the Minister will before the end of the year publish an action plan for 2026, detailing what she believes we will be able to get done in 2026, what immediate measures can be taken with the allocations she received in the budget. Early in 2026, she will publish the comprehensive action plan that knits together the 22 commitments in the programme for Government and looks at how we get to the €200 per month per child, which is doable, and how we also make sure there are places, how we use our planning system to drive that, and how we empower parents, recognising it cannot be one-size-fits-all. Childminding works for some people, private crèches or community crèches work for others. A whole variety of situations can happen and we have to empower the parent as well. I am very excited about the work we can get done over the lifetime of this Government, with a comprehensive action plan published in early 2026.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The village of Cloghduff has grown dramatically again in recent years, with many new homes built in Ryecourt Woods, River Meadows and the new Páirc Brouen, which is currently under construction. Parents and grandparents of children around Cloghduff are very anxious about losing a teacher in the school at a time when the village is growing and classes will end up being larger. The school had a developing post up to October based on the growing numbers of children and the expected enrolment. The enrolment increase has been delayed as families are waiting for keys to move into newly built homes, some of them due to be finished in the weeks and months ahead. The school and parents assure that there will be additional children enrolling in the weeks ahead and have provided the Department with details of some of these children. They are asking that if the students are enrolling in the weeks ahead, the school would have its developing post reinstated instead of having to wait in crowded classrooms until next year.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of this case and the situation the school is in. The Deputy has outlined exactly the structure and system that has been in place for many years now setting out how schools can retain a teacher in a developing post. It is the case that this number needs to be reached and there is always a cut-off and a threshold. I appreciate that some schools will be just under it and some will be just over it but we do need to ensure that the system is upheld. If the school does not reach that specific number, the post is taken away from it. That is not to say that in the future, if the number of students increases again, it will not be looked at again when teacher allocations are being made. The system and structures that are in place have been there for some time. I appreciate that some schools will fall below the number but it is there for a reason, to make sure we can provide those allocations throughout the year and ensure it is done in the most fair way possible and applied in the same way for every single school.

Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the 16-year-long injustice that has been inflicted on the Arklow fisherman, CJ Gaffney, and his family. They have lost everything. It is has been described as a life sentence. They have been 16 years campaigning for justice, compensation and improved safety standards for fishing vessels but mainly compensation. They have taken their battle to the Netherlands, Germany and Brussels, as the Tánaiste knows well. The EU has stated that there is a fund in place to compensate the family. I know the Tánaiste, Taoiseach and MEPs have all agreed, the Council has agreed but nobody is actually doing anything to draw down the funds. The family feels abandoned for the past 16 years. The buck has been passed from Department to Department and the Government has refused to act to draw the funds down. It is prolonging the family's suffering. It is a grave injustice that is continuing. It is not costing us anything. The EU is paying for it but the Government is moving the goalposts and not drawing it down. I ask the Tánaiste to act with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to get the wheels moving and put an end to this injustice, even just to compensate the family. If that could be done, I would really appreciate it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I was familiar with this in times gone by and would have had engagement with the family, as I know so many representatives over the years have, both in Wicklow and in government. I will ask the Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries, Deputy Dooley, to update me on the matter, to come back to the Deputy directly and to see if we can have some engagement with the Gaffneys as well. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The last time I raised the case of the industrial and reformatory school survivors, who are outside the Dáil on hunger strike, was three weeks ago and at that stage they had been on hunger strike for 22 days. It has now been 47 days and they are still on hunger strike. They are in very grave territory in terms of their health. Their ask is very simple: access to a full Health (Amendment) Act medical card and a full State contributory pension. I understand there was a meeting with a mediator recently but they are saying they have nothing in writing in terms of those very clear asks. I listened to the Tánaiste's response earlier. I appreciate that the Tánaiste accepts this is a very grave situation.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Can they get commitments in writing around some of these things? Can the Tánaiste or other senior Ministers meet with them to reassure them that their case is being dealt with seriously at the highest level, and to try to bring this to a successful end?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Tánaiste responded but I am happy to respond as well.

I assure the Deputy that this is being dealt with at the highest level. I have met with Maurice Patton-O’Connell, Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan and Mary Dunleavy Greene twice now in the last number of weeks. The Taoiseach has met with them twice. A mediator met with them earlier this week. In between all of that, I have written to them a number of times and at every step of the way encouraged them to please come off their hunger strike. My first and foremost priority is their health and well-being. It is not a nice time of the year. At the same time, I appreciate what they have gone through. I have listened to many of their stories and understand the position they are in. I am asking that they would come off hunger strike. We will continue to engage with them in good faith. The work the mediator is doing now is based on engagement they had yesterday and we want to be able to come back to them as quickly as possible. However, there is an absolute desire on part of Government to try to resolve this as quickly as possible but above all that their health and well-being would be front and centre in all of this.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I noted the Tánaiste's earlier comments about a national migration strategy due in 2026. I presume this is the national asylum and migration management strategy that relates to the EU asylum and migration pact in which we are currently participating. In that context, given that we are a representative democracy and we have occasional debates on this issue, in order to stop the manipulation on the far left side of the politics of identity and on the far right of the politics of hate, we need more debate. We need more debate. Yesterday, I asked whether the Government would consider a citizens' forum on this issue. A citizens' forum would include a lot of newcomer citizens who came to these shores and now are Irish citizens. They would be able to contribute to the debate. We can look at what our resources and our obligations are under UN conventions and what is and is not possible. Above all, it would put to bed a lot of the myths and misinformation and allow a proper, reasoned and respectful debate. Could that be done concurrently with any other discussion in these Houses?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I will only unilaterally agree on behalf of the Government but it is a very sensible suggestion. This is certainly not a new area but it is a relatively new area that Members in this House, people in local authorities, citizens and people new to our country are all trying to grapple and engage with. I am not seeking to be divisive here but the debate should not be hijacked by anybody nor should anybody be shouted down. There should be an opportunity to really look at this. How we involve our citizens in this discussion is something I have been grappling with too. I will take away the Deputy's suggestion and I will consider with Government colleagues and come back to him. It is made in a constructive and helpful way and I appreciate it.