Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I congratulate Jordan and Cian Adams, who are going to complete their incredible superhuman challenge of running a marathon every day for the past 32 days across 32 counties to raise awareness of frontotemporal dementia. Fair play to the two lads.

The Irish football team should not be playing Israel as it continues its genocide in Gaza and its brutalisation of the Palestinian people. Yesterday, the Minister of Culture, Communications and Sport, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, confirmed that they will not be attending the match in Dublin but does it not stink of hypocrisy that the Tánaiste expects, on behalf of the Government, the Irish people to accept the match going ahead when his own Ministers are actually boycotting it? Meanwhile a letter has been sent to members of the FAI's general assembly demanding an extraordinary general meeting. The letter from the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland and others is very clear. It urges delegates to back a motion calling on the FAI not to participate. Séamus Coleman is right. This should not be landed at the feet of the players. Those with the power should take responsibility, so the Government must withdraw its support for the match going ahead against Israel. I am asking the Tánaiste to take a stand for what is right and to stop the game because he knows that if the Government withdrew its support, this game will not go ahead.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I join with the Deputy in congratulating and commending Jordan and Cian Adams. They have inspired literally the entire country with 33 marathons across our island. I know many of us look forward to welcoming them to Leinster House later today but, more important or as important, is working with them on the issues around dementia, research and care pathways. I thank them for all they have done.

I agree with the Deputy on the point about Séamus Coleman. The Irish players who wear the jersey do so with pride and nobody should put any pressure on them at all. Séamus Coleman captured that very well in his comments yesterday. I would also make the point that the FAI gave its view on this. The FAI was very clear on this. UEFA as the governing body ultimately made that decision and that is the position. It is not a matter for the Government. It is a matter for the governing body, which in this case is UEFA. My views on the genocidal activities of the Government of Israel are very clear and I think this Oireachtas and the people of Ireland are utterly appalled by the genocidal behaviour being undertaken by the Israeli government.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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A report published today by Friends of the Earth has found that energy demand from data centres has added three quarters of a billion euro to household bills in Ireland since 2015 and could add a further €1.5 billion over the next decade. This is the equivalent of adding a week's wages to bills for the poorest households. All of us here acknowledge that data centres are part of modern life but the circle the Tánaiste and his Government need to square is that if it is their industrial policy to continue to roll out energy-intensive data centres around the country, it is becoming a cost-of-living issue. We have been going on for years about the climate impacts. The Tánaiste's former colleague, Paschal Donohoe, talked about the water demands of data centres but this is now becoming a serious cost-of-living issue. If it is Government policy to allow unfettered growth in data centres, what is it going to do to ensure that it does not impose additional costs on households already struggling to pay their bills?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Friends of the Earth report needs to be read in the round. It does basically put it up to us, as a Government and an Oireachtas, that if we can do more to speed up the move to renewables, under what it calls high renewable growth scenarios, annual average residual demand, including data centres actually falls below zero in the years ahead.

In other words, accelerated renewable development is presented in this study as sufficient to displace significant reliance on gas as a dispatchable source of energy in the future. As the Deputy acknowledged, there is a genuine economic benefit to data centres but I would dispute the characterisation of the Government's position as an unfettered approach. The CRU's large energy user, LEU, connection policy very much shows how the Government intends to deliver on its renewable energy targets, with data centres above certain thresholds being required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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At yesterday's health committee we learned something very concerning. Consultants on public-only contracts are continuing to do private work in the Rotunda Hospital. This is despite the fact that treating private patients in public hospitals is a breach of their contracts. It is worth mentioning that these consultants are very well paid for giving up private work, with salaries of up to €260,000, and that is just the basic pay.

This is not just about a breach of contract. It is completely at odds with our national healthcare policy, Sláintecare, which is about creating universal healthcare based on need and not ability to pay and removing private healthcare from public hospitals. How can we ever have a well-functioning and quality public health service if private practice continues to leech resources from the system? Yesterday, we learned that the Minister for Health was told about this a year ago and she said she was not happy about it, but that appears to be it. No sanctions and no actions have been taken against the hospital. In how many other public hospitals is this happening and what is the Tánaiste going to do about it?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Rice for raising this. The Minister for Health and the wider Government expect the agreed terms of any contract to be applied fully and consistently across all hospitals. We expect everybody to comply with the terms of their contract of employment. That is a general basic thing, and just because somebody is a higher paid member of the public service does not mean they can deviate from their contract. If people have issues with their contract, that is a different matter, but actually signing up to a contract and then not adhering to its terms is not a small matter.

The Department of Health wrote to the HSE CEO on 18 March setting out concerns regarding the continuation of private practice and seeking full compliance with public-only consultant contracts, but I will ask the Minister to come back to Deputy Rice specifically in relation to her view on the implementation of the contract and how many other hospitals may have similar issues.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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The State recommended an external wall remediation only in a home where an internal wall was already cracking and carrying specialist hoist equipment used every day to lift and move a paralysed woman. The family were then refused access to see the full technical report so as to understand whether it was a safe decision to only give an outer leaf remediation. My constituent's home was adapted in 2017. She was paralysed after a car accident and it is designed entirely around her needs. Where the hoist is system is used, inside the walls are cracking, not just the outside. Internal cracking has already been identified in parts of the structure holding the equipment that supports her getting out of the bed, to the bathroom and to the wheelchair. How can this be described as a safe decision when the family are being asked to accept the decision without actually seeing the technical evidence?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. I send my sincere sympathy and solidarity to his constituent and their family for all they have endured. The point Deputy Ward makes about being able to see the detail is an important one. I understand why any homeowner may wish to see a report from an engineer in order to really understand the rationale behind the option being recommended or proposed. That is understandable and logical. My understanding is that the Housing Agency will, upon request, issue the report to homeowners. That would be an important step to take because that would inform the homeowner in question as to the query raised.

In addition, and as Deputy Ward will know, there is a requirement in the 2022 Act to undertake a review of the operation of the Act. That review is due to commence shortly and the matter he has raised can also be considered as part of that. On foot of the Deputy raising this today, I will ask that the Minister, Deputy James Browne's Department note it for that purpose, too.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Just so the Tánaiste knows, Aontú does support the roll-out of sustainable energy across the country in partnership with local communities.

There is a major demographic change happening in Ireland at the moment. We had the GAA in front of the infrastructure committee yesterday to discuss it. Unfortunately, the lopsided development of the country is continuing apace. Two thirds of the population of the country now live on a very narrow strip along the east coast of Ireland. Most university-type jobs are going into the Dublin area. Most university graduates are, therefore, forced to work in the Dublin area but, of course, cannot afford to live there, so they have to live 30 km, 40 km or 50 km away and live in a commuter hell to be able to get to work. It is emptying a lot of regional areas of their young people.

Another aspect is that, in 2009, there were 75,000 children born in this State. Last year, there were 55,000 children born. That is an incredible collapse in numbers. Young people are losing the confidence to be able to have families at the moment. Plunging birth rates are already leading to some school closures and amalgamations in some parts of the country, and if it continues, it will lead to radically increased pension rates and healthcare costs for the generation that is already struggling to pay rent at the moment. What will the Government do to give parents the confidence to be able to raise families in this country?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are a couple of aspects to that question. In respect of balanced regional development, the new national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a one-off home in rural Ireland will be a help. That is because there are many people finding themselves having to leave their communities due to a too-rigid planning system or at least an inconsistent application of the planning system across counties. That is one thing that can be done.

The Deputy will know I am going to continue to say that housing supply is really important, and we need to get 300,000 more homes built by the end of 2030. My Department has produced research in terms of Ireland 2040 and where Ireland will be demographically by 2040. It will be a very different place on the basis of a no-policy change. Therefore, I think of a number of policy changes. The Deputy mentioned the pensions issue. Auto-enrolment is a very important future-proofing step to take now.

I would also point out that there are many parts of this country well outside the Dublin area thriving. I spent a lot of time in Galway recently where there are key infrastructural projects we need to deliver, like the ring road and the BusConnects project. Down in Cork, there is the Luas project as well. I do not like the phrase "commuter hell". While there are very serious traffic congestion issues in this country, there are many parts of this country that are thriving and where people are proud of their communities, but they want to see us deliver infrastructure more quickly to help and we intend to do that.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise the issue of July provision. The summer programme is very important, providing additional educational supports to students during the summer months. Unfortunately, issues have arisen this year in relation to the application process. A very short window was open for schools to apply. Many received no notification and were not aware of the application process. Schools that have benefited from this provision in recent years have not had the opportunity to apply. This needs to be reviewed and schools need to be given the opportunity to apply. I ask that the Tánaiste take this message back to the Department and try to open up the application process again.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully agree with Deputy McGrath in terms of the importance of reopening the application process. I am pleased to tell him that will happen. The Government will be in contact with schools today and the portal will reopen early next week. We have seen an increased number of primary schools, post-primary schools and special schools applying this year. I see that as a good thing in terms of trying to meet the need. The portal will reopen.

Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I follow on the same subject. I thank the Tánaiste for his continued engagement when I raised the issue of the summer programme, what was known as the July provision. In my constituency, I had one advocate who was representing ten families that were blocked out of the scheme. The stress, strain and torment that parents had to endure for the last few weeks were unbearable. A window of opportunity of six days was just unacceptable, to be brutally honest, because I, for one, appreciate the stress and strain that teaching staff are under in terms of managing all of this. I will continue to be a champion for children with disabilities and I want the Government to do likewise. We need to be mindful of giving them the best and first opportunity to thrive in life. Whether this is down to a financial issue or otherwise, we need to do whatever we can to resolve it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Roche. He did indeed speak with me on this issue yesterday. I am pleased that the Government has decided that the portal will reopen in the coming days to provide a better window for schools to apply. This Government's record on special education and children with additional needs is one of investment and growth. There were 8,767 children benefiting from the summer programme in 2016. Over 70,000 benefited last year. I would be surprised if that number was not higher again this year. When it comes to things like special classes, the roll-out of therapies in special schools and the size of the budget in special education, we have a lot of work to do but it is a priority area, as it should be.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Givinostat is a potentially life-altering drug for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorisation for givinostat almost a year ago, on 6 June 2025. There has been a frustrating delay, some of it on the company's behalf. I understand that the HSE's drugs group will review givinostat at its June meeting and make a recommendation to the senior leadership team to approve the medicine or not. There is a campaign, Time is Muscle. Every day counts for these children. I ask that a decision be made as early as possible. Children need access to this drug.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Rourke for highlighting this issue. I also wish to acknowledge the point that he made the point that sometimes delays can be on the side of the company. That is an important point of balance to make.

I do not actually have the detail in relation to this but it is important that everybody in the process work in an efficient way so that we at least get a decision and clarity as early as possible. The drugs budget is growing in this country, and quite rightly. I am sure this is a very anxious time for the families impacted and I will certainly convey the Deputy's views to the Minister for Health.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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Ballyduff National School has been serving the community since 1839 and has been in the current building for the past 60 years. There are currently 96 pupils attending. It has had an autism class for the past few years with six pupils, and that is full, but there are five other children who are currently struggling to access the curriculum because they do not have the supports that would be there from an autism class. There are five qualified children and two awaiting assessment. There will be an ongoing need into the future. They have a room and the changing facilities. All the resources are in place to do this and all the children, I am sure the Tánaiste will agree, should have the right to be educated locally in their own community. There is a want and a need. The school is ready, willing and able to provide it. It has the facilities but parents are very anxious that it has not been approved for a second class. I ask the Tánaiste to look at this and see what he can do to facilitate it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank an Teachta Daly for raising this issue and I will certainly speak directly to the Minister of education on this. There was discussion earlier around the additional budget for education. One of the drivers behind that is the recognition that there will be a need for more special classes now than was even envisaged at budget time. If there is a school ready to assist in that and if there is a need in the community, I know that is something that the Minister will ask the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to look at seriously. I will ask her to come back to the Deputy directly.

Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The village of Ballivor has been without water for over four days now, but Uisce Éireann does not appear to be accountable to me as a public representative nor to this House despite the billions of euro we are giving it to invest in upgrading our water infrastructure. There have been really poor communications, there is no end in sight and the school has been closed for the past two days.

In 2019, when I was first elected a councillor, the Ballivor reservoir project was a priority. By 2021, Uisce Éireann told me it was shovel-ready. In 2024, it told me it would be on site by 2025. Here we are in 2026 without a shovel in the ground. What am I supposed to tell the people of Ballivor and the wider Meath West area, where there are issues in Clonard, Trim, Rathmolyon and many other places with frequent outages? We need the reservoir built in Ballivor but we also need to hold Uisce Éireann to account.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Dempsey for raising this issue, as I know she has on a number of occasions. On foot of her raising this, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy James Browne. I think there is a broad issue in relation to this. I have spoken to the Minister on this and he shares that view. We need to look at better accountability structures for Uisce Éireann to elected Members of this House. It is not about us; it is about the people we represent and the Deputy is clearly vocalising, quite correctly, the frustration on behalf of her constituents.

I do not understand. I say it here regularly that Uisce Éireann should have to answer parliamentary questions. If you ask a question to the Minister for Health, she will say it is a matter for the HSE and refer it to the HSE, but you can ask a question and you will get a response. If you ask a question here under the rules of the House at the moment, it gets ruled out of order. There is no logic behind that. I have raised this in the Government and will continue to raise it. We should change it together. Uisce Éireann should be answerable to this House.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On the specific issue the Deputy has raised, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to come back to her.

John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I fully acknowledge the Government's commitment to education, with over €7 billion committed over the lifetime of this Government, including €1.6 billion in capital funding in 2026 alone. However, there are several schools across my constituency that have progressed to stage 2B in recent years and are now anxious to move forward to tender and construction but they seem to be stuck in a waiting area. Some examples of schools include Geashill National School, Scoil Charthaigh Naofa in Rahan, Scoil Mhuire Bainríoghan in Dunkerrin, Oxmantown National School in Birr, Scoil Naomh Seosamh in Gortnamona, St. Brendan's Community School in Birr and Oaklands Community College in Edenderry. These are important projects for the growing school communities, students, parents and teaching staff and they have already gone through significant planning work. Will the Government give consideration to bringing forward additional funding capacity so that these much-needed projects can proceed at the earliest possible opportunity?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this important issue and listing a number of the important school projects across Offaly that are in need of progression. Being blunt, quite a lot of schools are at stage 2B. We, collectively as a House, want to see as many of them move on as possible, and the Deputy has obviously advocated strongly for the schools in Offaly. The Minister for education has published what we can call the first tranche of a significant number of school building projects. I want to be very clear that this is not the final word on the matter and the Government will be making further allocations in regard to capital in the time ahead. Even in the medium-term fiscal plan we have published, there is unallocated capital during the lifetime of this Government. We will be considering that across the Government in the time ahead and I will keep in touch with the Deputy on those specific Offaly school projects, too.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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An adult travelling daily from Athenry to Galway city currently pays approximately €5.10 each way by rail, despite the journey taking only around 20 minutes and the route increasingly functioning as a major commuter corridor for workers and students travelling into Galway. Meanwhile, a commuter travelling from Clonsilla to Connolly Station in Dublin, a journey of approximately 28 minutes, can travel for roughly €2.60 each way under the Dublin commuter fare structure and the Leap card system. This is wholly inequitable. It is not fair on the people of Galway and it is not fair that somebody commuting in from Athenry has to pay almost double the price just to access public transport. Is there any consideration that the Government can give to allowing people in Galway to use the Leap card structure and avail of lower fares? This situation is not fair.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Dolan for raising the issue and the analytical approach he always brings to issues in this House. It is a fair point he is raising. We are obviously increasing our investment in public transport, but the affordability and fairness of public transport across all parts of the country is, of course, a legitimate issue that the Government will consider. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in relation to this. I will also ask him to correspond with Irish Rail and ask it to give consideration to the matter, too.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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I have been contacted by special schools in my constituency that have said that they have not been given their staffing allocations for next year. It is 28 May. It is very late. My understanding is that mainstream schools got their allocations in March and, on that basis, are able to plan for things like classroom allocation and supports. However, special schools do not know at this late stage when it is coming into the trips and all those things that go on in June and they will be very busy. They have not had time to do staffing allocations, so they cannot do timetables or classroom allocations. They are wondering what the delay is. I am aware that one in school in particular did not get its allocation until September last year. That is wholly unacceptable. There is also a knock-on effect for staff. If people do not know whether they are going to have their jobs come September, that is really unfair. Relationships and building relationships with young people, particularly in special schools, is important and we need to make sure that if any staff are to be reallocated elsewhere, it happens in a timely manner so that that relationship can be brought to an end and new ones brought in for the next year. What is the delay and when will they know?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Cummins. On foot of her raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to come back to her directly. I take the point she made. It is a very busy time for schools, with lots going on in the school community. However, we have also provided funding certainty to the Department of education and made a decision, which we debated earlier, to quite rightly provide significant additional resources to education this year. From a Government point of view, there is funding certainty for the Department of education. Therefore, we need to make sure that is conveyed to schools, particularly special schools, as a matter of priority. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to look at this and come back to the Deputy urgently.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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"One-way ticket I'd give her back to the shithole she came from". That is about the only thing I could repeat in this House among an awful lot of online abuse that was posted under the social media of our candidate in the Galway West by-election, Helen Ogbu.

I am asking the Government to take action against online hate. The Tánaiste is no stranger to social media, both the positives and negatives, and I acknowledge that. Coimisiún na Meán needs the power to independently order the immediate takedown of individual posts. There is so much abuse under all of Councillor Ogbu's social media, to the point that we had a staff member who spent 40% of her time taking it down. We need to take action on this. It is undermining our democracy. It will stop good people from running for election in this country.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is so right. It is disgusting, despicable racism, and it is not who we are as a people. The people of Galway showed that with the very significant vote Labour's candidate received. I was pleased to meet Helen Ogbu over the weekend and to congratulate her on her campaign. The Deputy's point about the powers of Coimisiún na Meán are valid. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to come back to the Deputy directly but my view on this is that we should take a much more robust legislative approach. We ask social media companies nicely if they would mind doing this or that. It has gone beyond that now. I see huge benefits to social media. I also see the sewer that it can become, with toxicity, division, misinformation and disinformation. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to reflect on the Deputy's points. I am disgusted to hear the abuse that a public representative received.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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I would like to raise a proposal to reopen Kildangan train station, which has lain dormant since 1963. The population of Kildangan in south Kildare has doubled in the past ten years and is set to increase further on foot of recent rezoning. There is a huge rural hinterland and people would take the train from Kildangan if parking was available. Many of these people currently commute to Kildare town, and that car park is oversubscribed. We need more transport capacity to serve one of the fastest-growing population centres in the State and ease pressure on existing infrastructure. Reviving the old train station is a viable and constructive solution. Precedent exists. Adamstown train station was built before new developments. Dromod train station in Leitrim serves a population of just 500, with eight daily stops. A 2023 environs study examined reopening Killucan railway station. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this issue with the Minister for Transport and Irish Rail. Will he commission a feasibility study for the station's reopening in the medium term?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Ní Raghallaigh for raising the issue. I truthfully do not know enough about that train station, other than that she makes a compelling case about how population growth needs to be met by improved public transport. Her suggestion that a train station that previously existed could be reopened certainly merits the Minister engaging with her on that. On foot of the Deputy raising it, I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and ask that he come back to the Deputy with an informed view on the suggestions she made.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I raise with the Tánaiste one of a number of emails I have received in the past week or so. The school informed someone's son that as he would now be going into fifth year, students would require a Chromebook when returning in September, at a cost of €540. The school commented that this is the only practical way to manage coursework due to the changes in the leaving certificate course. The school said it cannot afford the potential €80,000 expenditure to buy Chromebooks for every student. The email went on to say that this is the first year in which families would benefit from free schoolbooks, which is a fantastic initiative, but this is being eroded by the cost of €550. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission wrote to all schools, reminding them to avoid restrictive and costly uniform policies. While we are serious about free education, we are eroding the good work that has been done by Government and the Department with what is happening on the ground. Can the Tánaiste comment on that? I received a parliamentary question reply from the Minister for education, saying that she has written to all schools about the cost of Chromebooks, and it is not related to the leaving certificate. The Tánaiste might confirm something similar.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Wall for engaging with the Minister for education on this. He is right that the general direction of travel that all of us in this House want to see is reducing the costs that families face when their children attend school. That is why we have had the hot school meals and the free schoolbooks. It is why we are genuinely trying to work with the CCPC and others on uniform costs. It would be extraordinarily disappointing and counterintuitive if we saw the cost of technology eroding some of that benefit to families. I share the Minister's view that there should not be a cause and effect between leaving certificate reform and the need for that technology. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton.

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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During the recent fuel protests, it became clear that we do not have enough oil reserve capacity. In the early days, there were mutterings that Europe could facilitate up to 12 months. There was no more about that then. What is the position regarding the massive storage tanks in Whiddy Island? We can all see them from the road from Kilgarvan to Bantry. What is inside those tanks now? Is it water, bird seed or what? Did the former Minister Eamon Ryan fill them with concrete? If he did, he should be given a lump hammer and a screwdriver to remove the concrete along with some of his supporters. He promised to do things like that. What are we going to do with the tanks on Whiddy Island? Are we making use of them? We need 12 months of a reserve. We would have no trouble in keeping down the prices while wars and other things are going on in other parts of the world.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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One sure way to run down supplies is to not allow them in and out when we only had one refinery in the country. I am glad that situation is resolved because at a time of global insecurity regarding energy supply, it is important that we continue to make sure that supply of energy to this country continues. I recently met NORA, not a female but the National Oil Reserve Agency, and was pleased to say that it gave a significant assurance to the Government about our supply of energy, even with the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. On the third point, truthfully, I do not know the answer, although nothing was filled with concrete by former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who served this country. We can agree or disagree with him but he was a good public servant and an honourable man. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to come back to the Deputy about the specific issues he raised.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
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Over the past number of years, I have raised Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall with the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and other Ministers on numerous occasions, and the urgency of commencing works on this pier. Several Ministers have come and gone after visiting the pier. Even the Taoiseach visited the pier recently. They all made promises to the local people but not a shovel has been turned in the many years that I have been involved. We have the Department pointing the finger at the council and the council pointing it back at the Department, and the local community is stuck in the middle. Keelbeg Pier is used by local fishermen and pleasure boats alike. It serves mainly the Union Hall and Glandore area and it is vital that action happens on the ground. Can the Tánaiste update us on what exactly is happening with Keelbeg Pier? When will the shovels hit the ground?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In fairness, it is not the first time Deputy Collins has raised the issue with me. It sounds to me like he wants fewer political visitors and more political action on the pier, which is not an unreasonable thing to say. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the relevant Minister to bring together the stakeholders. It sounds to me, from previous engagement we have had on this, that a number of different people are involved but somebody needs to take hold of this rather than saying that is a matter for this group or the other. I will talk to the relevant Minister and ask that he convene relevant stakeholders and come back to Deputy Collins with a plan.