Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The former Carlton Cinema site, which is at the heart of Dublin's historic 1916 battlefield and, of course, is core to the regeneration of the north inner city, has been bought at a cost of €80 million to facilitate the development of the MetroLink. Some €354 million has already been spent on MetroLink and not a single train has run. It now seems that the costs for this project are set to climb from the original estimate of €7 billion to €12 billion or maybe more. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, cannot give any definitive information on this. What will be the final cost of this project? Are we witnessing another national children's hospital fiasco unfold before us? Is there no point at which the Government will intervene to give clarity on the cost and to ensure that taxpayers are getting value for their money?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Forgive me; I understood that the Deputy wanted the State to buy this site.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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No rhetorical questions.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That was my understanding, so I thought the Deputy would be standing up to welcome this. Two weeks ago, she called for the State to buy this site.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am asking about MetroLink.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The somersault this morning is interesting.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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What would be interesting is if the Taoiseach answered the question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Either the Deputy is for the acquisition of this site, or she is not for the acquisition of this site.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Two weeks.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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That was not the question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the metro, the Minister is not in a position to put a definitive price tag on it right now-----

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is my point.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----but the focus is on getting the metro built. Again, I presume that is something the Deputy supports.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Jesus, he really is a tosser.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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Two weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the 19 survivors of Dunderrow National School.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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A Cheann Comhairle, week after week, the Taoiseach does not seem to be able to hear me in the Chamber. Do we need to examine the microphones?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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It is the background noise. The Deputy is being interrupted. Please, go ahead.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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Two weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the 19 survivors of Dunderrow National School in Kinsale, who are being denied redress. I told him that the Government's strategy in these cases is "delay, delay, delay". He said, “It is not delay, delay, delay in respect of the mediation that has been sought". Lo and behold, what do we have? A delay in respect of the mediation that has been sought. The women, who have been waiting 15 years, have been told the Government needs more time to consider their request and will get back to them on 17 July, conveniently the day after the Dáil rises for the recess and less than two weeks before the end of the law term. Delaying mediation and accountability sounds a lot like "delay, delay, delay".

Will the Taoiseach give a cast-iron commitment today that details of the mediation process will be communicated to the survivors before 17 July?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Again, the Deputy has her perspective or characterisation of the communication between the State and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. It is not delay, delay, delay. The Government will enter into mediation and will be communicating to the legal representatives of the survivors. The fact it is the day after the Dáil rises is neither here nor there. The issue is going to be pursued.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for welcoming to the Gallery the relatives of the Peterhead Ten, the last political prisoners released from British prisons after the War of Independence, who are here with Senator Nessa Cosgrove.

On Monday, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste met the Irish Thalidomide Association to discuss the long-delayed State apology. The Tánaiste said that this year is the one when we bring some degree of closure to people who have been treated so badly, and indeed thalidomide survivors have been treated so badly by the State. There are just 40 survivors in Ireland and, as I have said before, all this group is asking for is a State apology, recognition, statutory supports and a fair compensation scheme for this small cohort of people.

I again ask the Taoiseach for an apology. Justice for thalidomide survivors is long overdue. Britain made an apology more than 15 years ago. Can we say thalidomide survivors will finally see justice this year?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, that is not all that is being asked for. We had a good meeting earlier in the week. I am as frustrated as anybody with the inability to get these issues resolved. I articulated that, as did the Tánaiste, at the meeting. I believe these issues can be progressed. The enhanced supports are there and are being availed of by survivors. They are significant. I believe that at the meeting earlier this week, particularly in terms of the unacknowledged, we agreed a process to try to get that resolved once and for all. I do not want to go into any further details at this stage because we have agreed a process. It is our objective and our desire to get these issues resolved as quickly as possible.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Transgender, non-binary and intersex people face discrimination and persecution worldwide. This Saturday, Trans & Intersex Pride will march in Dublin at 2 p.m. I have drafted a Bill, the non-binary and intersex recognition Bill, which I am hoping the Government will support, to give legal rights to such people. It recognises a non-binary gender in the gender recognition certificate - an X marker. It would allow parents the option of an X marker if their child is born with intersex characteristics, something that forces many parents to carry out dangerous surgery. It would provide equality in the law in Ireland, which the Department of Social Protection, in its LGBT+ plan, says it is committed to doing. Many countries recognise non-binary and intersex people, such as the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Malta, Iceland, even the USA, Australia and New Zealand - I could go on. Will the Government get behind this Bill? It can introduce a Bill of its own, if it likes, but I ask it to support my Bill.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Forgive me, but I have not quite read the Bill in its entirety yet. The Minister for Health and the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Mary Butler, are looking in particular at the healthcare needs of trans people more generally. Again, whether the legislative route is the route to go is an issue I would raise with the Deputy. She is correct that, in Ireland, many within the intersex community are coming under a lot of attack, some verbal, some physical. We had a meeting with representatives of the LGBTI+ recently. It was quite disturbing in terms of the different atmosphere out there now compared with would have been the case a number of years ago. We have to give all of these issues careful consideration regarding the protection of people and the creating of space for people. The priority for us-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Gogarty.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The HSE has rejigged the way it operates regionally and locally, but we still have issues with the recruitment of public health nurses, particularly in the Lucan, Clondalkin, Newcastle, Ballyfermot and Palmerstown CHN areas. I have previously raised issues like the Dublin allowance, pay restoration and other measures, such as building houses specifically for staff. We are told the HSE will not divvy out the limited resources equally. In my constituency, there are people suffering disproportionately when other areas are getting a much better service. What Government approach needs to be taken? Does the Taoiseach agree it is only fair that limited staffing resources for public health nurses should be divided out equally, if one area is suffering badly, as in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I think every effort should be made to have balanced and equal provision of staff. I am not aware of the specifics of the area. The Minister stated that she has raised this with the Chief Medical Officer with a view to examining it. If the Deputy can give us the details, we will pursue it.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I have raised it before.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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For the last few months, in this House and at the transport committee, I have been raising the need for increased regulation and enforcement in the area of e-scooters. I welcome the statement this week by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, that he will look at registration and insurance requirements. These are things that need to happen. We heard from the Road Safety Authority, RSA, in the Oireachtas joint committee this morning that it believes the structures exist to roll that out efficiently. Safety is also something that I have raised on the floor of the House with regard to high visibility and helmet use by those operating e-scooters, and educating parents that minors should not be operating them. The third piece in this puzzle is gardaí feeling they have the support to make tactical interventions to prevent e-scooters from continuing, and to be able to intervene and confiscate an e-scooter that is being used illegally and unsafely. A very clear signal needs to be sent to them that they are able to do that.

I thank the Taoiseach for his support on this so far. Will he support that call for additional support for An Garda Síochána and roll out the registration and insurance requirements that are central to dealing with the scourge of e-scooters on our streets at the moment?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I think we need to stand back and have a fundamental review of e-scooters more generally, given the level of injuries that have been reported by medical consultants. That needs to be examined in more detail in light of the statements they have issued recently. That level of brain injury among children suggests society has to really stand back and review the entire role of e-scooters, to be frank. It is unacceptable that there would be those numbers. I am informed that gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat the antisocial and dangerous use of e-scooters. The Garda authorities report 754 incidents in which an e-scooter has been seized in the first quarter of this year, compared with a full-year figure of 931 for 2025. Therefore, from what I am being told, there has been a higher number of seizures of e-scooters, which indicates perhaps the bad use of e-scooters in given locations. On the Deputy’s call for regulation, the answer is “Yes.”

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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RTÉ is now asking the Government for a 32% increase in its licence fee top-up this year, which is worth under €55 million. We must ensure that any money allocated to the broadcaster is not outbalanced by overspends by RTÉ in other areas. RTÉ is in front of us at the public accounts committee tomorrow. It has stated that TV licence sales have declined by 19% since 2022. It claims this is caused by households not necessarily having TVs, but we all know that is only part of the story. A major possible cause of the drop in sales is the fact that there have been financial scandals and unnecessary overspends. Spending in areas such as the limousines for €35,000, the high spending on termination payments last year, as well as €56,000 in expenses being spent on 41 members of RTÉ going to Czechia for the Ireland qualifier earlier this year, are issues that are coming up. With such levels of public spending on the broadcaster, while RTÉ provides a good service for the country, we need clarity on what the future funding model is.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The House has been divided on the correct funding and revenue response to public service broadcasting more generally. Various Oireachtas committees in the last number of years have had different proposals. One was for an overall levy on all devices including tablets and so forth, which would create a resource to enable public service broadcasting. We then had the wider issues of accountability and so forth. While all of those issues that the Deputy referenced have to be interrogated, and people held accountable for them, the bottom line is that when we add it all up, it does not come near the more global issue. The general financial requirement of RTÉ is in the millions. The big issue, I believe, is that the licence fee does make a contribution, so this constant undermining of it only makes things worse. People are not prepared to support the universal levy, and there is no consensus on that in the House. We have problems here, but we need to make up our minds on what we want for RTÉ.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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The Galway housing crisis is just getting worse. I genuinely cannot believe that it is getting worse year on year. This year, we are not seeing the housing stock that we need coming on stream. I am dealing with a couple in their 60s who have been nine years on the housing waiting list. They have to leave their rental property, and they are being told that the only option available to them is HAP. Anyone who knows Galway city knows that getting a HAP property is impossible. We are now at the stage where we cannot house our babies, our children, our adults or our older people. We are literally saying to people that the one thing this Government can guarantee them is that it cannot house them, from the cradle to the grave. This is getting worse. It is a disaster. I am asking the Taoiseach to help and intervene for people in crisis in Galway city who cannot find a place to live.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not actually getting worse.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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It is in Galway.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The number of houses being built is increasing, and the numbers of social houses are at record high levels.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I am not making this up.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There may be specific issues in Galway. The Deputy needs to talk to the county manager and the city manager in respect of getting projects built more quickly and removing any barriers to getting housing developed.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Come to Galway.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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All the permissions are up in terms of planning permissions for new homes. The number of houses being delivered has gone up, particularly social housing. Close to 10,000 were built last year. The highest number of social houses are being built annually since the 1970s. Some local authorities do better on social housing than others.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I am not making it up.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The reality is that we are making the allocations to local authorities.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Come to Galway.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I am not making it up either. The rules are the rules. Stop interrupting.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Grace Lynch died in January after being hit by a scrambler. This came after years of calls for increased action against illegal scrambler use. Grace's law has been passed and this is welcome, but we have not seen the benefit or significant changes in our communities. Scramblers are still being driven recklessly. Grace's law made it very clear that the illegal use of scramblers in public spaces is against the law. The Garda Representative Association, GRA, has said not one member of the gardaí is trained in pursuit driving. It has called for its members to be trained and protected if they pursue a scrambler. Scramblers and e-scooters go hand in hand. In the past two weeks, six children have been admitted to Temple Street hospital with traumatic brain injuries because of e-scooters. Does the Taoiseach believe that gardaí have proper training and protections to tackle this scourge? Does he believe that adequate regulations and laws are in place to protect our communities from the scourge of dangerous scramblers and e-scooters?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I dealt with this earlier. There has been a substantive body of law enacted in respect of scramblers, in particular. On the enforcement side, gardaí are seizing scramblers and e-scooters. In quarter 1 of 2026, 94 scramblers were seized, tracking well ahead of 2025's full year figure of 159. I gave the figures for e-scooters earlier. About 754 were seized in the first quarter, compared to 931 for 2025. On the training side, we are determined to provide resources to the Garda in terms of equipment and training in all matters pertaining to this issue. Over 38 e-scooters and 17 e-bikes were seized across the three days of Operation Meacán, which is An Garda Síochána's proactive response to the issue.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin Bay North, my constituency, is more than just a regular school. It is one of Ireland's greatest success stories. U2 began there and the school is synonymous with creativity, culture and opportunity for students. Today, its arts and performance hall is facing demolition as part of redevelopment. Nobody opposes development of the school building or hall, but the concern raised with me by past students and parents is whether the hall can be retained for refurbishment or adapted for reuse. For decades, the hall has given young people a stage to perform, build confidence and discover talent that cannot always be measured in the exam hall. Parents and former students have asked me to raise this issue. A campaign is seeking a pause in demolition until an independent feasibility study or meaningful consultation is carried out and before an irreversible decision is made regarding the hall where U2 performed. This will happen with or without you, a Thaoisigh. Will he intervene and make it a beautiful day for the next generation of musicians?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I want to commend U2 on its recent philanthropic contribution to Music Generation, which is one of the great legacies of U2 that has brought music to many children the length and breadth of the country who would not otherwise have had that experience. Funding has been matched by the Government. The more recent decision by U2 to contribute substantially has been matched by the Government and Ireland Funds. I was at a dinner two weeks ago to announce that. The legacy and heritage of U2 are phenomenal. It has brought worldwide attention to Ireland and Irish music and culture. I am not aware of the specifics of the situation the Deputy raised. I do not know whether the school board of management is building a new hall. Perhaps whatever new facility is being created can in some way capture the magic that led to the emergence of U2 in the first instance.

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I have campaigned for years for extra dementia unit beds and nursing home beds on the northside of Cork, especially in Heather House. Some 19 dementia beds have been built in Heather House. They were announced in 2022 and built and finished last November. I have campaigned to get them open. I was told in May that they would be open in June. They were supposed to be open in June but were not. I have been told by members of staff and families that there is no definite date. People have family members in nursing homes right across Cork, in hospitals and at home with families who are struggling to look after their loved ones, while a nursing home is built, ready to go and fully kitted out. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to speak to the HSE to open the dementia unit beds in Heather House immediately? People are crying out for them.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is good that it was built. It was committed to 2022. In my experience, when we build nursing homes or facilities, current revenue or annual funding has to be allocated and staff have to be recruited. I will engage with HSE in respect of this to have those beds occupied and provided for families and those who need inpatient residential care.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Commuters woke up this morning to the news that Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, is considering putting up tolls on the Dublin Port Tunnel. It recommended an increase from €13 to €14 and said it was modest. On what planet is a €14 toll modest? We are told that the increase is to stop congestion. Why is it that when it comes to congestion the only tool in the Government's toolbox is a stick - a toll hike to beat people off the road? What about providing more public transport? This year, the Government will provide no new net public transport capacity. Projects such as the Navan to Dublin rail line and MetroLink are proceeding at a glacial pace. The Government operates in slow motion when it comes to infrastructure. Both these projects have been discussed for decades and neither are likely to happen in the next ten years. Will the Government make a commitment to stop the increase in tolls? Will it commit to stop punishing commuters and start to provide the public transport capacity that is needed?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There has been huge investment in public sector transport. On rail, very good progress has been made on the Navan rail line over the past number of years in terms of funding provision. I do not operate every State agency. State agencies are legislated for in this House and are charged with responsibility to do things. The issue of congestion is a broader one. In terms of the specifics of the tunnel, it is not an area that seems overly congested at times. That is a matter I will take up with the Minister and will raise with TII more generally as to its strategy and whether it will be effective in this case.

Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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A month ago, a group of people living with Friedreich's ataxia, along with their families, were present in the Dáil as the urgently needed drug Skyclarys was being discussed on Leaders' Questions. It is important to acknowledge the hurt the Taoiseach caused that day when he gave incorrect reasons for why the drug was not on the agenda at the last HSE drugs committee meeting. The group will make the journey to the Dáil again next Tuesday. Will the Taoiseach and Minister make the time to meet with them? Will the drug finally be on the agenda for the drugs group next Tuesday?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not cause anybody any hurt.

Natasha Newsome Drennan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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It was the dates you gave.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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One does not cause hurt if one tells the honest position. I was not responsible for whoever built up the expectation that it would be on that meeting. It was never said to me. There are a number of ways we can approach this. My only objective, like most Deputies on this side of the House, is to help those who have Friedreich's ataxia. That is all. I do not try to score political points with other people on issues as serious as this. I have to say that now. On the issue of confirming drug accreditation and so on, there is a system in place, whether one likes it or not. My understanding is the next drugs meeting will deal with this issue. I am not comfortable with the approach that is now being taken that every single meeting of that group will have this level of pressure. That is not great either.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Your time is up, a Thaoisigh.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It may lead to wrong results-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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We have ten Members left and five minutes remaining. Everyone needs to understand that. We do not have enough time and we have too many Deputies who want to speak.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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I raise the case of a constituent in County Galway who has experienced lifelong difficulties and trauma as a result of historical abuse at the hands of a member of the Christian Brothers who was his primary school teacher. The individual who carried out the abuse has since been convicted. My constituent's legal representatives have written to successive Ministers requesting redress from the State but those letters have fallen on deaf ears. His solicitor has advised him that he may have to initiate High Court proceedings, which would cause him further grief and trauma and would be extremely costly. He should not be forced to go through the courts system. He is simply asking for the compensation he is entitled to without being subjected to further trauma. Specifically, he is asking for the same opportunity for mediation as was offered only recently to other survivors of abuse. Can that be facilitated? My constituent wishes to remain anonymous but I am happy to pass on his details.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I may be familiar with that case. Deputy Albert Dolan may have contacted me about it; I am not sure if it is the same one. I cannot deal with every individual case on the floor of the House. I outlined earlier the broader approach the Government is taking. Each case will have to be examined on a case-by-case basis at the moment.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Oireachtas education and youth committee, which I chair, recently compiled a report on school meals. It is a fantastic scheme led out by our colleague, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and was hugely supported by the Minister, Deputy Foley, when she was at the Department of education. One of our recommendations is that we abolish water charges for schools. The meals are free in the classroom but the water children drink from the school taps is charged for. A lot of schools are in arrears on their water bills. I do not imagine anyone will shut off a school's water. It just seems like an accounting exercise, with one Government agency paying water charges to another body. As preparations for the next budget gather pace, is there any chance school water charges can be abolished in line with free school meals? Could such a striking out of charges possibly be considered in the upcoming budget?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the last budget and the one before it, we substantially increased the capitation grants allocation. I think it was by €50 per pupil; that might have been the year before last. There was a very substantial increase for primary pupils in particular and also an increase for post-primary pupils. The Department of housing has always been reluctant in terms of incrementally dropping water charges for different utilities and areas because people would come forward looking for the same for other deserving causes. I am not sure of the impact of water charges on schools' individual budgets. I would have to examine that. I will talk to the Minister in respect of it. The school meals scheme has been fairly extensive, as the Deputy said. It is a huge investment now and it has happened very rapidly across all our schools.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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The utilities regulator recently imposed a €31 million negative revenue adjustment on Uisce Éireann for underperformance and failures relating to its leakage performance target. Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann is giving out performance-related bonuses to its management teams. Its annual report for 2025 shows €18 million worth of bonuses have been paid. How can I explain to people in Kildare, who are so often without water, that the regulator has imposed a €31 million fine on a body that at the same time is choosing to pay 94% of its staff their full performance-related bonus, to the tune of €18 million?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask the Minister to engage with Uisce Éireann on that specific issue. In some areas, it is performing. The €31 million negative finding in terms of leakage is clearly an issue. It is not just to do with leakage. There have also been issues articulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, in terms of lapses to do with the operation of wastewater treatment plants in some areas. Overall, however, Uisce Éireann is investing a lot and getting a lot done in respect of the upgrading of our water infrastructure and in terms of newer wastewater treatment plants. Those getting bonuses could be the people who are performing well in achieving objectives the company has set itself. We cannot just juxtapose the two and assume the bonuses apply to those are not performing on the leakage front.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Pico Lopes put it clearest when he arrived back in Ireland from the World Cup: "Some things are bigger than football ... The game for me has to be stopped. It shouldn't be played". Tonight, delegates at an FAI extraordinary general meeting will vote on whether Ireland should play Israel. I hope the delegates do the right thing, which is to say that a state like Israel, which is engaged in genocide and apartheid, should be isolated, not played. Will the Taoiseach assure the delegates that if they do the right thing by not playing the game, the Government will step in to ensure there is no loss to Irish football as a result?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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How can we do that?

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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There should be no rhetorical questions.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government cannot affect the seedings that will result from doing that.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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What about-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Murphy, the Taoiseach's question is rhetorical.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We see what is happening at FIFA at the moment. Do we think FIFA would really concern itself too much if the Irish football team pulls out and damages its own prospects for the future? I think the world would carry on, unfortunately. I think FIFA would carry on, unfortunately. The Government is doing a lot in respect of this issue. Our view is that we should deal with it from a governmental level and at a political level and not have to ask everybody to carry-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. The next speaker is Deputy Brennan.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In my view, the implications for Irish football are serious, given the wider governance of football globally. That is enough said.

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am looking for an update on the straw incorporation measure. It is my understanding that there will be a significant oversubscription to the scheme, with expected payments exceeding the €10 million budget allocated for 2026. It is essential that we find a way to extend the budget of this scheme to meet all expected payments. In my constituency of Wicklow-Wexford, we have a proud tradition of tillage farming but, putting it bluntly, pride will not pay the bills. Tillage farmers have never been at a lower ebb. Any reduction or non-payment under the scheme will be a devastating blow to the sector. The scheme targets the reduction of carbon emissions. Therefore, we must continue to encourage farmers to participate, not dissuade them. To put it simply, the tillage sector is on its knees and farmers within the sector are dependent on these payments as a means of survival. I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Taoiseach to ensure there is no shortfall.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. I know how important tillage is for the south east and the Wicklow-Wexford area. The straw incorporation measure is a really positive support measure for tillage farmers, with very positive impacts on organic carbon levels in soil. I am acutely aware of how important it is to farmers from an income perspective as well. This year has seen a really high level of applications, far exceeding the €10 million allocated for it. At present, all possible options are being considered. A decision will be made shortly and farmers will be notified as soon as possible of the details of the scheme for 2026.